The University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences’ Physician Assistant Studies Program has received a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for integrated behavioral health training.

The grant will fund the Physician Assistant (PA) Rural Training in Behavioral Health program titled, “A Healthier Appalachia through PA training in Primary Care in Mental and Behavioral Health.” Shelley Irving, a certified PA, Morehead campus site director and associate professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, is the grant’s principal investigator.

“The UKPA program is honored to receive this training grant from HRSA to increase access to integrative behavioral health in primary care in our underserved communities,” said Irving. “Our collaborative relationships within the College of Health Sciences, across the university and throughout the Commonwealth uniquely equip us to partner on sustainable solutions to critical health care needs.”

In 2019, the United Health Foundation ranked Kentucky 43 out of 50 states in overall health. In the Appalachia region of Kentucky, mortality from heart disease is 32% higher and mortality from cancer is 18% higher than the national average.

The number of primary care physicians per 100,000 people in the population is 33% lower in the central region of Appalachian Kentucky than the national average.

The program’s purpose is to develop clinical rotations for primary care physician assistant students in rural areas. The rotations must be at least three months long, and they will integrate behavioral health with primary care services. This program addresses PA training for behavioral health conditions, including prevention, identification, diagnosis, treatment and referral services.

“The goal is to increase the number of PAs trained to deliver these services in rural areas, including medications for opioid use disorder,” said Virginia L. Valentin, D.P.H., a certified PA and department chair of Physician Assistant Studies.

“This is the first HRSA grant for the department in a while, and we are so excited to be funded to do work that clearly aligns with our mission. This project will allow us to increase our focus on integrated behavioral health training and increase the opportunities to train in rural Kentucky, which will allow our students to be prepared to meet the needs of Kentucky,” said Valentin.  

“Appalachia has long been recognized by HRSA as a primary and behavioral health care workforce shortage area,” Irving said. “This work supports the development of a highly trained PA workforce to bring these critical services where they are most needed.”

College of Health Sciences Dean Scott Lephart, Ph.D., said he is excited for the college to be training this next generation of providers.

“Our talented PA faculty and staff are helping to step up to train those who will continue to fill the gap and provide health care for the people of the Commonwealth,” said Lephart. “I cannot say enough how proud we are of this group and how they set an example for all of us in the college to follow. Congratulations to them on their continued success.”

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $309,466 with 0% financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.