The Power of Preventive Medicine

By Katie Ray ’24

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $68.2 million to 65 projects through its POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. This initiative allocates federal resources to support economic diversification and revitalization efforts in Appalachian communities impacted by the coal industry’s decline. Among the recipients, the University of Pikeville was granted $2 million to further its mission of serving the region.

In Prestonsburg, Ky., a 25,000-square-foot building, formerly home to Worldwide Equipment and recently donated to UPIKE, is set to become the Appalachian Center for Preventive Medicine (ACPM). Supported by the ARC-POWER grant, the ACPM will become a vital hub for healthcare innovation and preventive care in Eastern Kentucky.

Bringing together doctors, nurses, dentists, optometrists and social workers to serve the communities of Floyd, Pike, Martin, Johnson, Magoffin and Lawrence counties, the ACPM will address critical health concerns like cardiac disease, diabetes and chronic pain conditions that heavily affect this underserved area. The clinic will help reduce preventable conditions and improve health literacy through early intervention, screenings and education. The goal is a future where heart attacks and strokes are prevented, diabetes is managed before complications arise, and patients receive care that focuses on both physical and mental health.

Scheduled to open in 2025, this new clinic will also serve as an educational site for UPIKE students. Each year, 475 students will rotate through the center, gaining hands-on experience in healthcare. Students will collaborate with professionals from various fields, learning how teamwork can enhance patient care.

“Creating this interprofessional clinic is not just a step but a transformative leap in advancing preventive health in Eastern Kentucky. By bringing together students from medicine, optometry, dental, social work and nursing, we are not only training future healthcare professionals, but we are also fostering a collaborative approach to care,” said UPIKE Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Lori Werth, Ph.D. “This clinic will empower our community to prioritize prevention, improving health outcomes and addressing long-standing health disparities in the region.”