Alice Lloyd College and Appalachian Regional Healthcare Launch Allied Health Club Speaker Series

Alice Lloyd College is excited to announce an Allied Health Club Speaker Series during the Spring semester. In partnership with Appalachian Regional Healthcare, the series will bring healthcare leaders and practitioners from across the region to campus to engage with students interested in medical and allied health careers.

This initiative is part of ARH’s broader commitment to partner with Alice Lloyd College in developing the next generation of physicians and healthcare professionals who will return to serve the mountains.

The Spring 2026 speaker lineup includes:

• February 10 – Jamie Easterling, Chief Executive Officer, Whitesburg ARH
• February 24 – Stacy Ritchie, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Hazard ARH
• March 3 – Ashley Thompson, DO, Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician, Hazard ARH
• March 10 – L. Bart Francis, MD, Residency Program Director, Deputy Coroner, EMS Medical Director, and Clinical Faculty for University of Pikeville
• March 31 – Anthony Yonts, DO, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• April 7 – Tammy Allen, Director of Graduate Medical Education, and Melody Howard, Institutional Coordinator and Programs Administrator
• April 14 – McKenzie Nickles, DO, Incoming Chief Resident, and Clay Nickles, DO, Chief Resident

Through this series, students will gain firsthand insight into rural medicine, graduate medical education, hospital leadership, and the realities of practicing healthcare in Appalachia.

“At Alice Lloyd College, our mission is to educate mountain people for positions of leadership,” said Dr. Allison Southard, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “By connecting students directly with practicing physicians, residency leaders, and healthcare administrators, our partnership with ARH reinforces a long-term strategy to recruit, train, and retain physicians in the region.”

Alice Lloyd College continues to prepare students through a strong character-based education, emphasizing Christian values, and the value of work, equipping graduates to return home to serve and lead in their communities.

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