The first class of 30 students at the new UK College of Medicine Bowling Green campus was seated Monday and includes seven WKU graduates.

The new campus, which was a collaboration between UK and WKU, opened for its week-long orientation on Monday.

“This is an opportunity for them to understand what it means to be a medical school student,” said Don Brown, director of medical education at the Medical Center, referring to the orientation. “They are a very impressive group. We are so excited.”

Brown said that UK built the new medical school in Bowling Green to address a lack of physicians in the state and to provide local medical training for students who may not be able to attend other UK regional medical campuses.

There will be a white coat ceremony in Van Meter Hall at 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, to recognize the students starting medical school. Classes at the new facility will start on Aug. 6.

Nicole Ziege can be reached at 270-745-6011 and [email protected]. Follow Nicole Ziege on Twitter at @NicoleZiege.