Benefits of being the home of an osteopathic college are more than just economic, spokesmen for three communities that have recently opened new medical colleges attest.

The influx of highly educated professors, students and staff members raises the educational level and expectations of the area's work force, all three said. Also, they said, medical school staff and students frequent area nightclubs and restaurants and get involved in civic causes. And - perhaps most important for rural communities - graduates set up family practices to serve what traditionally have been underserved areas.

Kentucky

Brad Hall is a native of the Pikeville, Ky., area and CEO of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

Pikeville, population 6,500, is the seat of Pike County, population 68,000. Its economy is largely driven by coal mining and natural gas production.

"It has been an amazing addition to our county," Hall said of Pikeville College's School of Osteopathic Medicine, which graduated its first class of 60 physicians in 2001.

The liberal arts-oriented Pikeville College was founded in 1889 and has a student body of about 1,100. In 1997, the school of osteopathic medicine welcomed its first class. Today, about 75 physicians graduate annually.

Hall said the college supports several high-paying teaching faculty and general staff jobs.

"But, even more importantly, our area has struggled for many years getting and keeping general practitioners," Hall said. "This school produces general practitioners, and they are putting them to work in the Appalachia region. We've truly reaped the benefits from the doctors staying here, setting up their practices and providing health services to our communities."

Washington

Michael Morales works in the Community and Economic Development Department for Yakima, Wash., population 85,000.

Starting in 2008, the Pacific Northwest Health Sciences University began graduating 75 new physicians per year.

"It has definitely created a lot of positive stir in the community," Morales said. "The money generated by the campus construction and payroll were a simple economic boost, but there are many more long-term benefits, such as raising the level of education for our area's work force."

Morales said the community is reaping an influx of young, highly educated professionals.

"We have a growing number of wineries and upscale nightspots that this population supports," Morales said. "It has definitely had a positive impact on our downtown businesses. They also get involved in civic events. Many are involved in our young leaders group."

Some of the older, established medical professionals also get involved as adjunct instructors at the college, Morales said.

"They come in as part-time instructors and then get involved in the medical school's social networks," Morales said. "We see it in increased participation, interest and volunteerism."

Tennessee

Claiborne County is in the northeast corner of Tennessee, near the border with Kentucky and Virginia.

Two years ago, the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine opened in a 105,000-square-foot building on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, population 5,000. The medical school is adding 150 new students per class.

"We're ecstatic about it," said Dennis Shipley, director of the Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce in the county seat of Tazewell, population 3,000. "It's had a tremendous impact on home sales. Students coming to the medical school know they are going to be here awhile and are setting up residence."

Shipley has lived in the county since 1964 and said many area residents grow tobacco and raise cattle. Some work in manufacturing, including at a medical supply company, whose owner chairs the new medical school.

"We're also definitely seeing students bring new talents into our communities," Shipley said. "They are getting involved, and we should retain a tremendous number of students, who will set up medical practices in the county."

Although the county of 32,000 residents has a good hospital and medical staff, "we're still a rural eastern Tennessee area that is economically depressed," Shipley said. "We're still hard-pressed for physicians."