The University of Pikeville and Pikeville Medical Center entered into a formal partnership on Thursday.

Pikeville Medical Center CEO Donovan Blackburn, and University of Pikeville President Dr. Burton Webb signed a “memorandum of cooperation” Thursday between the hospital and the university. The document makes official a working relationship between the two institutions.

Both Blackburn and Dr. Webb said the memorandum will not only impact the region’s overall health, but also its economic well-being.

The memorandum signed Thursday does not bind either UPike or PMC to any financial terms. According to the memorandum signed by Blackburn and Dr. Webb, both institutions can, however, work together toward cooperative funding opportunities, even if the benefits are lopsided toward one more than the other.

The agreement also paves the way for UPike and PMC to develop new healthcare programs and to develop the region’s healthcare providers. Webb said in a previous nursing class at UPike, 29 of the class’ 30 graduates went on to work at PMC.

Also included in the agreement, work will begin to eventually include the City of Pikeville in the World Health Organization’s Healthy Cities Initiative.

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