Eastern Kentucky to have its first autism center, new children's hospital

Aug. 14--PIKEVILLE -- For Pikeville Medical Center chief executive officer Donovan Blackburn, the new Appalachian Valley Autism Center will impact his family's life.

His 3-year-old granddaughter Ava Blackburn, who the center is named after, has autism.

Until last month, Ava and other kids with autism and their families in Eastern Kentucky had to drive three hours and wait up to two years to see an autism specialist, potentially missing crucial years of childhood development.

"We lose one to two years of the most essential, most critical developing years that we could lose," Blackburn said. "This is changing today."

Before, 120-150 kids with autism were traveling from the Eastern Kentucky region to the University of Kentucky.

Blackburn's family, Gov. Andy Beshear, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers and other stakeholders participated in a ribbon cutting outside the AVA Center Friday afternoon.

"Who are we if we don't give every child in the commonwealth the opportunity of true success, which means a specialist in those early formative years having the health care they need right here in Pike County and across Eastern Kentucky," Beshear said.

Blackburn also announced construction would begin on Pikeville Medical Center Children's Hospital with a groundbreaking ceremony. The hospital is set to be completed in January 2022.

The Children's Hospital will treat patients from birth to 18 years old, providing health care for more than 100,000 children in Eastern Kentucky, Southwestern Virginia and Southern West Virginia.

"I believe health is a basic human right and we have to start with providing health care for our children, so the two projects were celebrating here today are going to help children right here in Eastern Kentucky," Beshear said. "You don't have to drive two-and-a-half, three hours just to see the doctor you need. We cannot leave any child left behind and today we prioritize that."

The governor noted the importance of the day for Eastern Kentucky. He told the crowd of hospital staff, politicians and media that Friday was his first trip since March 6, before the state began shutting down to lower the spread of Covid-19.

The hospital will employ 50 full-time staff and add 200 positions in the following four years.

"Our region desperately needed that lifeline, including with new jobs and skillsets, education opportunities," Rogers said.

A $4.78 million Abandoned Mine Lands Pilot Program grant will fund the PMC Children's Hospital. On Thursday, Beshear and Rogers announced four other projects that received grant funding, including Dajcor Aluminum Extruding Mill in Perry County, the Prestonsburg to David Rails to Trails and Impact Outdoor Adventures in Clay County.

Blackburn said every dollar invested goes to building the future and jobs of Eastern Kentucky. Pikeville Medical Center is the largest employers in Pike County.

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