Steve Haist graduated from University of Kentucky (UK) College of Medicine in 1981. His postgraduate training was in internal medicine at the University of Kentucky where he also served as Chief Resident from 1984-85. He served in the National Health Service Corp from 1985-87, initially at Cermak Health Services, Cook County Department of Corrections, Chicago, IL and then at Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation, Whitesburg, KY.
In 1987 he joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky and earned a Masters in Science in Education in 1991. Over his 21 years at the University of Kentucky he served in multiple educational roles including course director for pre-clinical introduction to clinical medicine courses, director of the standardized patient program, clerkship director for a required ambulatory internal medicine third-year clerkship and as the Internal Medicine Residency Program Director the last five years.
He joined the staff of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) in July of 2008. As the Vice-President of Test Development Services, he oversaw the production of USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3 examinations as well as over 100 other examinations including sub-specialty certification, maintenance of certification, in-training examinations as well as medical school subject tests and self assessments. Furthermore, he served as one of the three individuals charged with guiding the planning and implementation of the Comprehensive Review of USMLE (CRU).
In August of 2018, Dr. Haist left the NBME and returned to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine as an Associate Dean to lead the College of Medicine-Northern Kentucky campus expansion. The inaugural class of 35 students begins their studies in August 2019. The new campus is located on the campus of Northern Kentucky University in Highland Height, KY. Northern Kentucky University and St. Elizabeth Healthcare have been outstanding partners with the University of Kentucky in this endeavor.