Purchase AHEC
Murray State University
Room 225 Wells Hall 
Murray, KY 42071
Phone: (270) 809-4123
Fax: (270) 809-4125
Staff:
Loretta Maldaner, Center Director
Email Loretta Maldaner at: Loretta.maldaner@murraystate.edu
Purchase
Area Dental Clinic
Throughout
the Commonwealth problems of access to proper dental care are amplifying,
especially in children, due to the lack of dental insurance or available
resources. In September 1995, the Purchase Area Dental Clinic
was created in collaboration with the Purchase AHEC, University
of Louisville School of Dentistry, and West Kentucky Technical College
Dental Assisting/Dental Hygiene Program. Established to meet
the needs of children in the Purchase District who do not have resources
available to receive appropriate dental care, volunteer dentists
and students provide a comprehensive examination including cleaning,
fluoride treatment, sealants, restorations, and dental health education.
This successful clinic received the 2002 Community Preventive Dental
Award from the American Dental Association
and a feature article
in the January/February 2002 issue of the Kentucky Dental Association
(KDA).
School-based Science Enrichment Programs
An important goal of the Purchase
AHEC is to inspire students in western Kentucky to pursue a health
career. An inadequate background in science and math, especially
for minority and other educationally disadvantaged children, often
makes pursuing a health career difficult. To enhance the educational
preparations of students, Purchase AHEC partnered with the Carlisle
and Hickman county schools to implement science enrichment programs
in the classrooms. The Purchase AHEC staff work closely with third
and fourth grade teachers to create a series of hands-on activities
and experiments to augment the school's current science curriculum.
Every week, the coordinator brings to the classrooms resources such
as skeleton models, magnets, balances and test tubes designed to
help students master and apply basic science concepts.
Forensic Science
Targeted
toward high school students, this program engages and educates students
on the different roles and careers associated with forensic science.
Throughout the school year, students participate in hands-on activities
including DNA fingerprinting, chromatography, urinalysis, soil analysis,
chemical analysis, radiation detecting, and recreating a crime scene.
On-site visits, as well as guest speakers from the local forensic
lab and law enforcement offices, are scheduled to provide students
with the opportunity to speak to the experts. This program
is taught in conjunction with any level science, law or health occupations
class.
For more information, please visit the Purchase AHEC web site by clicking here.
