Monday, March 31, 2008

 

Pike County Central High School To Host Two Day RAM Expedition In June

Less than a month ago, RAM (Remote Area Medical) organizers were busy building up interest in volunteers for the upcoming expedition at Pike County Central High School.

Now the focus is on ensuring the dentistry needs of attending citizens will be met.

Pikeville dentist Dr. William Collins and Andy Keaton of the Mountain Dental Society, has been gathering forces toward that goal with significant help from Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC), as well as assistance from both the Kentucky Board of Dentistry and the Kentucky Dentistry Association.

“Area dentists are beginning to step up to the plate and take care of their own,” Collins said Friday, adding that support from BSCTC has been vital.

Likewise, Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford has expressed a great deal of appreciation to those who have already answered the call to help out with this effort.

“We’re thankful for all the assistance and hard work that’s went into this,” Rutherford said, “and we’ll continue to seek out and encourage more people to volunteer for this good cause.”

As of Friday, one week after Collins started contacting local dentists and hygienists, organizers had 14 applications in hand from students in BSCTC’s hygiene program, in addition to another four applications from licensed hygienists.

“To me this is one of the best things that can be done for this area,” Collins said, adding that the target goal was to recruit at least 20 dentists and 5 hygienists for the RAM expedition. “A lot of people will be helped by this expedition. It will give them the opportunity to get the health care they need.”

There are also several other dentists, hygienists and students who have committed to fill out an application and take part, according to Collins.

To compliment the huge turnout from BSCTC students, support from Dr. David Narramore, president of the Kentucky Board of Dentistry, along with Dr. Fred Howard, president of the Kentucky Dental Association and Dr. Andy Elliott, delegate to the American Dental Association, have been key in seeing the dental needs of the RAM expedition met, Collins said.

The RAM expedition is scheduled for June 28 and June 29 at Pike County Central High School.

Medical professionals interested in volunteering can contact Sharon Turk, Director of Continuing Medical Education for Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine. Turk has worked RAM events in the past and can be reached by email at sturk@pc.edu or by phone at (606) 218-5155.

For further information about the upcoming event, contact Carol Napier at (606) 432-6246.





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