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Program broadens its bite

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
Published January 11, 2007

CRYSTAL RIVER - For 31/2 years Sue Grable, 64, has been a part-time dental aide instructor at Crystal River High School's Health Academy.

She has been a registered, certified dental assistant for 17 years and also works for the Citrus County Health Department in dental education.

Students at the Health Academy interested in dentistry can be introduced to the field through Grable's class.

That option has been expanded this term, making Grable a full-time teacher for now.

The academy received a SUCCEED, Florida Career Path grant from the Department of Education for $68,219 to add the classes. Denise Willis, Citrus County School District director of vocational, adult and community education, wrote the grant.

Students were surveyed for input, and the findings resulted in veterinary and radiology classes and an expansion of dental education.

"There'll be six weeks of each beginning with dental," Grable said.

There is a cap of 15 students for the class, and they will be introduced to head and neck anatomy, tooth anatomy, nutrition, pharmacology, microbiology, dental charting, sterilization, instruments, fillings, crown preparation, mounting X-rays and mixing cement.

Students also will get information about career opportunities. These include working in a dental laboratory, oral surgery, orthodontics, prothodontics (the production of false teeth) and repair of dental equipment and chairs.

Grable said she will continue to offer the dental aide class she has been teaching up until now.

The veterinary and radiology classes can take up to 20 students. The veterinary class will focus on medical terminology.

"That's underlining the whole thing," Grable said.

Students will work with professionals at Midway Animal Hospital. Grable hopes they also will be able to travel to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and Busch Gardens to learn about animal care.

Grable said a former Crystal River High School Health Academy student, now employed at Citrus Memorial Hospital in imaging, would assist her with radiology classes.

Students will be introduced to different types of imaging, including CAT-scans, PET-scans and sonograms.

Grable also said she intends to have guest speakers.

The grant provides for the programs until June, but for this term, at least, Grable said, "We're going to add a whole new dimension, (classes) all day," instead of just one block.

After that, it's a "we'll see" kind of at situation, but so far the funding has come when it's needed.

"They just keep finding money for me," Grable said.

[Last modified January 10, 2007, 19:59:27]