December 05, 2014

Media Advisory –Sustainability Grant Recognition

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to attend a recognition ceremony at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 8, at the Community Dental Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The dental center is at 1365 Douglas Drive in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts building. 

The ceremony will highlight the results of a $116,000 Sustainability Council grant in April 2013 to fund the Dental Hygiene Program’s move from a paper-based medical/dental record system to an electronic medical records system. The funds also enabled a move toward digital radiography, or X-rays, limiting the use of processing chemicals used in developing films. Digitization will save an estimated 240,000 sheets of copied paper per semester and allowed one of two X-ray processors to shut down. 

The change also assisted the program in providing dental hygiene care for area children and adults while also enhancing sustainability on campus.  Additional information about the grant is available here. 

Among the individuals available Monday to discuss the grant and the dental hygiene program will be Joan M. Davis, a professor in the School of Allied Health and Kris Schachel, sustainability coordinator. Jennifer Meyer, clinical instructor and Clarissa Voyles, the front desk coordinator, will also be available to discuss the benefit of the switch.