Conversations about clean water, ear implants and forensic pathology

     On July 11, the SURES participants met with  Jessica Kane, Community Engagement Director, Kentucky Waterways Alliance (https://kwalliance.org/).  We learned about the many issues pertaining to clean water that are addressed by this nonprofit organization.  The Kentucky Waterways Alliance is involved in a number of educational activities, assists in watershed planning and in restoring Kentucky's waterways.  They will also assist different volunteer groups who would like to organize service events such as stream clean ups.   Recently, the Kentucky Waterways Alliance has teamed up with the Sierra Club to address arsenic pollution of Herrington Lake-Environmental groups sue KU

     The following Monday, the SURF participants met with Dr. Matthew Bush, MD/PhD, Vice Chair for Research, Dept of Otolaryngology (https://youtu.be/sc8k3e12O7s.).  Dr. Bush described his career path, how he had spent time doing laboratory work pertaining to the mechanisms involved in hearing, but when he arrived at the University of Kentucky, decided to focus his research on clinical questions.  He told us that when infants who are hearing impaired received cochlear implants when they are 1 year of age, they rapidly develop and are at a level similar to that of peer groups when they begin school.  Children who received implants at later stages often do not benefit from this rapid developmental progress.  He is trying to understand why parents may not seek out clinical care at the earliest stages of the child's life.  He said that one of his greatest pleasures is being able to perform surgeries that have such significant consequences on an individual's life.

     On Tuesday, The SURES participants met with Dr. Shannon Crook (https://med.uky.edu/users/smu235#profileTab3) to talk about forensic pathology.  We discussed the involved training and how forensics pathologists interact with coroners and police departments to identify causes of death.  You can learn more about forensic pathology by watching this BBC documentary BBC documentary.