This semester the Institute of Rural Health received a gift of $50,000 from the Good Samaritan Foundation.

Every year, the Good Samaritan Foundation, associated with the United Methodist Church, awards grants for healthcare and health education in the state of Kentucky. IRH received the money earlier this year.

The money will be used to help IRH provide medical services such as blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings, as well as health education for medical patients and dental services to southcentral Kentucky. They will also be offering dental exams, cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatments.

IRH will be purchasing Cavitron machines, which are used for teeth cleanings. The machines will replace the old ones currently being used which were purchased back in 2001.

Matt Hunt, director of the IRH, said students have been showing a lot of good support for all of the new equipment that the IRH has bought.

“It’s a great opportunity to allow the students to apply what they learn in the classroom,” Hunt said. “They learn the theory, they learn all these techniques in a classroom, but it’s nice when they go and provide the services and get the hands-on experience.”