OCTC Hosting Open House Featuring Kidney Research Project

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (09/30/2019) — Since about 2004 Owensboro Community & Technical College students studying biology in Dr. Tim Dick's courses have been involved in Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) research, and some students will be presenting their findings at a regional student research conference in November.

OCTC will host a PKD open house for those interested in learning more about the project on Thursday, October 3 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Science building lab on OCTC's main campus, at 4800 New Hartford Road, Owensboro.

Dr. Dick, OCTC professor of biology, has a personal connection to Polycystic Kidney Disease, as the hereditary disease has affected several members of his family.

Besides leading this research project, Dick is the faculty mentor for OCTC's award winning Phi Theta Kappa Chapter, the national honor society for two-year colleges. In 2018 Dick co-authored a textbook with Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, Medical Ethics: The 16 Week Case Consult with Dr. Court Lewis, an interactive workbook designed to teach students the basics of critical thinking and ethical reasoning and how both skills apply to the field of medicine.

Dick received his Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in Policy, Ethics, and Biology, holds a MA in Cellular Biology from the University of Evansville, and a MA in Behavioral Biology from the University of Evansville. He has been with OCTC since 1986 and serves on several ethics boards in the community.

OCTC students Patrick Edge, Andrew Birkhead, Taylor Blandford, Eder Romero and Isaac Crabtree will be presenting their PKD research findings at the Student Research Conference in Paducah on November 8, 2019.

Two of the students involved in Dick's research work, Patrick Edge and Andrew Birkhead, are also Daviess County High School students, participating in OCTC's Early College program. These students attend class on site at OCTC during their junior and senior years, allowing them to earn an associate degree and their high school credential simultaneously.

Dr. Dick encourages student participation in projects like this to broaden their college experience. Involved students will assemble experimental protocols, present at an academic conference, and secure permissions to use specimens for research.

Dr. Scott Williams, OCTC President added, "This experience will give our students a distinct advantage when they transfer to a university and enter their career. We are very proud of their accomplishments and look forward to hearing about it first-hand."

The event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact bernie.hale@kctcs.edu.