SWI-AHEC and Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center partner to provide educational materials for regional schools

Regional middle schools and high schools can now borrow anatomical models for use in health science and science education classes, thanks to a new partnership between Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (SWI-AHEC) and the Southwest Indiana STEM (SwISTEM) Resource Center at the University of Southern Indiana.

Jane Friona, SWI-AHEC executive director, said her office purchased five anatomical models that teachers can arrange for "check out" and delivery at no cost through USI's SwISTEM Resource Center in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. Available are models of an animal cell, human heart, human lung model (with heart, larynx, and diaphragm), human skin (with hair follicles and glands), and human respiratory system.

Friona said some of the models are life-size reproductions, and others are enlarged to show greater detail. SWI-AHEC spent $1,500 to make these kits available to schools in the 17-county area served by SwISTEM Equipment Lending Service. For a map of this area and more information about lending procedures, visit www.swistem.org.

SWI-AHEC stands for Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center. SWI-AHEC serves the 10 counties of Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick. SWI-AHEC is part of a national network with a mission to improve health by leading the nation in the recruitment, training and retention of a diverse health workforce for underserved communities.