Students from the class “Human Health and Disease” (BIOL 385) volunteered at the RAM free health clinic on Nov. 1.
RAM stands for Remote Area Medical, and according to their website, their mission is, “to prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free quality healthcare to those in need.”
The organization organizes medical professionals and local volunteers to bring free healthcare to areas where it may not otherwise be available.
The Tri-Cities clinic took place Nov. 1-3 at the Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray, TN. All services are provided cost free to attendees and no identification is required to be seen. People are served on a first-come, first served basis, with parking opening at 12:01 a.m. and numbered ticket slots being handed out at 3 a.m.
631 people were served at the Gray clinic over the weekend with over $340,000 of medical care provided.
Students from Milligan helped at volunteer check-in and registration. If students had blood borne pathogen training, they were able to help in the dental clinic to sterilize tools.
“This related to our class by seeing how people are affected by diseases like the flu,” said junior Drake Shull. “It also helped us be better servant leaders by volunteering our time to those less fortunate.”
The clinic provided services in the areas of medical, dental and vision, including audiology screenings, hearing aids, glasses and x-rays.