KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Remote Area Medical hosted its first free health, dental and vision clinic of 2022 in Knoxville this weekend.
Through the weekend, RAM said it served nearly 900 patients, providing more than $551,000 worth of free medical services to the community.
Those medical services included dental cleanings, dental fillings, dental extractions, dental x-rays, eye exams, glaucoma testing, eyeglass prescriptions, eyeglasses made on-site, women's health exams, flu shots, and general medical exams.
"It's been wonderful to see so many people come to take advantage of our services, and find relief from the suffering they've been in," said Dave Maurer, a volunteer with RAM.
Most of those services were administered by volunteers, like Maurer. He was just one of more than 1,300 volunteers at the Knoxville clinic this weekend.
"It's so worth it. It makes me feel as though the time that I took, taking off from work, and using my vacation time to come here was worthwhile," Maurer said.
Patrice Price was another volunteer at the healthcare event. She is studying dentistry at Howard University.
"To see a type of movement, like RAM, happen where patients can actually get treatment the same day is just so inspiring. It's just really making an impact through treating patients," Price said.
Price, alongside some of her Howard colleagues, came from Washington D.C. to volunteer their time, and skills with the RAM Clinic.
"I always try to get pretty active in the community and volunteered with RAM in the past, but they just make such a big impact in the community," Price said.
Price said it brings just as big of benefit to her as it does to the patients.
"I've learned how to do procedures I didn't learn in school. Just by the two days I've been here I've learned so much," Price said.
Molly Harris, another student volunteer said the same thing.
"I have learned so much of last few days, and this has been my first RAM clinic that I have ever done," Harris said.
Harris is a registered nurse at the University of Tennessee Nursing School. She said the RAM clinic gave her more perspective on the community's need for healthcare.
"It's great experience, great to volunteer and be part of the community," Harris said.
If you would like to volunteer at a future clinic, visit RAM's website or call (865) 579-1530.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect RAM's final official total of patients and services provided.