Remote Area Medical
Encyclopedia
Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps (RAM) is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based
, non-profit, volunteer, airborne medical relief corps that provides free health care
, dental care
, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States, and around the world. RAM was founded in 1985 by Stan Brock
, who worked as an assistant to Marlin Perkins
on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. The group's work was originally confined to Third World countries, but later shifted towards the US.
According to RAM, the organization has provided $33,079,038 worth of free health care to 357,368 patients with the help of 36,675 volunteers since its inception. Approximately two-thirds of this total is in the USA.
According to Brock, local licensing requirements for doctors in many states prevent his group from bringing out-of-state doctors to areas where their help is needed. Tennessee is the only state that has an "Open Borders To Doctors" law on its books.
Special exemptions have enabled RAM to hold a few clinics outside the state of Tennessee. One of these — in Wise, Virginia
— was the largest RAM clinic held to date. Held from July 25-27 in 2008, this 3-day clinic had 1,584 volunteers who provided 5,475 treatments to 2,670 patients. The total value of care provided at this single clinic equaled $1,725,418.
RAM is funded through donations and relies on volunteer physicians, dentists, nurses, pilots and veterinarians to provide care in poorer communities.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, non-profit, volunteer, airborne medical relief corps that provides free health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, dental care
Dental care
Dental care is the maintenance of healthy teeth. Forms include:* Oral hygiene, the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean in order to prevent cavities , gum disease, and other dental disorders....
, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States, and around the world. RAM was founded in 1985 by Stan Brock
Stan Brock (philanthropist)
Stan Brock is a British philanthropist who founded the charity Remote Area Medical in 1985.- Early Life :Stanley Edmunde Brock was born in 1936 in Preston, Lancashire, England. He has been known variously as a TV Presenter, Film Actor, Author and Naturalist.He was educated at Canford School,...
, who worked as an assistant to Marlin Perkins
Marlin Perkins
Richard Marlin Perkins was a zoologist best known as a host of the television program Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom from 1963 to 1985.-Biography:...
on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. The group's work was originally confined to Third World countries, but later shifted towards the US.
According to RAM, the organization has provided $33,079,038 worth of free health care to 357,368 patients with the help of 36,675 volunteers since its inception. Approximately two-thirds of this total is in the USA.
According to Brock, local licensing requirements for doctors in many states prevent his group from bringing out-of-state doctors to areas where their help is needed. Tennessee is the only state that has an "Open Borders To Doctors" law on its books.
Special exemptions have enabled RAM to hold a few clinics outside the state of Tennessee. One of these — in Wise, Virginia
Wise, Virginia
Wise is a town in Wise County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,286 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Wise County. It was originally incorporated as the town of Gladeville in 1874. The town's name was changed to Wise in 1924. Wise is named after Virginia governor Henry A...
— was the largest RAM clinic held to date. Held from July 25-27 in 2008, this 3-day clinic had 1,584 volunteers who provided 5,475 treatments to 2,670 patients. The total value of care provided at this single clinic equaled $1,725,418.
RAM is funded through donations and relies on volunteer physicians, dentists, nurses, pilots and veterinarians to provide care in poorer communities.