Remote Area Medical (RAM Clinic)

Last month I had the opportunity to provide free dental services through a traveling clinic here in Gray, TN.  I had volunteered with this organization before and was very impressed. 


My experience is that RAM is one of the most organized and well ram clinics I have seen.  From the moment I arrived, they are very welcoming and appreciative to have volunteers.  They have a complete system from triaging patients, making great patient records, organizing the dispensing of dental materials/instruments, and sterilization.  RAM has become a well oiled machine and it makes volunteering for them easy and rewarding.


As much as I can brag about what a great clinic Remote Area Medical runs, its not what brings out all the volunteers....it's the patients.  People come from hours away, camp over night, wait in long lines all because they are in need.  We all know that there is a need for patients in our community but until you see how many people show up and what they are willing to do to get treatment, it is hard to grasp how great the need is.  Everyone I encountered was very appreciative.  Most had been suffering from pain for months and some for years. 



As a dentist it can be hard to provide free services at our own practices due to the overhead of running a business. Thankfully there are organizations like these that allow communities to come together and care for those who have no other means of getting the healthcare they need.

I look forward to participating again next year hopefully

Joshua Grooms, DDS

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