REMOTE AREA MEDICAL May 2016 | Volume 3 - Issue 1
“I will be so happy to feel good about myself and my appearance.”
RAM’S DENTURE LAB Restoring Smiles and Hope P. 24
Free Magazine!
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Appalachian Initiative
Seeing Clearly for the First Time
In one the poorest regions in the United States, health care is hard to come by. Find out what RAM is doing to alleviate the problem during our two year initiative to Stop the Suffering in Appalachia.
Cassidy was struggling to see her teacher’s writing in class. After mentioning the problem to her mother, they both came to our clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Cassidy received her first pair of eyeglasses.
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Greece
Mary Sue Hamilton
The Long View
RAM’s Chief Operations Officer Chris Hall traveled to Greece to witness the current refugee crisis firsthand.
Get to the Core of RAM with longtime volunteer and Dental Diva Mary Sue.
Vision care makes up almost half of RAM’s services at each clinic. Find out why vision care will only become more important moving forward.
Did You Know? You received this free magazine thanks to strategic partnerships, making each issue available to our supporters for a total cost of less than 80 cents per issue.
Remote Area Medical ® and RAM® are registered service marks of Remote Area Medical, Inc. 2
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Thirty one years ago, after dreaming of a concept to bring airborne medical relief to the Wapishana Indians of the upper Amazon with whom I lived for many years in the 1950’s and 60’s, I discovered that a lot of underserved folks here in America were paddling in the same canoe! In fact 46.7 million Americans live below the poverty line, defined as an income of $23,834.00 per year for a family of four. Imagine trying to feed that family with the price of milk running over $4.00 a gallon and bread more than $3.00 a loaf? One out of 4 Native Americans and people with disabilities are part of that grim statistic.
not seen rain in decades, and blizzards bringing snow twelve feet deep. Call it Global Warming, a passing trend, or the forecast of an apocalypse like that saw the demise of the dinosaurs. Whatever the reason, it’s here for a while, and by sheer coincidence so is the ferocious wind that is bringing man-made terror to the United States and ultimately to our friends in Canada, as well. We cannot afford to await the terrible events that have wrought havoc in Paris and Brussels. It is the responsibility of every American to be vigilant, and it is the responsibility of the RAM organization to play its part.
So, while our politicians in the world’s richest country try to figure out how to improve this sad situation, Remote Area Medical, with a name that implies its roots in the Amazon, tries to do our bit providing the health care they need but cannot afford. But now, the very rich, the middle class, and the very poor must face a new dilemma and the dire consequences it will bring to all of us. We have all noticed, and many of us have experienced, the dramatic increase of weather-related phenomena that our planet has brought to us. Hurricanes and tidal waves battering our shores, houses washed away, tornados hammering us all year round, earthquakes, forest fires, massive floods consuming places that had
That is why I am announcing a new program to train RAM volunteers to respond by land, sea, and air to disaster emergencies, whatever their cause - natural or manmade. We need more trucks; more airplanes; and rescue inflatable dinghies and rigid hull motorboats for plucking stranded families and pets from the roofs of flooded houses. You never know…the next disaster may be in your neighborhood. This is a challenge to our volunteers and supporters: please help us with your in-kind and monetary support to develop RAM DISASTER RESPONSE (RDR). Thank you, Stan Brock “Never Forget the Mission”
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Expedition #792 in Knoxville, Tennessee gave 557 volunteers an opportunity to help 618 people with their health care needs, providing $377,057 worth of free services.
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Quantity
In 2014, RAM offered me the opportunity to give back full time through a position as Chief Business Officer in addition to my volunteer responsibilities. During this tenure I was able to increase the capacity of RAM to deliver free dental, vision, and medical services by 100% through the addition of two complete mobile clinics.
v. Quality
While some of our clinics serve more than 1,000 patients over the course of two or three days, and our larger clinics serve more than 2,000 patients over the course of three or four days, the number of patients we treat says almost nothing about RAM’s effectiveness.
2015 brought about even more opportunity when Stan Brock, founder of Remote Area Medical, asked me to join him in leading the organization and appointed me the first Chief Executive Officer in Remote Area Medical’s history.
Numbers cannot capture the impact of a tooth extraction from a hurting mouth, allowing the service’s recipient to once again eat and speak without pain. Nor can they capture the power of volunteerism and how smiling faces and warm attention can change a patient’s health even before a procedure takes place. RAM clinics are so much more than hubs of medical treatment. They are havens for our siblings, cousins, grandparents, neighbors, and friends, who have nowhere else to turn when ailments arise and accidents happen. We provide post operation statistics to put things into perspective for our supporters, to show the level of need for health care in our own backyards, and to somehow make statistical sense of a problem that people like Stan Brock have dedicated their lives to solving. Yes, RAM clinics serve hundreds if not thousands of people at a time, but the quality of care provided and the impact it has on individual lives will always be more important than the quanity served.
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As of the end of 2015, Remote Area Medical has delivered over $100,000,000 in free medical care over 31 years made possible by the generous help of over 100,000 volunteers. RAM currently operates free mobile health clinics in the U.S., free air ambulance in Guyana, South America, free dental and medical assistance in Greece for refugees, and ongoing disaster response in the Philippines.
2015 IN REVIEW 2,417
Children Served
25,439
Adults Served
10,070
Volunteers
$9,287,082
Value of Free Care Provided
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Jeff began his journey with RAM almost 10 years ago. He spent his spare weekends on RAM’s mobile vision units, making hundreds of pairs of glasses during clinics.
Each year’s successes provide an excellent base from which to increase service capacity in the number of clinics held, resulting in an increase in the number of patients RAM will treat. Stan, the Board of Directors, myself, and the RAM family invite you to join us on this journey of supporting U.S. community needs as well as responding to desperate global events through donating and volunteering. Thank you, Jeffrey L Eastman CEO Remote Area Medical
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Note from a Patient I went to the RAM services today in Rhea County & knew right away I needed to leave a review. My dentists, Drs. Taylor & James, were outstanding. They worked tirelessly for two and a half hours to completely rebuild my tooth so I wouldn’t need a root canal or extraction. I was dead set against either of those choices and they worked their magic to save it. They were the nicest, most understanding dentists I’ve ever had, and if either of them have their own practice, they can count me as a new patient. But, not only were they amazing, the whole RAM staff was as well. They went above and beyond to make you feel comfortable & help you each step of the way. No patient was treated better than the next. We were all met with the same respect, kindness, and compassion. I was in awe of the way they genuinely care about people and are doing their best to make a difference one person at a time. Such a bright light in a world that can seem so bleak at times. I will definitely be back to more events and hope to volunteer in the future. On behalf of myself and the thousands other people you help, Thank You!! - Jennifer People who regularly volunteer at RAM clinics do not need a thank you for their work. They choose to donate their time and effort for various reasons, but hearing someone give thanks is not one of them. Still, receiving letters and emails from grateful patients is always motivating and appreciated!
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Stop the Suffering Appalachian Initiative
The Appalachian region, stretching from southern New York to northern Mississippi, ranks among the poorest regions in the country. In 2014 we put forth an initiative to help one of the nation’s most impoverished regions, Appalachia. Our Stop the Suffering campaign aims to increase health care access in Appalachia by forming more Community Host Groups,
Appalachia’s Poverty Rate**
4,225,983 17.2% of the region’s inhabitants live below the poverty line.
Appalachia’s Unemployment Rate**
760,935
6.5% of the region’s inhabitants are unemployed
** Data provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission and accounts for 2010-2014 research.
holding more clinics, and establishing RAM Branches throughout the region. “...Appalachia still does not enjoy the same economic vitality as the rest of the nation. Central Appalachia in particular still battles economic distress, with
concentrated areas of high poverty, unemployment, poor health, and severe educational disparities. And recent economic data show that the region has fared far worse in the current recession than the rest of the nation” [Appalachian Regional Commission].
IMPACT IN APPALACHIA
We are sometimes asked if we only treat people after their health declines. RAM’s programs prevent pain and alleviate suffering through a variety of activities.
RAM PROGRAMS Impacting communities through primary and preventive care
By Amanda Weber
“
The Healthy Initiatives Program brings together local, state, and national organizations and agencies to provide valuable resources to the people we all serve, without duplicating efforts.
RAM’S
1,166
Children Served*
24,614
Adults Served*
12,495
Volunteers*
$14,008,111
Value of Free Care Provided*
* Statistics include all clinics held in the Appalachian region from January 1, 2014 through April 4, 2016.
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Photo / Anthony Bleyer
Amanda Weber
UT RAM Chapter students Aaron and Corey prepare for a long day of sharing healthy living information, tools, and resources with patients at the 2016 Knoxville RAM clinic.
RAM has a variety of programs designed to aid us in accomplishing our mission. Perhaps our most well-known are our Appalachian Initiative (formerly Rural AMerica) and our Reach Across AMerica programs.
address health needs in the aftermath of a catastrophe. Other programs, like the Healthy Initiatives Program (HIP) and RAM Rangers, support our mission through the delivery of preventive services.
These programs offer free clinics to improve community health on a grass-roots level, providing free dental, vision, and medical services to the under-served. We also operate internationally to serve those in need beyond our borders and we conduct disaster relief expeditions world-wide to
Benefits of RAM’s services range from short-term advantages, like the removal of obstacles to employment and a fulfilling life, to long-term advantages, like the diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, and even diagnosis of cancer.
We rely on generous contributors, volunteers, and advocates to make RAM programs possible. So far this year, RAM teams have conducted 8 clinics serving more than 2,100 people – and we’re just getting started with our busy season! Your support of our operations -- your financial contribution, your time, and your advocacy of our work -- is more valuable than just a mathematical return on investment. When you join us in our mission, you give hope and comfort to those who suffer with the knowledge that without you, they cannot afford a trip to the doctor or dentist. And for that, we thank you!
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Expedition #785 was held on November 21-22 at Manatee Technical College in Bradenton, Florida. Volunteers performed 1,054 dental procedures over the weekend.
FROM
TEXAS TO FLORIDA FOR FILLINGS
Courtney, a Texas native, began experiencing dental problems nine years ago during her pregnancy. “My teeth deteriorated dramatically. I would eat a sandwhich, and they would break off.” Nearly a decade later, still struggling with dental care costs despite having insurance, Courtney stumbled upon Remote Area Medical, a documentary about our work available on Netflix, iTunes, and Amazon. “I thought it was an amazing program, so I went to Google and looked into it.” She found our schedule, which
showed dates for two clinics in South Texas. Unfortunately, without a car, those clinic locations were too far from Courtney. Then, she spotted a scheduled clinic in Bradenton, Florida. Filled with a sudden burst of hope, she made some calls. “My mother lives here in Bradenton, and my family donated air miles to get me here! So I’m very excited and appreciative to be here.” Courtney has worked in the oil and gas industry for the past six years, but the insurance her company provides has a yearly cap, which prevents her
from applying her benefits to the entirety of her problem. “I went to a dentist and got a quote, and they would cost like $12,000 to fix. That’s so out of reach for me that it’s not even feasible.” However, her medical insurance would cover dental procedures as long as her medical problem was critical and definitely caused by her dental problems. “They told me that, in order to get help [insurance coverage] with my dental, I would have to get an infection in my heart, or
Courtney shares her story at 3:30 am before the clinic.
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something along those lines, before they would help me. It’s like, why does it have to get to that point? Can’t we do some preventive maintenance [laughs]?” Courtney’s laugh masks her frustration if only for a moment. It’s clear that she’s been circling the health care carousel for much longer than she could have forseen. At 30 years old, she’s beginning to think about longterm health and how insurance will play into her life in the future. “My mother had breast cancer, she had a brain tumor, and she’s had a lot of other medical issues over the years, so that’s scary for me. That may be on the horizon for me, and then
what am I going to do?” Millions of people share Courtney’s fear of serious illness or debilitating injury, and many of them have nobody to turn to for help. RAM volunteers ease such fears by doing everything in their power to restore health and hope at each clinic, so people like Courtney will have a little less to worry about. “I’m a single mom, I have sole custody of my son, and I’m the only thing he has. So I just pray that I’ll be healthy and good for him.”
Did you know? For $99, you can provide dental care for 3 patients at the next RAM clinic. Check out ramusa.org/donate for ways to help!
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At RAM clinics, volunteers help patients
SEE BETTER AND
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SEEING CLEARLY FOR THE
FIRST TIME
Cassidy struggled to see her teacher’s writing during class. Cassidy is a bright girl, accustomed to making good grades in school, so when her strain to see in class impacted her ability to learn, she decided to speak up about her blurred vision. She told her mother, who decided it was time to visit an eye doctor. Without vision
insurance, Cassidy’s mom had to search for alternatives, and within a couple of weeks they were in line at a RAM clinic. Minutes before Cassidy received her new glasses, she looked across the clinic venue and spotted a large clock high on the wall. She said, “I can’t read the numbers, but I can
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I can see the numbers on the clock now!
tell what time it is because I know where the numbers are.” Cassidy had adapted to the problem by piecing together her environment, filling vision gaps with guesses when things got fuzzy. Last year RAM Volunteers produced 9,001 pairs of eyeglasses over the course
of roughly 70 clinic days, and while the majority of patients were adults, volunteers treated 2,417 children like Cassidy. “It has made a huge difference, really,” said Cassidy’s mother five weeks after the clinic. “She was getting C’s, and now she’s getting A’s and B’s.”
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”
Did you know?
For $22, you can provide vision care for 4 patients at the next RAM clinic. Check out ramusa.org/donate for ways to help!
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RAM Volunteers Sam Lucchini-Lee and Paul Williams worked long days aiding families in Lesbos.
Crowds gather outside of a refugee camp in Elaionas, Achaea, Greece.
Thousands of discarded life vests and deflated rafts line the shores of Greek islands.
Chris [right] spent a day shadowing Dr. Nasa, DMD [middle], who has been performing free dental surgeries on hurting refugees.
Migrants Refugees
Since June of 2015 Stan Brock has been heavily involved in studying the Greece refugee crisis and corresponding with Greek authorities to gather intelligence. At the end of 2015 he formed a team of volunteers to assist with the crisis. These volunteers risked their lives pulling refugees ashore from dilapidated rafts and giving them basic medical care once safely on the ground. As months passed, the crisis in Greece evolved and continues to evolve to this day. Under the guidance of Stan, I set out to evaluate the situation and best assess how RAM might mitigate this crisis with our available resources. My first stop was to speak at the global Remote Health Care Conference in Abu Dhabi. Then, I visited Athens, Greece where I witnessed the crisis firsthand. The conditions of the refugee camps are dire, and access to health care
is extremely limited. As the population of these camps increases, the access to health care will become more restricted and the conditions will worsen. RAM has a unique opportunity to fill some of the voids and address some of the breakdowns in the current health care situation. Our expertise in setting up mobile, short-term dental, vision, and general medical operations precisely meets many of the present needs. With the help of our dedicated volunteer staff and the marksmanship of our operations team, we could efficiently provide care to those with no other options, just like we do in the U.S. for thousands of people every year. As I sat on my hotel’s balcony during my last night in Greece, just above my computer screen was Acropolis. I thought about what it was like 3,500 years
ago when the structure was first erected. It was a sign of power and prosperity. It showed all other cultures that Greece was strong and could conquer any challenge that was thrown at it. Then I reflected on current times. The Greek economy is struggling, jobs are not readily available, there is a huge influx of refugees, and the living conditions are declining. How ironic that 3,500 years later, Greece is in a different kind of battle - a battle to help the people of this great land. RAM will play a huge role in helping treat the underserved in this part of the world, just as it does in the U.S. We will not be able to treat every person that has come ashore in Greece, but the ones we can help will have a new hope for strength and prosperity. I am honored to represent an amazing organization with reach that stretches around the world.
Human Beings By Chris Hall
RAM’s Chief Operations Officer Chris Hall returned from Greece with a new perspective on the international crisis currently unfolding. Photos / Chris Hall and Eric Kocher
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Hope Watson, DDS, pictured here with Ronald, makes time in her busy schedule and volunteers to fit denture patients at RAM HQ.
DENTURES RESTORE
SMILES HOPE AND
By Jill Stimpson
Many of the patients RAM provides with dentures have been living without their natural dentition for years, and their lives have been significantly affected by the loss of their teeth. Physical health, social interactions, and emotional and mental well being can all suffer when a person loses their teeth. An aesthetically pleasing and well fitting denture can increase an individual’s self esteem and improve their diet and physical condition. The mouth and teeth are the beginning of the digestive system, and individuals who have few or no teeth often suffer from a range of digestive related issues such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), acid reflux, frequent
heartburn, ulcers, stomach upset, diarrhea, and constipation. Many people without teeth also suffer from improper nutrition habits, which can result in major medical issues such as heart disease and diabetes. Some of these problems can be alleviated with a well made, properly fitting set of dentures. The majority of individuals living without teeth suffer quietly in a variety of ways. Most are uncomfortable meeting new people. They avoid social situations, are afraid to make eye contact, or talk, laugh, and smile only while hiding their face and mouth. Some have very little confidence and poor self esteem, which can cause anxiety and depression. Providing cosmetically pleasing
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dentures can give an individual a better quality of life by simply allowing them to feel normal. It feels amazing to have the power to change someone’s life, to give them better health and greater confidence. I am truly honored to be a part of RAM, providing this service year-round. EVERYONE deserves to smile. Dave, Otto, and Ronald were the first three people to benefit from RAM’s new in-house denture lab. The following statements were taken directly from our patient questionnaire.
Dave: I will be able to eat whatever foods I want. I won’t have to hide my mouth when I talk to people, I will be so happy to
feel good about myself and my appearance. Otto: I work with the public daily and always avoid looking at people when I talk because I don’t have teeth. Being able to look people in the eye when I talk to them and smile at them will be something I haven’t done in years. Ronald: I ran through a very rough patch in my life when I lost my job, home, wife, and kids. I go to court soon to regain custody of my kids, and I feel this service will give me the confidence to stand tall and speak without trying to cover my mouth. I will finally have dignity again! All three of these gentlemen
Remote Area Medical now operates a state of the art denture lab run by Denture Laboratory Manager Jill Stimpson, RG [left] and Denture Laboratory Technician Kim Worley [right], pictured above with Dave, the first of thousands whose lives will be changed by the addition of the denture program. came back for evaluation one week after delivery of their dentures. The increase in their confidence and self esteem
was noticeable in their communication and body language. All were standing proud, smiling, laughing, and happy!
Dentures no longer reserved for elderly People of all ages will benefit from Remote Area Medical’s new on-site denture laboratory. Trauma, gum disease, excessive soft drink consumption, and simple neglect are just a few of the causes of tooth loss that we see at a typical RAM clinic. One of our first RAM denture patients was a man in his 30s, who lost his teeth as a result of drug addiction. Even though he had turned his life around, he was unsuccessful in finding work. According to him, his new teeth restored his self-
esteem and he was able to go back to his career as a Graphic Artist. He also talked about how much better his health was now that he can chew again. RAM volunteer dentists have always done a great job restoring or removing damaged teeth. Now, having the capability to replace teeth provides a much needed service to hundreds of people a year in desperate need. John Osborn, DDS Volunteer Director of RAM Dental Services
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RAM RANGERS
The Vision for Remote Area Medical’s Youth Program
By Karen Wilson
The RAM Ranger program is designed to provide new experiences for at-risk youth and opportunities to explore their interests and talents in a non-judgmental venue vastly different from their day-today environment. Qualified volunteer adult teachers and mentors lead small groups of 12-16 yearold boys and girls in life skills development classes and technical instruction. Inner city children will discover the great outdoors and the joys of nature. Plains Indian kids will learn ranching and
horse management while camping in the mountains of East Tennessee. Some Guyanese youngsters have taken RAM Ranger classes in First Aid and are learning alternatives to slashand-burn agricultural practices while realizing a growing respect for the rain forest and its bounty. What makes the RAM Ranger program different from other agencies whose common mission it is to redirect wandering young minds and hearts?
The RAM Ranger program is not a boot camp, summer camp, or Scout camp. It is a unique effort growing from the grassroots tradition that has made the organization a world leader utilizing volunteers to deliver free health care to impoverished and geographically isolated populations here and in other countries. Trained, experienced volunteer guides and counselors will host groups on our nearly 200 acres of pastures, woodlands, and river frontage in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
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In the immediate future, RAM will make the acreage available for use as primitive camping opportunities, day camp sites for church groups, Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H chapters. Students will encounter few luxuries, but will develop self-reliance, inner strength, and self-esteem. A primary goal will be to infuse as many of the next generation as we can with RAM’s core values of respect, integrity, and compassion.
Stan Brock speaks to a group of U.S. Navy Sea Cadets, who utilized RAM’s property in Grainger County, Tennessee for survival courses led by Lt.jg. Todd Johnson, NSCC.
Sea Cadets establish a weekend base near the property’s river bank.
On February 27, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s youth program, Young Eagles, held a flyin at the property. Several private aircraft pilots came to the landing strip to give ground school classes and aeronautical instruction. Young Eagles also had the chance to climb aboard aircraft.
Young Eagles Chairman Gordon Meyer and his crew.
RAM Board Member Mark Scheuer flew his Piper Archer and gave a group of Young Eagles a lesson in aeronautics.
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GETTING TO THE CORE OF RAM
By Oriane Leake
Mary Sue Hamilton lives in Clinton, Tennessee with her husband, Jeff Hamilton. She has been working as a Waste Services Representative for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for nearly 25 years. As ORNL is a research lab, hazardous and radioactive waste needs to be identified, packaged safely, and disposed of. That’s where Mary Sue comes in! Her job day in and day out involves safely and efficiently disposing of hazardous waste - one of the many reasons we are so lucky to have her as a Dental Lead! Mary Sue started volunteering with RAM in 2011 through her church, and right off the bat, as a General Support volunteer waiting for her assignment, Elizabeth Larwood (RAM’s Most Traveled Volunteer) plucked her up and asked to put her blood-borne pathogen training to good use! From day one, she was in dental sterilization, cleaning and disassembling trays. Her very first tray had 22 teeth on it, and she exclaimed “Was this really all from one patient?” Indeed, “one patient, one tray!” is the mantra, and she has been volunteering with us ever since!
Oriane > So, how would you summarize your duties at a clinic? Mary Sue, laughing > You know what I do! I’m a Dental Lady! Our responsibilities are to conduct orientation for the professionals, make sure they have the instruments and supplies they need, and of, course, insure sterilization runs smoothly and safely.
O > That’s so outrageously important! Since you go to nearly all of RAM’s clinics, I have to ask - what keeps you coming back? What do you love about volunteering?
MS > Honestly, I just see the need out there.
When I see the statistic that we saw a thousand patients, that’s great, but even if I only helped five people, that is so good and worth it. I never lose sight that it might be me one day in that situation, and if I lost my insurance, I hope someone would help me out if I needed help. Volunteering with RAM, you feel like you’re a family. The RAM people are really a family, and we get to help people weekend after weekend all throughout the country.
O > What’s one memory that sticks out in particular to you?
MS > You would think it would be a dental one,
but this is actually vision! When I got to see a little kid that got their glasses for the first time, and they could truly see their mom’s face for the first time - that just makes you want to cry.
O > You’re making me emotional! Why do you think dentists and other professionals should volunteer with us? MS > At the end of the day, our return rate of
dentists, optometrists, and doctors really makes that point for me. When it’s a person’s first clinic, they have no idea what to expect, what kind of equipment and supplies we have - and then they come out and see that they really do only have to bring themselves, and that we are a professional organization. We’ve had a military dentist tell us we are “a top notch organization, operating at a militarylevel of professionalism and safety.” You really can’t beat that kind of praise, and just because you call it “Remote” doesn’t mean you can’t be professional! Once they come out to a clinic and see our patients, they realize they are really alleviating the pain and suffering of people who wouldn’t otherwise get the help. That feeling of truly helping others in need is what keeps me coming back.
She heard RAM needed help at Headquarters, and once again, she answered the call for help and started sorting and organizing supplies. Mary Sue heavily influenced our sterilization process, making it as clean, safe, and efficient as possible. We asked Mary Sue, now one of RAM’s Core Volunteers, about her experiences, and consider ourselves so lucky to have her come back again and again. Mary Sue consults fellow Dental Diva, Linda Nelson, at our recent event in Cookeville, Tennessee, where dental volunteers treated 487 people in need of care.
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Tournament Puts the FUN in Fundraiser On March 12, 2016 Landmark International Trucks, LLC. held a corn hole tournament at the Tennessee Smokies baseball stadium to raise funds for RAM. Landmark Trucks, LLC. built our mobile units, which transport clinic equipment and function as eyeglass production labs at each event. The units are state of the art and allow RAM volunteers to produce more than 300 pairs of eyeglasses from scratch over the course of a single clinic day. President Andy Jablonski was drawn to our mission in 2014, and he has since supported us in any way he can. At the end of 2015, Andy and his team began seeking sponsors for the fundraiser, which raised more than $5,000 for RAM operations. The event raised enough money to cover more than half of the dental supplies we used at our March clinic in Evensville, Tennessee!
Jeff Eastman, Stan Brock, Andy Jablonski, Chris Hall
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Introducing
RAM GEAR
An entirely new (incredibly comfortable) way to support RAM and raise awareness!
RAMUSA.ORG/SHOP Use the discount code
MAGAZINE1 to save 10% on your purchase!
Proceeds go toward our mission of preventing pain and alleviating suffering by providing free, quality health care to those in need. VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 - RAMUSA.ORG 27
PATIENT
PERSPECTIVE
By Eric Hutchinson
Who seeks help at RAM clinics? Is it the homeless population? Is it the disabled population? Who in the most powerful and influential country on the map is unable to access health care when faced with sickness or injury? The troublesome truth is that approximately 30 million Americans from all walks of life are still unable to join the health care system, and most of them hold jobs and have families. More importantly, all of them are people, and all of them matter. So even though you’ve never met Jane, when her genetic predisposition to gum disease robs her of her teeth and causes depression and low self esteem, she affects you. Not only is she less likely to play a significant role in our economy due to limited job options for people without teeth, she is less likely to eat a healthy diet, feel good in her own body, or be a positive influence for others. Our country is only as healthy as its unhealthiest elements. In a society based on interaction and transaction, a large percentage of sick, suffering citizens only inhibits our ability to flourish. While RAM clinics offer a haven for the Janes of the U.S., who have no other options for care, they also serve people with relatively “good genes” and good jobs. School teachers, nurses, college students, paralegals, and police officers are among the hundreds of patients interviewed over the years. Does RAM treat homeless patients? Sometimes, sure. Does RAM treat disabled patients? Yes, occasionally. But the majority of RAM’s patient population falls on the same spectrum as the majority of the U.S. population: working, tax-paying, family-raising people who struggle daily to make ends meet.
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Courtney, Business Admin
Joe, Paralegal “I’m a person who was used to having benefits all my life, and then the recession came. I was able to find work most of the time, but that work was temporary. It didn’t come with any benefits. It comes to a point where, you know what, you have nothing if you don’t have your health.”
Evelyn, Retired “I didn’t realize how much I needed glasses until it got to where I couldn’t read. I’m so grateful for the RAM clinic, because they did provide me with medical care, and it wasn’t a hardship on me. So I’m very, very grateful for all of the volunteers and the RAM clinic.”
Georgette, Nurse “I’m a single parent, and I have three kids. So dental work for us is extremely expensive, even with a little bit of insurance. It’s such a blessing to be able to have their teeth cleaned, and if they need fillings, to get those done. It’s such an expense, and it’s very important to do.”
“I have serious issues with my teeth. I went to the dentist and got a quote, and they’re like $12,000 [to repair]. That’s so out of reach for me that it’s not even feasible. I’m a single mom with sole custody of my son, so I just pray that I stay healthy and good for him.”
Gail, Disabled Peter, Retired “I had a fall, and it did some damage to my mouth, so I need to have some dental work done. Medicare/Medicaid isn’t paying for it, so I had to find somewhere else to get help. I’ve had to change my eating habits. I’m in pain, and I have some loose parts [crowns] that are beginning to fall out.”
“I hurt my back on the job in 2011 and wasn’t able to go back to work. I always had insurance until now. Life without it now is very hard. It’s hard. It limits you. I’m limited. It’s not a good feeling. You feel hopeless. You feel like, when is this going to end?”
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When You Contribute to RAM’s Mission You Are
Funding the FUTURE LEAVE A LEGACY
By leaving a legacy, you can continue your support of Remote Area Medical long into the future. Learn more about placing RAM in your estate, legacy, and will planning by contacting Don Mackay at
[email protected].
“It was such a joy to be able to get some medical care. Who says that? ‘A JOY TO GET MEDICAL CARE.’ I wasn’t stressed, because it really didn’t seem like a medical office, which was actually nice. Thank you guys again for what you do, you guys are absolutely AMAZING.”
- Liz
When you contribute... $22 $707 $15,905 You provide vision care for 4 patients.
You sponsor an hour of a clinic.
You provide dental care for 3 patients.
You cover the dental consumables for one clinic day.
$99
$7,069
You sponsor one full day of clinic services.
$31,810
You sponsor a 2-day clinic event.
RAM SEEKS CHAMPIONS Champions are people with the capacity to create lasting change in their own backyards.
With a donation of $1,000,000, a Champion will give RAM the ability to begin a RAM Branch in his or her state. With a RAM Branch established, a state will be equipped to hold more clinics and serve more people. A Champion’s gift will change the lives of thousands for years to come.
MAIL CONTRIBUTIONS TO: Remote Area Medical 2200 Stock creek Blvd Rockford, TN 37853 $1,000,000 provides two mobile units stocked with clinic equipment.
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CALL IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO: 1-865-579-1530
CONTRIBUTE THROUGH OUR SECURE ONLINE PROCESSOR AT:
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NO STRINGS ATTACHED
“
By Joshua S. Lewis
RAM has afforded me the privilege of serving alongside other faithful volunteers whose acts of compassion remind the marginalized of society that hope and love can still change the world around us.
”
In our culture of building resumes and personal networking, volunteering for a Remote Area Medical clinic is one environment where padding our personal portfolio does not exist. The patients being served, many of them children, have nothing that they can give you in return. They’re not interested in your business card, likely won’t become a client, and in most cases, you will never see them again.
However, serving at a RAM clinic provides one of the most rare commodities in our world today, an opportunity to provide
32 REMOTE AREA MEDICAL MAGAZINE © 2016
the dignity and care that all humans deserve with no strings attached.
The return on investment for the thousands of medical and general support volunteers who faithfully serve all over the U.S. is found in the internal reward of knowing that you helped to change a life. Are lives actually changed for RAM patients? Absolutely! But the lives of those who volunteer are also changed! Where else can you serve the marginalized of society and in a matter of hours provide the gift of selfworth that poverty or a lack of basic
health care has robbed from them?
In an election year in which political parties are jockeying for significance, a RAM clinic is one place where all of our diverse personalities and preferences are temporarily laidaside for one grand mission, to compassionately care for our fellow human beings who could not otherwise care for themselves. This is the heart of the human experience and this is the beauty and power of volunteering for RAM.
Joshua S. Lewis is a teacher, writer, and entrepreneur. He is a Master’s of Divinity student in Richmond, Virginia and volunteers for RAM clinics.
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*Michael J. Hogan,
Learjet 25
HOW (AND WHY) DOES ONE SHIP A JET
who owned Hogan Air when Stan piloted DC3s for the company in the 80s, has provided RAM with three planes for humanitarian purposes, including our flagship DC-3. This Learjet 25 makes his fourth aircraft contribution. RAM in turn donated the jet to the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School to enhance their curriculum and give their students an edge.
By Eric Hutchinson
In an engineering/transportation feat, the jet was disassembled and packed into a shipping container in Hamilton, Ohio; driven by a truck to a railroad station in Cincinnati, Ohio; toted on a train to a shipping port in Miami, Florida; lifted onto a cargo ship; and transported by sea to its final destination, Georgetown, Guyana, South America. RAM founder Stan Brock, a pilot who learned how to fly airplanes during his time in British Guiana, now Guyana, has done his best to give back to the impoverished country that raised him. On a recent trip to Guyana, where RAM operates a year-round air ambulance for isolated people in need of emergency medical attention, Stan, along with longtime volunteer and RAM Board Member, Dick Stoops, bumped into an old friend by the name of Malcolm Chan A Sue. “Malcolm is one of
the executive officers in charge of the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School,” reported Colonel Stoops. “Malcolm wanted to show Stan the school, so he gave us a tour. We were impressed by the whole operation. A lot of the students are teenagers - 16, 17, 18 years old - and that falls right in line with Stan’s vision of educating the youth of Guyana.” Because the school offers unique educational opportunities, enrollment is competitive. Malcolm
and his team do their best to provide students with handson experience in restoring and maintaining aircraft, and lately he has been seeking more advanced educational opportunities. “Malcolm mentioned to Stan that his school was trying to locate a Learjet of some sort, so their students could have a leg up on any other school in the Caribbean.” So, Stan and Colonel Stoops began the leg work necessary to find and acquire a suitable aircraft for the school. Thankfully, Michael J. Hogan* made his
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Learjet 25 available for the school. Then, the fun began. “I volunteered to be the organizer,” said Colonel Stoops, “but I didn’t know what I was getting myself into [laughs]. I coordinated with Jim Branam, Malcolm Chan A Sue, and the shipping companies for a couple of months. It took a perfect storm to make this happen, where the trucks, the shipping company, and Jim Branam were ready at the same time. So here we are. It all came together.”
Captain James Branam finishes the tie-down Captain Branam [left] and Stan go back some 35 years in aviation together. Jim was Hogan Air’s Director of Operations and Maintenance during Stan’s stretch with the airline. Captain Branam graciously spent several months deconstructing the jet and building a wooden support system, which served as protection for the aircraft during transport, as well as structural support for forklifts. His engineering expertise was vital to this project, and we thank him for his commitment.
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The L o n g View Why vision care will only become more important moving forward.
against deleterious genes that contribute to myopia,” writes Harvard Professor of Biological Sciences, Daniel Leiberman.
By Eric Hutchinson
would have kept the genes responsible for myopia at a minimum. Today, with the aid of prescription eyewear, those genes are easily passed from generation to generation. That is, eyeglasses might be leading to the need for more eyeglasses. In a study published in the medical journal Ophthalmology, researchers estimate the rate of myopia (nearsightedness) cases will climb from 23 percent today to 49 percent in 2050. That’s 49 percent of the planet’s population, which will account for roughly 5 billion people in 2050. Some suggest this upward
trend in myopia cases is due to increased time spent indoors. Much like wearing a cast after breaking a limb, our walls, computer screens, smartphones, and books limit our vision to short distances, causing a restriction in ocular muscle use. Similar to muscles immobilized beneath a cast, when we don’t consistently use our ocular muscles for distance
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The cost of corrected vision problems in the US is estimated to be $202 billion per year, and in 2015 RAM Volunteers produced 9,001 free pairs of eyeglasses, with a market-based estimated value of $3,150,350.
Thus, with the advent of corrective eyewear and our steadily decreasing utilization of distance vision, myopia seems to be here to stay. And if that’s the case, we’re going to need to modify our approach to caring for myopic members of our society. Thankfully, by strategically appropriating gracious donations and employing motivated volunteers, RAM is able to assist thousands of our country’s neediest in this regard. Can we solve the problem? Not likely. But doing everything in our power to slow its progression is our only choice, so far as we can see.
While the theory that corrective eyewear is affecting natural selection will be difficult to prove, “it is conceivable that since eyeglasses became affordable and common over the last few hundred years, there has been a relaxation of selection
vision, they diminish and can eventually become irreversibly weak. However, while spending too much time focusing at short distances likely contributes to the onset of myopia, there’s also an evolutionary twist to this growing epidemic. Before modern medicine, including optometry, natural selection
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No matter where RAM travels to deliver free health care, we can utilize the internet to keep our amazing supporters in the loop. We’ll see you online! FB.COM/RAMUSA.ORG
TWITTER.COM/RAMUSAORG
Sign up to volunteer at ramusa.org/volunteer
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Prevent Pain Alleviate Suffering
ramusa.org
