RAM Clinic

Thousands of people from remote areas of Southwestern Virginia and neighboring states are provided free health care during the RAM Clinic event in July of each year. Hundreds of volunteers including physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, radiologists, respiratory therapists, lab technicians and students go to Southwestern Virginia for three days to offer free medical services to an estimated 6,000 people at the Virginia-Kentucky Fairgrounds in Wise, Virginia. The attendance at this event—one of the nation’s largest public health outreach efforts—illustrates the lack of medical care for thousands of people, particularly those in rural communities.

Comprehensive screening for diabetes and hypertension is available, in addition to offered procedures like mammography, colon cancer screening, retinal screening using telemedicine technology, chest x-rays, pulmonary function studies and some gynecological procedures. Full dental services are offered by faculty and students from the VCU School of Dentistry. To complete the full spectrum of healthcare, ophthalmology services provide complete eye examinations and a full-service eyeglass lab, where free eyeglasses are made on the spot.