Hundreds take advantage of free medical, dental and vision care at RAM event

This weekend’s Remote Area Medical event at Manatee Technical Institute, 6503 State Road 70, is Bradenton’s third time hosting the event, but the concept was born in 1953.

Founder Stan Brock was living in the upper Amazon with a local Indian tribe when he had a bad accident with a wild horse.

“The nearest doctor was 26 days on foot through a narrow pathway through the jungle,” Brock said. “So I thought maybe we need to bring those doctors a little bit closer than 26 days off.”

Brock began a campaign to make medical assistance easier for the remote tribes in the Amazon, and when he arrived in the United States 32 years ago, he saw a similar need for many Americans.

“The need now is the same as it was when I started this,” Brock said. “It’s mostly about dental and vision. These people simply can’t afford to go to the dentist and can’t afford to go to the eye doctor.”

Dr. Richard Conard spearheaded the effort to get RAM into the Bradenton area as part of the organization’s coast-to-coast efforts to get free dental and medical services to those in need. This weekend’s event is the organization’s 894th, and it’s estimated that by the close of Sunday, as many as 1,200 people will have attended.

Juan Ramirez was one of them as he waited for his number to be called inside the dental clinic where about 35 volunteer dentists provided services including cleanings, fillings and extractions. Two oral surgeons also were on hand to help with the more complicated cases.

“I work seasonal and can’t afford insurance and can’t afford to go to the dentist,” Ramirez said. “I’ve been in a lot of pain. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this without coming here. I’m very grateful.”

Patients actually began showing up as early as Thursday evening, according to Elizabeth Larwood. The north Alabama resident has traveled the country with RAM for the past 12 years as a volunteer.

“When I started 12 years ago, RAM was doing about 12 events a year, and now they are doing about 150 a year,” Larwood said. “I travel with RAM because I believe we all should help anybody we can. I tell people all the time that you’ll see everyone smiling because we want to be here. We want to help people.”

The overwhelming majority of those in attendance were there for dental and vision services. RAM CEO Jeff Eastman said about 70 percent of patients arrive for dental services.

“No matter where you stand as far as the big picture goes in health care in America, dental and vision can be unaffordable or aren’t covered,” Eastman said. “So far today, about a third of those coming in are unemployed, but we are getting a lot of families where both parents work and it’s hard for them to get out during the week.”

Eastman said putting on a RAM event takes not only doctors and dentists willing to give up their weekends, but a small army of volunteers. For every three patients, there is a volunteer to assist them.

“They give up their weekends,” Eastman said. “They give up golf or a day at the beach all to come out here and make a difference.”

Eileen Sweet is one of those volunteers and has done so for the Bradenton event each of its three years.

“I just feel very blessed,” Sweet said. “I don’t have any special skills. I’m not a nurse or a doctor, but I do whatever I can do just to help the people that have been lining up all night in all kinds of weather.”

RAM receives no government funding. Eastman said it’s all made possible by volunteers and private donations.

“So really, it’s neighbors helping neighbors making a difference in the community,” he said.

The event continues through Sunday at 3 p.m. with doors opening at 6 a.m. It is a first-come, first-serve opportunity.

This story was originally published November 11, 2017 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Hundreds take advantage of free medical, dental and vision care at RAM event."