JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — A Remote Area Medical clinic brought life-changing health services to the Southern Tier West region on Sept. 14 and 15.
Over the two-day clinic at SUNY Jamestown Community College’s Jamestown Campus, 409 medical, dental, and vision services with a value over $205,000 were provided to 249 patients at no cost.
“Such a feat would not have been possible without the generous and amazing support of many medical providers, volunteers, and sponsors,” said Christine Schuyler, JCC’s Healthcare Initiatives program director.
RAM is a non-profit organization in Rockford, Tennessee that operates pop-up medical clinics across the nation. Their free-of-cost clinics deliver dental, vision, and medical services to underserved and uninsured individuals, providing relief and security to countless communities. RAM’s mission is to "to prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free, quality healthcare to those in need."
Under the leadership of Schuyler and Paula Snyder, JCC’s Cattaraugus County Campus executive director, the college served as the clinic’s community host group, spearheading the planning, fundraising, coordination and operation of the clinic. St. Bonaventure University’s BonaResponds behind leader Jim Mahar provided support in the planning and logistical operations of the clinic.
in medical, dental, and vision care to patients at no cost.
JCC also served as a community host group for RAM clinics in Olean in 2021 and 2023. JCC’s three community host clinics have served more than 900 individuals.
To illustrate the profound emotional impact of the RAM clinic, Snyder shared an encounter about how a young man in dire need of medical and dental care was “taken into the fold” by a multidisciplinary clinic team. He received medical care for an infection, long-overdue dental treatment, and was connected to a local provider for follow-up services. Volunteers also provided the man with transportation, medicine, medical supplies, clothing, and food.
"While the RAM clinic has the primary purpose to meet people’s physical needs, it simultaneously meets people’s emotional needs as they experience genuine support and care from the volunteers,” Snyder said.
The community-wide steering committee worked together for several months, garnering financial and in-kind support of businesses, organizations, and individuals, growing volunteer capacity, and directly providing services. In addition to JCC and BonaResponds, active committee members included UPMC Chautauqua, The Resource Center, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Canisius University, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Chautauqua County, and The Chautauqua Center.
Thanks to the generosity of many, more than $45,000 was raised to support this clinic and ensure a future RAM in Jamestown. Local sponsors contributed meals, snacks, lodging, advertising, and other supports for clinic operations and its volunteers and patients.
Some 400 volunteers assisted with the clinic. Oral surgeons, dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, ophthalmologists, optometrists, technicians, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and other healthcare professionals and students from the local region and across the state and country administered care services. General volunteers assisted with organization, set up, tear down, parking, and filled in gaps to help the clinic run smoothly and efficiently. Faculty and students from JCC’s Nursing and Occupational Therapy Assistant programs, St. Bonaventure’s BonaResponds, University at Buffalo School of Dentistry, Canisius University, and Penn State University worked side by side.
Community partners provided additional services and connected people to continued care. The Resource Center was on site for care coordination and referrals for follow-up services. The Chautauqua County Health Department’s mobile van offered health education and vaccinations. The Cancer Services program provided information and referral opportunities. Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s Amerigroup Medicaid Managed Care Plan provided assistance with the Medicaid and NYS Marketplace.
“From the sponsors who made this possible to the volunteers who gave up all or a portion of the long weekend to provide service to others in need, thank you!” Schuyler said. “The RAM clinic is especially important to rural and low-income families. Our healthcare system is fragmented and complex, leaving barriers to access and gaps in care, especially for dental and vision care. RAM clinics work to help fill those gaps and connect people with local service providers.”
JCC intends to continue as a community host group for RAM clinics in the Southern Tier West region, collaborating with community partners on annual clinics rotating between Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties.
For more information about RAM and to see how you can serve, visit ramusa.org.