FHU Hosts RAM Dental Clinic, Serves 100+ Area Residents

Freed-Hardeman University's Remote Area Medical (RAM) Chapter made a difference in the lives of approximately 101 individuals by providing services valued at nearly $60,000 during a pop-up dental clinic held Sept. 30 through Oct.1, 2022, at the National Guard Armory in Henderson.

RAM, FHU's RAM Chapter and a group of campus and community partners organized resources to bring the pop-up clinic to the area.

"The turnout was both a reassurance of my purpose in starting this planning for the clinic and of the need for Remote Area Medical's services in this area," said Cameron Kuhl, an FHU senior business analytics major and former RAM intern.

RAM's mission is to alleviate suffering and leave patients in a better condition, according to Brad Hutchins, RAM clinic coordinator.

"It takes a village to make all of this happen - from determining the type of care the clinic will offer to flying in our RAM volunteers from all over the country," Hutchins said. Saying that dental care is one of the most requested services, he added. "In some cases, patients have gone an extended amount of time without care."

In Henderson, the clinic opened at 6 a.m. Friday. Half of the patients arrived the evening before to wait for the armory's parking lot gates to open at midnight. Each patient received a call ticket, which determined the order in which they were seen.