Cookeville RAM Clinic Needs Dental, Vision Professional Volunteers

Remote Area Medical is coming to Cookeville and is need of dental and vision professionals to volunteer for its March clinic.

Senior Volunteer Coordinator Loni Maughan said they cannot have these clinics without the generosity of volunteers. Maughan said dentists would provide extractions and fillings, vision professionals would help patients get glasses the same day they’re seen.

Maughan said this free service can change the life of a patient who cannot afford health care.

“She ended up getting glasses when she was 14, completely turned her life around,” Maughan said. “She realized she wasn’t a bad student, she just had some barriers that needed some help. Glasses helped fix that and she ended up excelling in school and now she’s in optometry school.”

Maughan said there is also a need for dental hygienists and assistants to volunteer. She said RAM will provide the equipment, but the manpower makes the difference.

“We all come together into a community and we work to help elevate each other,” Maughan said. “It doesn’t stop on that one day. The trickle effects that happen because of it. You never know how far they will reach.”

She said Cookeville clinics typically average about 500 patients, but expects less because of COVID guidelines. Maughan said during the March 20 and 21 clinic, the first day will typically run from 6:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and 6:00 AM until 1:00 PM on the second day.

“Any time commitment that a provider is able to dedicate to us for that day, just as long as you communicate that with us,” Maughan said. “So we can make sure that you have patients and that we’re not overbooking patients, that’s very helpful.”

Anyone looking to volunteer can visit ramusa.org and click on the volunteer tab in the top right corner. This RAM pop-up clinic will run from March 20-21, and will take place at Cookeville High School.