This past weekend I put my clinic skills to very valuable use at a RAM clinic. RAM stands for Remote Area Medical volunteer corps. Through this program, underserved populations in the United States are given access to free medical, dental, and vision care. RAM, and specifically the Rural AMerica program, brings free health care to rural areas across the country where people do not have access to basic health care services. All of the doctors, nurses, opticians, and general support help are volunteers, giving their own time and resources to the less fortunate.
The trip this past weekend was extra special since all of the patients were veterans from the US military. Being a granddaughter of veteran grandfathers, it was such an honor helping these men and women who gave so much for our country. While they thanked us repeatedly for taking the time out of our weekend to volunteer, we thanked them in return for their service overseas. Plus, I got to put my clinic skills that I have been perfecting over the last year to great use. I even tried my hand at some BIO, a clinical technique we are learning this semester.
A collection of pictures from RAM. Photos courtesy of Linh Hong.
Talking with the new first years showed me just how far I have come in only a year. Last year at this time I was trying to master the basics of myopia and hyperopia. Now I’m out on school screenings checking the vision of elementary school kids. Professors are already talking to us about our pre-clinic check outs coming up this spring! I’m looking forward to the challenging, yet exciting, times ahead as a second year.