SPH supports HSC’s successful Remote Area Medical community clinic again in 2023
January 16, 2024 • News
More than 377 local patients were served, at a private health care value of $1.5 million, by Remote Area Medical (RAM) – a nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering high quality dental, vision and medical care to underserved and uninsured individuals – in partnership with The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.
All services were free, and other local collaborators included AMN Healthcare, Quest Diagnostics, Endless Hope, Alliance Texas Foundation, Pinnacle Bank, Tarrant County Diabetes Collaboration, McKesson, Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, Texas Woman’s University Dental Hygiene and Cook Children’s Hospital. Nearly 600 volunteers participated in the event.
For the last three years, HSC School of Public Health faculty, staff and students have joined in this effort to deliver much-needed health and wellness services to the community. The most recent RAM event was held at Fort Worth’s Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on November 4 and 5, 2023.
In addition to clinic services, 300 books were distributed in partnership with Half Price Books, 160 eyeglasses were provided to those in need, and fresh fruits, yogurt and vegetables were shared with 250 families thanks to the Tarrant Area Food Bank and Gardens on the Go.
A total of 5,360 volunteer service hours were put into this event serving the North Texas community.
“This year the School of Public Health assisted in more than doubling the presence of community partner organizations at the event, which worked to connect residents with needed resources. SPH introduced the Passport to Whole Health, facilitating introduction to in-person and web-based resources to promote overall health and well-being in the seven domains of health,” said Dr. Emily Spence, SPH associate dean for community engagement and health equity.
Dr. Shafik Dharamsi, SPH dean, noted that the School of Public Health is pleased to have participated in the HSC-RAM program for the last three years, and that this effort aligned well with the SPH vision of health equity in every community and in working to protect and improve the health and conditions of life in and beyond North Texas.
“An effort like this requires the work of many hands, and we are appreciative of all the SPH volunteers who turned out to support our university’s partnership with RAM and other collaborators to deliver these much-needed clinic and public health services to our community,” he added.
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