Volunteers are the heart of RAM, both literally and figuratively. RAM volunteers come from all walks of life. Some are highly skilled in a health-care-related field, and many others help by using non-medical skills. Everything RAM has done has been because of volunteer efforts.

Over the years, thousands of people have volunteered with RAM. Many are people who live in the local communities, helping out with their home project. Others are "regulars" who have been part of many expeditions.

Vital to the services provided are the professionals who volunteer. Nurses, paramedics, and EMTs are always needed to triage the patients. Dentists, dental technicians, and dental hygienists are core to providing dental services. Ophalmologists, optometrists, opticians, and optical lab technicians make the vision services function. Medical doctors serve patients at many expeditions, and audiologists, podiatrists, and massage therapists have volunteered at various expeditions.

Licensure is an important issue for volunteers. Tennessee has a law that allows volunteers who are currently licensed to practice their health-care-related profession in another state may volunteer in Tennessee without need for additional licensing.

Although RAM looks forward to the day when other states adopt similar legislation, RAM expeditions in other states have various licensing requirements.

One of the most striking aspects of working with RAM is the quality of the people who volunteer. RAM volunteers participate for various reasons, but the shared experience of serving others bonds us together as a team.

RAM always welcomes people interested in volunteering to come and be a part of an expedition. To volunteer, please fill out the volunteer application, and mail it to the address on the form.