Help Provide Free Care
Your gift helps RAM provide free dental, vision, and medical services to people in need.
This past weekend Remote Area Medical (RAM®) had our first full-scale pop-up clinic of the year. The clinic took place at the Jacob Building in Knoxville, Tennessee. This clinic means so much to our staff and volunteers because it’s an opportunity to serve our local community and our neighbors. We often refer to this clinic as our “hometown clinic.”
We always appreciate an opportunity to be involved in our community. We serve Knoxville beyond just this annual clinic. Our telehealth team serves Knoxville and surrounding communities multiple times a week each month.
When Stan Brock founded RAM in 1985, headquarters was in Knoxville at Griffin Elementary School. Since 2014, we are now located just a few miles out of Knoxville, in Rockford, Tennessee.
Did you see this clinic featured on 60 Minutes on April 5, 2026? Watch it here!
Hometown Clinic
Our hometown clinic provided free dental, vision, and medical care to more than 1,250 patients. That makes this RAM’s biggest clinic in the last five years!
That’s 1,250 neighbors that had access to free dental cleanings, fillings, extractions, medical exams, audiologists, women’s health exams, eye exams, free glasses, and so many more resources throughout the weekend.
Support This Story
Your gift helps RAM continue providing free care to people in need.
RAM aims to remove barriers to care, such as cost, distance, access to care, and anything else that prevents people from getting the care they need.
Community Impact at Our Hometown Clinic
It took more than 1,300 RAM Volunteers to make this weekend possible. To our volunteers, thank you so much for everything you do. We would not be able to do this without you.
From general support volunteers to doctors, dentists, and optometrists, to healthcare professional students, to nurses, dental hygienists, and so much more; volunteers were part of every step in the clinic process. From the moment patients entered the parking lot, until they checked out of the clinic, they were supported by volunteers the entire time.
Transforming Smiles
RAM’s revolutionary, one-of-a-kind mobile 3D denture lab was at the free clinic in Knoxville. RAM was able to transform the smiles of more than 25 patients.
Patients lined up for the free denture service as early as Wednesday afternoon to ensure their spot in line. Some even sleeping in their cars for multiple nights, sometimes in below freezing temperatures.
For them, it was worth it for a new pair of dentures. This is because, without RAM, it can cost patients thousands of dollars for a new set of dentures.
While the traditional denture process can take weeks to receive a new pair of dentures, with RAM’s 3D printing technology patients can get a new set of free dentures in just a few hours.
RAM’s 3D printed dentures and mobile digital denture lab are making dentures more accessible than ever before. If you’d like to help us continue transforming smiles across the U.S., consider donating to RAM!
General Dental Care
Of course, not all of RAM’s patients need dentures; many needed fillings, cleanings, or extractions. At the Knoxville clinic, we saw more than 770 dental patients in three days.
Many of these patients do not have dental insurance, so getting their bi-annual dental cleanings and exams was not accessible. After being triaged by a dentist, patients’ most immediate dental needs are treated by our dental professional volunteers.
Patients are asked to choose between vision and dental services at our clinics. They are welcome to return and receive the other service the following day — and many do.
Improving Vision in Our Community
More than 530 patients received vision care at this clinic. Patients received a complete eye examination; many also left with a brand-new pair of glasses made especially for them.
Many of our patients do not have vision insurance due to the cost. They are often forced to go without glasses, use an old pair that no longer matches their prescription, or even use a pair of someone else’s old glasses.
At a RAM Clinic patients can leave the clinic the same day with a new pair of glasses. Even if they have a more complex prescription that cannot be completed at the clinic, their new glasses are delivered to them within just a few weeks. All of this is completely free for the patient.
Medical Care for All Patients
While patients often must choose between dental and vision care, all RAM Patients can receive medical care. At the RAM Clinic in Knoxville, nearly 500 patients received free medical care.
This included general wellness exams, women’s health exams, audiology exams, and much more. Patients were able to speak with healthcare professionals and get the medical care they needed.
RAM, Hometown Clinic and Beyond
More than 1,250 patients received the free care they needed, thanks to your support. If you or someone you know need RAM’s services, find a free clinic near you.
To support RAM’s mission and support us on our journey to serving our next one million patients please donate to the mission. You can even become a monthly donor to make an impact throughout the year!
We could not serve our patients without the hard work of our volunteers. Please volunteer and join us at one of the upcoming RAM Clinics near you!
Do you follow RAM on social media? Make sure you follow us to see what we’ve been up to, where we’ve been, where we’re going, and more.
Our blog is updated weekly, learn more about our mission, patients, volunteers, and more.
Download our free, 40th anniversary magazine.
Shop RAM’s merchandise and support RAM in style.
Walmart’s Spark Good Program allows shoppers to round up their change and donate it to RAM.
RAM was featured on 60 Minutes, again in 2026. Watch the episode here!
