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It is an exciting week here at Remote Area Medical (RAM®). We have many new team members joining us! Each summer, student volunteers — or ‘Volunterns’ — intern at RAM headquarters and volunteer at clinics. Our 11 Volunterns will spend the next 10 weeks working to help us continue filling in the gaps in the healthcare system and learning more about RAM’s operation.
This annual program is a great way for students to get hands-on experience and spend their summer working in communities around the country to bring free healthcare to those in need.
Who Are Our Volunterns? —
Applications for the summer internship open each January. Before the Volunterns come work with RAM for the summer, they are interviewed by Ronnie Hatfield, RAM’s Senior Outreach Coordinator. Hatfield recommends that Volunterns volunteer at a RAM Clinic before applying to be a Voluntern. This gives students an opportunity to see what RAM does and to learn more about our organization.
“The RAM Volunternship is open to anybody enrolled in college who wants to learn more about RAM and our processes,” said Hatfield. “If someone is interested in becoming part of the program, I would encourage them to volunteer at a RAM Clinic beforehand.”
Volunterns are undergraduate and graduate students looking for internship experience over the summer. Many of them plan to attend medical or dental school or to work in the medical field in some capacity. While many Volunterns are looking to go into the medical field, it is not a requirement for the program.
We have opportunities for students of all majors, including opportunities in finance, development, communications, and much more. At HQ we pair student volunteers with mentors. Throughout the summer, Volunterns work alongside their mentor to learn how they contribute to RAM’s overall success.
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Your gift helps RAM continue providing free care to people in need.
Student Volunteers at Clinics —
With our clinic schedule ramping up in the summer, our Volunterns work. They are general support volunteers, helping us keep the clinics moving smoothly.
For many of our Volunterns, working with RAM gives them hands-on experience in the field they hope to work in. Future dental students can learn how to sterilize equipment. Students wanting to go to optometry school can get experience in dispensing, making glasses, and helping patients fit their glasses. All Volunterns get the opportunity to serve RAM’s patients and make a difference in their overall clinic experience.
Volunterns work as general support volunteers at clinics, setting up our clinics, and learning what it takes run a clinic. At the annual, week-long Operation Border Health (OBH) clinic, alongside the Texas Department of State Health Services, Volunterns use what they learned over the summer and are solely responsible for the setup of the clinic.
Skills Volunterns gain over the summer can be used to help them standout on applications, help them throughout their professional careers, and give them unprecedented insight into public health and social determinants of health.
Hear from some of last year’s Volunterns, Brenna and Lianna, and learn about their experience with the RAM Volunternship Program. The students discuss gaining hands-on experience in their field and developing meaningful friendships with other Volunterns.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Voluntern next summer, check back on our website. Applications for the Summer 2026 will go live in January. See what being student volunteers is all about!
Getting Involved with RAM —
There are so many ways to get involved with RAM and help us continue serving patients. Make a big impact through making a donation to RAM. We hope you will consider becoming a monthly donor. Your donations are the reason we are able to bring free healthcare to tens of thousands of patients every year.
Volunteers are the backbone of everything we do here at RAM. If you are a healthcare professional or a general support volunteer, you can volunteer at a RAM Clinic. We can’t wait to see you volunteering at one of our upcoming free clinics!
Mark your calendar! RAM’s first-ever telethon is coming on July 29th, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. (EST). This live event will be streaming on all of our social media platforms. Click here to follow us and don’t miss our telethon. If you would like to donate a raffle prize to the telethon or volunteer to answer phones at HQ, email [email protected]. Or call (865) 579-1530.
Don’t miss weekly updates to our blog. If you missed last week’s post, be sure to check it out. Hear from Dr. Rowdy Simon on why it is so important to volunteer in your community.
