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In Fort Smith, Arkansas, Remote Area Medical (RAM®) was able to serve 274 patients over the course of one weekend — providing more than $192,000 worth of free dental, vision, and medical care to people in the community. Despite the stormy weather conditions, 224 volunteers showed up to provide care to our patients.
One of these volunteers, Dr. Rowdy Simon, a dentist who recently graduated and opened his own practice, volunteered with RAM for the first time, alongside his younger brother. Dr. Simon traveled from Oklahoma to provide free dental care, including oral cancer screenings, tooth extractions, and composite fillings.
“. . .All these people here deserve treatment, and they deserve the best, so I want to offer everything I can to them,” Dr. Simon said.
RAM Clinics are all about helping each other out — volunteers helping not only patients, but each other too. From the start of the clinic, Dr. Simon saw other volunteers hard at work, making sure patients were taken care of and getting the care they needed.
“I have people who are medical students — have no relation to dental — who are jumping in, helping, just willing to help,” said Dr. Simon. “. . . A lot of, just willing hearts, wanting to serve people and change lives. So, it’s been really great.”
After learning about the RAM Clinic from his brother, Dr. Simon signed up to volunteer that day. He grew up near Fort Smith, and volunteering at this clinic was an opportunity for him to impact the lives of those in the community and give back. Doing volunteer work is important to Dr. Simon. He had previously worked with a group in Oklahoma, and he hopes to continue volunteering with RAM at future clinics.
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“If you really care about people and you’ve got a heart for volunteering — they’ve got it all set up for you, ready to go. All you need to do is bring your scrubs, bring your loupes, and be ready to help . . . because there’s a bunch of people who need help out here in Oklahoma and Arkansas, in all the surrounding communities,” said Dr. Simon. “We can really make a difference if more people help out. It only takes a handful of us to change the lives of these people around here, one tooth at a time.”
For Dr. Simon, volunteering at a RAM Clinic is not just about fixing teeth or the number of patients we serve, it is also about the connections made with patients. It is about having conversations with patients, being a listening ear for the patient’s needs, and getting to know them on a personal level.
He had one patient who had driven nearly seven hours from southern Missouri, because this was the RAM Clinic that was closest to her. “She had a mouth full of infection,” and she had been put on at least six different antibiotics that were not able to help. Dr. Simon was determined to help this patient get the dental care she needed.
“So, I told her, ‘You know, today’s the day that we get this figured out,’” said Dr. Simon.
He and his team were able to get all the patient’s affected teeth removed. Prior to coming to the RAM Clinic, the patient sought care elsewhere but was turned away.
“She cried, tried to give a big ol’ hug and everything after that. And [I was] just really just so grateful for the opportunity to just help out,” said Dr. Simon. “And she was just grateful that someone was willing to help, because nobody would help her [before coming to the RAM Clinic].”
This patient and many more over the course of the weekend left with better oral health thanks to Dr. Simon and all the volunteers who dedicated their time to helping out patients in the Fort Smith community.
Patients at the clinic had the opportunity to write their thanks to those who were serving them.
“I want to say, [this experience has been] just humbling. Because there’s so many people out here, in our backyard that need help. . . These people just want someone to help them with — take one tooth out, or do one filling, or do one thing and I’m just humbled to be here. I’m very, very happy to be here,” said Dr. Simon.
Join Dr. Simon and all our volunteers at one of our clinics! Please sign up today and join us in making a difference in the lives of patients across the country. The more medical professionals we have at a clinic, the more patients we are able to serve! If you are not a medical professional, we still need your help!
If you would like to help us on our mission to prevent pain and alleviate suffering, we would like to encourage you to please donate. If you would like to further your impact, consider becoming a monthly donor.
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RAM has provided free, quality dental, vision, and medical care to those in need for 40 years, across more than 1,500 clinics. If you know anyone who needs our services, please share our schedule with them, so they can get the care they need.
