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Each summer Remote Area Medical (RAM®) hosts student volunteer interns. “Volunterns” as we like to call them — gain hands-on experience at clinics. They also learn more about what it means to be part of the RAM Team.
Hands-on Clinic Experience
The Voluntern Program allows students a chance to gain valuable hands-on experience at RAM Clinics. Brenna Luczak, a sophomore student at Washington and Lee University, sees her clinic experience as a chance to explore potential career paths. As a pre-optometry student, working at the clinics has allowed Luczak to see what it is like to interact with patients and get an inside look at the optometry field.
“Hopefully [the Voluntern Program gives me] more clarity on what I actually want to do career wise,” Luczak said.
Several students volunteered with RAM before becoming Volunterns. Emory University junior Lianna Levine decided to join the program with encouragement from a CORE Volunteer at the Cookeville, Tennessee RAM Clinic earlier this year. As a biology major on the pre-dental track, working at the clinics has allowed her the opportunity to impact patients’ lives.
“I think my experience at the clinics have been the highlights so far. I‘m a pre-dental student — so it is really amazing to shadow the dentists,” Levine said. “I have learned a lot about the different tools, and I kind of like working in sterilization, because you don’t always [need] the direct patient interactions to make a difference.”
Working Behind the Scenes
So, when they are not at clinics, what are our Volunterns doing? Each Voluntern pairs with a mentor at RAM based on their individual goals and interests. Students come to RAM with different academic backgrounds, ready to put their skills to use to continue to break down barriers to care.
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“I do grant writing for my [university’s RAM] chapter. It’s obviously a lot smaller of an operation. I’ve gotten a lot of good insights into how grant writing is done here — on a much larger scale. I have gotten lot of good tips and advice about how I can do my grant writing a little bit better for my chapter,” Levine said.
University RAM Chapters
RAM has chapters at more than 30 educational institutions across the country. Many Volunterns became involved with the mission through their university’s campus chapter.
The summer internship allows students to work, learn and travel alongside other students who are equally as passionate about supporting RAM’s Mission.
“It has been super fun being surrounded by a bunch of people around your age that have similar goals and spending your summer getting to know them,” said Luczak.
Summer is Not Over Yet!
What are Volunterns most excited for as the program continues? Many are most excited for the upcoming weeklong clinic in Texas. Volunterns will join RAM Staff and CORE Volunteers in participating in Operation Border Health Preparedness (OBHP). OBHP is an opportunity to deliver free, quality healthcare along the U.S. border.
“I am really excited to go to Texas — because I have gotten along really well with the other Volunterns. It has been an amazing experience to get closer to everyone. And I think we always have a lot of fun at the clinics in general. I am excited to have one more clinic to go to with everyone,” Levine said.
Working as a Voluntern at RAM during the summer is a unique opportunity for students. Students work with the organization beyond their school’s campus chapter. It allows students to make an impact on communities and create connections with likeminded students.
“I think it is a very welcoming and inclusive environment,” Levine said, “I am really glad I came this summer.”
Remote Area Medical (RAM®)
RAM’s free dental, vision, and medical clinics are possible thanks to donors like you. To donate to support RAM’s mission to bring these clinics to communities in need, please click here.
RAM’s free clinics are only possible thanks to the support of our volunteers. To volunteer at a RAM Clinic, or to learn more about volunteering, please visit our website. You do not have to be a healthcare professional to volunteer with us!
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