Tennessee Tech students organize free Remote Area Medical clinic March 22-23
Volunteers set up temporary exam rooms in the Cookeville High School Gym at last year’s
Remote Area Medical clinic.
In just a couple of weeks, Cookeville High School’s lobby and gym will once again
be transformed into a free, temporary medical clinic, thanks to the continual efforts
of Tennessee Tech University students who have been preparing for months.
The Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic will be held this year on Saturday and Sunday,
March 22-23. It’s a vital healthcare resource for the Upper Cumberland – and it’s
coordinated locally by a Tech student-led group in health-related majors, under the
guidance of chemistry instructor Janet Coonce.
Sarah Beshara is this year’s student lead for the clinic, and she is a biochemistry
and molecular and cellular biology major on a pre-dental track from La Vergne, Tenn.
“I’ve been involved with the RAM clinic since I came to the university, and I’m excited
to be the student lead this year – but it’s a lot of work. Patients arrive at all
hours during the scheduled weekend to be seen by doctors, dentists and optometrists,
so we must have volunteers 24/7,” she said.
While most of the clinic’s volunteers are regional healthcare professionals – the
doctors, dentists and optometrists who give their time and expertise to examine patients
on a first-come, first-served basis – volunteers also help with set-up, parking, meal
service and clean-up.
Coonce said, “Sarah’s team has done an outstanding job working together in cooperation
with local Rotary members, organizations and businesses who volunteer to prepare a
successful clinic.”
In addition to Beshara, this year’s team of host group leaders includes: Katelin Veins,
fundraising; Lauren Knight, recruitment; Claire Pride, hospitality; Leah Secker, promotions;
Margaret Martizano, parking lot coordinator; and James C. Gray, M.D., volunteer medical
coordinator.
All RAM clinic services are free and open to anyone in need of care. No identification
is required, but patients are encouraged to line up in the CHS student parking lot
on Friday evening, March 21, and Saturday evening, March 22, and may need to be prepared
to wait overnight in their cars. Each patient may be asked to prioritize between dental
and vision services, but all attendees receive medical care after their intake.
The positive health impacts of the RAM clinic are undeniable. In 2024, 161 people
went home with new glasses, while 523 received teeth extractions and 178 received
teeth fillings. The total value of care delivered amounted to $343,533.
Eye exams are performed and eyeglasses made on site by optometry and optician professionals
who are among the healthcare providers who volunteer to serve the clinic each year.
While patients who participate in the clinic are quick to laud its benefits, the RAM
clinic provides more than simply healthcare – it’s a valuable, real-life learning
experience for all the Tech students who are involved.
Nursing students assist with triage, while nutrition students from the quantity food
production class, under guidance from School of Human Ecology Director Melinda Anderson,
prepare hot breakfasts each morning at 5 a.m. and clean the kitchen afterward. Local
churches and restaurants also contribute additional meals for volunteers, while Rotary
provides clean water and sanitation for the clinic.
And for Beshara, the clinic is a deeply personal endeavor.
“As an aspiring healthcare professional, I knew this was a service I wanted to help
provide. For many of the people who attend the RAM clinic as patients, though, it’s
often the only care they get all year,” she said.
This year’s clinic is expected to be even larger than last year’s, but with rising
costs, that means the students’ fundraising drive must also be stronger.
The Tech group, working in partnership with the Cookeville Regional Medical Center
(CRMC) Foundation, secured two first-time ever grants – the UCEMC Cares Grant, which
allows applicants in the service area of the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership
Corporation to receive up to $10,000 per fiscal year, and a grant from Chattanooga-based
Just One More, a foundation focused on mental health programs
In addition, they tripled their participation with Faithful Waymakers, a program that
allows charity groups to raise money by working concession stands at Nissan Stadium,
Bridgestone Arena and sporting and entertainment events at other large Nashville venues.
And a long-time cornerstone of the group’s funding is the Golden Helix 5K race.
“It was the most successful fundraising year in the clinic’s history,” Beshara said.
People who wish to donate to the clinic can do so through the CRMC Foundation at cookevilleregionalcharity.org. Click on the “give now” button and select “Upper Cumberland RAM Clinic” from the dropdown
menu. For more information on RAM clinics, visit ramusa.org.