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REMOTE AREA MEDICAL { 29 images } Created 21 Jul 2012

3:30 AM arrival, Friday, July 20, Wise, VA. Early morning darkness covered the hills and valleys, however, despite the rain 500 people had already lined up for free medical and dental care at the Remote Area Medical (RAM) three day clinic in SW Virginia. RAM has been providing free healthcare since 1985 for uninsured and underinsured Americans and for people worldwide. This would be their 674th expedition. RAM began as a parachuting operation in the Amazon founded by the humanitarian, Stan Brock.

People came from 14 states seeking care, and an estimated 1,700 patients were admitted for treatment the first day. A twenty year old had 20 teeth extracted. A mother of two who has lost her job due to poor eye sight came for eye care and glasses. A three year old had to undergo oral surgery for a root canal and front teeth extraction. These as just a few of the heart wrenching health cases I observed. There was a chronic pattern of poor oral hygiene and due to patients' extreme dental pain they asked for teeth extraction instead of teeth repair.
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  • A placard advertises the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela001.jpg
  • A chihuahu dog named Bella stands and leans on her owner the night before the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 19, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela002.jpg
  • Cody Stidham, Felicia Phyllishalundy and Jeremy Meade wait outside before joining the line outside the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia on July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela003.jpg
  • Joe Roberts, from Sutherland, VA, intending to have 10 teeth extracted, waits for his wristband number to be called at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela007.jpg
  • Patients wait for their wristband number to be called at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela009.jpg
  • A patient displays his number 499 and 500 ticket after entering the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela017.jpg
  • Patients wait for their wristband number to be called at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela013.jpg
  • Patients arrive at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela016.jpg
  • Patients wait for their wristband number to be called at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela019.jpg
  • Patients have their vital stats recorded at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela024.jpg
  • A patient has her vital stats recorded at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela023.jpg
  • Patients wait for their wristband number to be called for denistry care at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela040.jpg
  • Dentists organize their instruments at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela025.jpg
  • Dentists extract teeth at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela055.jpg
  • A patient has teeth extracted at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela029.jpg
  • A dentist cleans a patients teeth at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela026.jpg
  • A dentist prepares to extract teeth at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela027.jpg
  • A dentist extracts teeth at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela031.jpg
  • A dentist extracts teeth at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela030.jpg
  • Dentists keep the best preserved extracted teeth which are placed in a gallon jug of distilled water at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela060.jpg
  • Patients wait for their wristband number to be called at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela051.jpg
  • Girls help to distribute clothese at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela035.jpg
  • Remote Area Medical Founder Stan Brock oversees the clinic in Wise, Virginia on July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela038.jpg
  • A patient has an eye exam at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela041.jpg
  • A patient has an eye exam at the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise, Virginia July 20, 2012.  Organizers hope to bring free medical, dental and vision care to more than 3500 uninsured and underinsured people in the rural Virginia area.  REUTERS/Mark Makela   (UNITED STATES)
    RAM-7.2012-MarkMakela042.jpg
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