VCOM-VA
Remote Area Medicine at Southeastern Virginia University
by Stephen Mitchell
Chapter National Representative
This year marked the 4th Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic at Southern Virginia University. On the weekend of March 5th, over 300 medical professionals, staff, students, and volunteers worked together to give free healthcare to more than 500 patients! The free clinic provided services exceeding the value of $120,000. Medical services included screening, women’s health care examinations, hearing aids, dental services including cleaning, filling and extractions; vision care including on-site examination and construction of prescription glasses; and osteopathic manipulative medicine provided by Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) - Virginia campus.
VCOM’s student organization SAAO (Student American Academy of Osteopathy) worked with Southern Virginia University to provide student volunteers for the biennial RAM free healthcare clinic. Over the course of two days, we had 21 VCOM OMS1 and OMS2 volunteers & three VCOM faculty and fellows provide basic osteopathic screenings and treatments to over 150 patients, providing over $20,000 in free osteopathic medical care. RAM was an incredible opportunity for students to meet and work with real patients who could truly benefit from the practice of osteopathic manipulative medicine. Screening and treating patients outside of the classroom setting provided a valuable educational experience for students where they improved their skills and gained perspective on the needs of the general population. SAAO members from VCOM were eager to be a part of this rewarding experience and to advocate for the Osteopathic profession.
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