Tusculum College receives Hawkins Memorial Fund Grant for RAM Clinic

The Dr. J. G. Hawkins Memorial Fund of the East Tennessee Foundation has awarded a $12,000 grant to Tusculum College to support a two-day Remote Area Medical clinic on the Greeneville campus scheduled for November 8-9.

During the two-day event RAM provides basic medical services, dental work and optometry services and glasses to the public free of charge.

“We are thrilled at the support we have received from the Dr. J.G.  Hawkins Memorial Fund of the East Tennessee Foundation to help us put on this needed event in our region,” said Michelle Arbogast, associate director of foundation and donor relations for Tusculum College.

Health care services provided at the RAM clinic include comprehensive screening for diabetes and hypertension, procedures such as mammography, colon cancer screening, retinal screening using telemedicine technology, chest x-rays, pulmonary function studies and some gynecological procedures.

RAM is a Knoxville-based organization providing free medical care for the uninsured and underinsured, said Mark Stokes, organizer of the event and chaplain at Tusculum College.

“This is an event that suits the Civic Arts mission of Tusculum College. It is a documented need in the area, with more than 600 people expected over the weekend,” Stokes said. “We are hosting the event in conjunction with the community. We have hundreds of volunteers, not only from the RAM organization but from Greeneville and Greene County.”

Founded by adventurer Stan Brock in 1985, RAM is dedicated to providing medical and veterinary access in rural and remote areas to anyone who needs it, both domestically and abroad.