April 30, 2025
Volunteers of all kinds are needed to help provide free healthcare at Ferris State clinic through RAM partnership
You don’t have to be a doctor to help at the upcoming Remote Area Medical clinic that will provide free medical, dental, and vision care to hundreds of people at Ferris State University.
Physicians of all kinds are needed to assist during the event on May 31 and June 1. But organizers say they’ll need hundreds of volunteers to help the clinic help residents, with duties from registering patients to helping to navigate people to the right place – and even directing cars in the parking lot.
“This is a special opportunity for people at Ferris State and the greater community to give back and help people in need,” said Ferris State Nursing professor Stephanie Gustman, who is leading the effort with professor Becky Johnson Himes.
Volunteers can be primary and specialty physicians, registered nurses, nurse techs, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, phlebotomists, dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, oral surgeons, optometrists, ophthalmologists, opticians and -- and people who just want to help out in any way they can.
“We’re looking for medical professionals who can provide a variety of healthcare services. But that’s just part of it,” she said. “There are so many opportunities to lend a hand. There are volunteer roles for everyone.”
Organizers are also looking for general service volunteers to run the clinic efficiently including assisting in the parking lot, patient registration, set-up, tear-down, serving food, escorting patients from one service to the next, and more.
Many Ferris State nursing, dental, optometry and pharmacy student volunteers will join with medical professionals to serve patients in their field of study. Students across campus are invited to volunteer for other assistance throughout the event.
People can register to volunteer at this link by May 17.
RAM is a national nonprofit serving those in need with quality medical care. Through the support of generous donations and volunteers, the university and RAM are able to bring a free medical, dental and vision care clinic to Big Rapids.
The event is RAM’s first-ever clinic in Michigan and is expected to draw more than 400 patients from across the region and the state.
The clinic is open to any adult or child on a first-come, first-served basis; no proof of ID or insurance are required. Doors open at 6 a.m. and people seeking care are encouraged to arrive early. Translators will be available for patients who may not use English as their primary language.
The event is planned for Ferris State’s Ewigleben Sports Complex, 210 Sports Drive. Faculty and students from Ferris State’s College of Health Professions, Michigan College of Optometry, and College of Pharmacy, and several from other fields will work alongside professionals and volunteers from across the region to provide care.
Gustman said up to 250 volunteers will be needed for each of the two days. Volunteers should be at least 18 years old, though some ages 16 and up can assist if their parent is volunteering as well.
Helpers are needed from 5:45 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day, and volunteers can work partial shifts if needed.
Organizers are also looking for community services to participate in the event. Government agencies and local businesses are encouraged to have tables in a resource room providing information about support services.
RAM is a Tennessee-based organization that bridges the gap in the American health system by providing free healthcare services to those in need. Using large-scale mobile clinics around the country, RAM partners with local organizations like Ferris State to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and uninsured individuals who don’t have access to or cannot afford medical, dental or vision care.
Since 1985, more than 977,000 people nationwide have received this free care.
The need for medical care in Michigan is real, said Becky Johnson Himes, an associate professor in Ferris State’s School of Nursing. She’s leading the effort with Nursing professor Stephanie Gustman.
Mecosta County, where the clinic will be held, and neighboring Clare, Isabella, Lake, Montcalm, Newaygo and Osceola counties, are designated as areas with limited access to professional medical and dental healthcare.
Lake, Isabella, Clare and Mecosta are also among the top eight poverty-stricken counties in Michigan, according to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
For many, the clinic is the only way they’ll have access to this important care.
Free healthcare services offered will include physicals, lab work such as cholesterol, diabetic, chemistries, and blood lead testing. However, the range of services will depend on the local providers who can volunteer their time and skills to see patients.
Patients can receive dental care including cleanings, fillings, extractions and x-rays. Vision care includes eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions, and eyeglasses made on-site in a mobile vision lab.