May 20, 2026
Ferris State partners with Remote Area Medical to provide free healthcare services to people in need on May 30 and 31
Free healthcare services will be provided at Ferris State University on May 30 and 31 through a partnership with Remote Area Medical, creating an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience while residents gain services they need.
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 can bring a free medical, dental and vision care clinic to Big Rapids for the second time.
The 2025 clinic provided about $250,000 in healthcare services to 265 people. Organizers said they expect to serve even more people this year as word spreads about the opportunity.
The clinic is open to any adult or child on a first-come, first-served basis; no proof of ID or insurance is 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. Patient parking lot will open no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday night, May 29, and will remain open 24 hours throughout the clinic weekend.
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.
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 1 million people nationwide have received this free care through RAM and its partners.
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.
“The event a year ago was inspiring because we saw our community come together to support people who need that assistance,” Johnson-Himes said. “At the same time, we saw just how many people in our communities are going without healthcare, and how difficult that can be for them and their families.”
Free healthcare services offered will include physical exams, lab work such as cholesterol, diabetes, chemistry, 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.
Many Ferris State nursing, dental, optometry, and pharmacy student volunteers will join medical professionals to serve patients in their field of study. Students across campus are invited to volunteer for other assistance throughout the event.
“Ferris State has always prided itself of providing hands-on experiences as they prepare for impactful careers,” Gustman said. “The RAM clinic provides opportunities to work side-by-side with professionals who are volunteering their time and expertise. Together, they will be making a real difference in the lives of people they care for.”
Volunteer providers 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 others.
Information about volunteering is available at this link. There is an acute need for dentists, optometrists, and ophthalmologists.
In addition to the clinics, human service organizations will be on-site to share community resources throughout the event. Community resources are encouraged to register and share information about the event.