Remote Area Medical Clinic @ Chua Vien Thong Tu Buddhist Temple in Houston

Nick Studer MD and me at RAM Clinic
Nick Studer MD and me at RAM Clinic
OTHER PHOTOS

The soldier in the photo with me is Dr. Nick Studer, an officer and MD at Brooks AF Base in San Antonio. He is an ER doctor. He was my assistant for the Remote Areas Medical Clinic that was held at Chua Vien Thong Tu Buddhist Temple here in West Houston. There were more MD volunteers and not enough dental assistants:) Nick had done a rotation with the Army oral surgeons so he felt pretty comfortable coming over to help out. He did a great job!

Remote Areas Medical provides medical, dental and eye care for folks who can't find a way to get treatment otherwise. I was impressed by the mobile facility they had for making eyeglasses and the clinic they set up overnight for dental care. The dental clinic had over 40 dental chairs! They bring a huge group of volunteers together to provide all these services. People from all walks of life who want to give back- MDs, Dentists, Optometrists, Nurses, Hygienists, Assistants, Translators, and anyone else willing to work hard to help set up, break down, and coordinate the clinics. It takes a lot of folks to put something like this on.

A few people I saw in dental were Nick and Dr. Brubaker both from Brooks AF Base San Antonio, as well as a group of five or six from the US Public Health Service (on their own dime). I also met Dr. Cathy Joseph from Plano, who traveled down to participate. There were also quite a few local Dentists, Hygienists, and Assistants there. Programs like this let you see the good in people.

I look forward to another opportunity to volunteer with this group.