BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Daniel Goes is a Health and Human Biology student at Brown University. But last May, he and his mother, Simone, made the three-hour trip to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan because they wanted to help people in need.
They were among the more than 400 volunteers from 21 states and Canada, working to be part of Michigan’s first Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic to bring free medical care to people who need help the most.
“I volunteered at a RAM event in Ohio once. When I heard about this event and saw that it wasn’t too far from home, I really wanted to help,” he said. “It’s very meaningful work.”
Remote Area Medical is a Tennessee-based nonprofit that bridges the gap in the American health system by providing free healthcare services to those in need. Since 1985, more than 1 million people nationwide have received free care through RAM clinics.
Remote Area Medical ensures care is available to any adult or child presenting for services. There is no requirement to prove identification, residency, or insurance status. Care is provided on a first-come, first-served basis and many people patiently wait long before sunrise to be sure they are treated.
Using large-scale mobile clinics around the country, RAM partners with organizations like Ferris State University to deliver quality healthcare to people who don’t have access to care or cannot afford it. For many, the clinic is the only way they’ll have access to this important care. Translators are available for patients who may not use English as their primary language.
Mecosta County 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.
The event was organized by Ferris State Nursing faculty members Stephanie Gustman and Becky Johnson-Himes, who have volunteered at RAM clinics in other states and worked nearly two years to bring the project to Big Rapids.
Faculty and students from Ferris State’s School of Nursing, College of Health Professions, Michigan College of Optometry, College of Pharmacy, and several from other fields worked alongside professionals and volunteers from across the region to provide care.
Volunteer providers included 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.
By the end of the second day, 268 people received free dental, vision, and medical care worth an estimated $245,106.00 at the event, which ran from May 31 to June 1, 2025, in Ferris State’s Ewigleben Sports Complex.
The dental care included 214 dental extractions, 73 fillings, and 52 dental cleanings. Vision care included 175 pairs of glasses dispensed after eye exams. Skilled medical volunteers conducted 76 medical exams, six mammograms, various other laboratory diagnostic blood tests, and Narcan kits provided.
“The numbers are revealing, but more impactful to me was seeing the people bringing their families and children to receive care they would not have been able to afford,” Johnson-Himes said after the event. “You can really help change someone’s life by taking care of a painful dental problem, helping them see clearly, or assisting with another medical challenge.”
In addition to medical services, human service organizations were onsite to share community resources throughout the event.
“It was touching to see people, students and professionals, who I know are very busy share their time and expertise to help others,” Gustman said after the event. “It was a reminder of the number of people who need help, but also that we have a very caring community that is willing to assist people in need.”
Organizers are hosting the event at Ferris State University again this year. The clinic is scheduled for May 30 and 31, 2026, on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have any questions regarding attending or volunteering at the clinic, please visit: Big Rapids RAM Clinic.
Do you have a story to share? Know a rural organization or individual making a difference? Email Laura Stoddard, Social Drivers of Health Manager, at laura.mispelon@affiliate.msu.edu, and let us share your story!