Stan Brock (1936–2018): founder of Remote Area Medical

Remote Area Medical

Remote Area Medical began as a mobile outreach effort and grew into an international organization that stages temporary clinics in communities with limited access to care. RAM’s model depends on volunteer physicians, dentists, hygienists and support staff who donate their time and expertise. Clinics typically operate for a few days in a single location and provide a range of services from routine exams and immunizations to extractions and eyeglass fittings.

Typical services and operations

• Medical consultations, basic diagnostics and minor procedures
• Dental treatments including extractions and fillings
• Vision screenings, prescription eyeglasses and referrals
• Logistics that rely on donated equipment, temporary clinics and local partnerships

RAM events often draw long lines of patients and require considerable coordination of volunteers, supplies and local authorities. The organization has worked in both remote rural settings and urban areas where people lack affordable options.

Impact and reception

Supporters credit RAM with delivering care to very large numbers of people who otherwise would have gone without treatment. The Independent and other outlets noted Brock’s role in rescuing or assisting millions of uninsured Americans through these clinics. At the same time, commentators have pointed out that volunteer clinics, while vital, do not substitute for comprehensive systemic healthcare reform and can expose underlying policy challenges.

Personal background and death

Born in Preston, Lancashire, England, Brock spent much of his adult life working in the United States to expand access to care through RAM. He was an outspoken critic of aspects of the U.S. healthcare system and used his public profile to advocate for vulnerable populations. Brock died of a heart attack on August 29, 2018, at RAM headquarters in Rockford, Tennessee; the site is noted in reports of his death as a focal point of the organization he founded. RAM headquarters in Rockford, Tennessee was where he passed away at age 82.