Remote Area Medical Founder Visits St. Louis Area In Donated Cessna Caravan

By Carmelo Turdo

 A Cessna 208 Caravan from Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps, crewed by founder Mr. Stan Brock and Mr. Wayne Hughes, made a recent stop at TAC Air St. Louis. The Caravan was on its first flight with 20 dental chairs on board from Knoxville TN to Sacramento, CA following its donation to Remote Area Medical (RAM) by FEDEX. The aircraft joins others in the fleet - Douglas C-47, Beechcraft C-90 King Air, and Cessna 206 outfitted with STOL kit, oversized tires, and an HF radio for use in the bush environment.

The Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps website  describes the mission:

"The Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps is a non-profit, volunteer, airborne relief corps dedicated to serving mankind by providing free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world.

"Founded in 1985, Remote Area Medical (RAM) is a publicly supported, all-volunteer charitable organization.  Volunteer doctors, nurses, pilots, veterinarians and support workers participate in expeditions (at their own expense) in some of the world's most exciting places.  Medical supplies, medicines, facilities and vehicles are donated."

RAM began bringing medical services to third world countries in 1985, and then also turned its attention to under served areas in the United States in 1992.  The U.S. "expeditions" have numbered nearly 350 and growing, with donated resources such as aircraft, medical supplies and most importantly, talent.   Please view the following video for a concise overview of RAM:

Please consider a generous donation to RAM: http://www.ramusa.org/contactus/donate.htm.  

Special thanks to Mr. Stan Brock, Mr. Wayne Hughes and Dan O'Hara of TAC Air St. Louis for photos and organizational information.