~ PVN staff report
LURAY, Nov. 9 — The Page County Public Forum is presenting an online discussion this evening to introduce a program that’s coming to Page County next summer to provide free medical services, including dental, vision and women’s health needs.
Remote Area Medical (RAM) provides free quality healthcare to the underserved and uninsured through donations, community support and volunteers. Since its founding in 1985, the organization based in Rockford, Tenn. has served 785,000 people with $135 million in free care with the help of 135,000 volunteers.
RAM is planning a free clinic on July 9-10, 2022 at Luray High School. No identification is required, and patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Services being offered include:
• Free Dental — fillings, cleanings, extractions;
• Free Vision — eye exams, glaucoma testing, eye glasses made on site;
• Free Medical — general medical, women’s health.
“A great group of local professionals are planning a very important service to our community…,” said Page County Public Forum co-chair Nancy Boyer. “The RAM Medical Clinic is coming to Page County. It’s a tremendous undertaking that brings much-needed medical, dental and optometry free services to our residents. It also requires a large number of volunteers assisting in these professionals.”
Page County Public Forum hopes to inform the public of this program, answer any questions, and help draw interest among potential volunteers during an online discussion via Zoom at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9.
The panel for tonight’s Public Forum will include:
• David Switzer MD, FAAFP completed undergraduate studies, medical school and Family Medicine residency at the University of Virginia. He has been practicing as a family physician in rural Virginia in the Rural Health Center setting since 1997. In addition to providing primary care services in Page County, he is the current Medical Director of Population Health for Valley Health System, which serves communities in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. He is also President of the Board of the Page Free Clinic in Luray, where he resides with his wife and children.
• Laura Hunt Trull, PhD, MSW is social work faculty at James Madison University where her research and service focuses on rural health. She is a long-time volunteer with Remote Area Medical and is serving and the lead of the community host group for the upcoming Luray clinic.
• Chris Deibert is an Optometrist with Valley Eye Clinic. Dr. Deibert is the low vision provider for the Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped for a multi-county area. He has also served on the Executive Board of the Virginia Optometric Association. Locally, Chris is a member of Luray United Methodist Church and a Sunday School teacher. He has served on the Page County Planning Commission, and the Board of the United Way.
• Audre King, a native of Luray, is the founder and pastor of “The ER” Church (Eternal Restoration Church of God in Christ), founder and executive director of Living Legacy (a local community nonprofit organization), founder and visionary of the West Luray Recreation Center, and a marketing representative for Washington Gas, in Springfield, Va. Audre graduated from Luray High School in 2006, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Business Marketing from Ferrum College (2010).
• Ben Dolewski is the Executive Director of the Page County Free Clinic and Director of Practice Operations for Valley Health. Ben is spearheading the fundraising efforts of the Page County Free Clinic on behalf of the upcoming Remote Area Medical Clinic in Luray July 9-10, 2022.
In order to view and participate in tonight’s panel discussion on Zoom at 6:30 p.m.:
• Click on this LINK:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82000864690?pwd=U0lIRmJZUVlBSEdPOTd0ZmRMdTU1QT09
• Zoom ID: 820 0086 490
• Passcode: 789201
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Why not just make them officers and directors of Pioneer Bank?
That’s great having that to come to page County so many have no ins are can’t get medicaid Medicare don’t help with teeth eyes are ears crazy I need 7 teeth pulled and upper dentures I worried to death cause I don’t have money for that lucky pay rent my front tooth bad I gonna lose it I don’t want walk around like that sheww idk what to do