Student's dream sparks more than $300,000 in patient care at Harriman clinic in April

Student's dream sparks more than $300,000 in patient care at Harriman clinic in April

The Lipscomb chapter of Remote Area Medical celebrates its first year with more than 60 members and a visit to a rural Tennessee clinic to provide free healthcare to more than 300 patients.

By Andrea Zahler | 08/19/2026

In April, ten members of the Lipscomb chapter of Remote Area Medical (RAM), a nationwide nonprofit that coordinates the provision of free, quality healthcare, celebrated their first year as a student organization by volunteering at a clinic in Harriman, Tennessee.

Since 1985, RAM has offered free medical, dental and vision care across the country. Guided by their philosophy that access to healthcare should not depend on geography, income or circumstance, RAM partners with local leaders to bring medical professionals and communities together through volunteer-powered clinics.

Aubrey Davidson Seehorn (Class of 2026) first heard about RAM as a student preparing for her dream of becoming a doctor for rural communities. She reached out to classmates who were similarly passionate about healthcare access, and together they founded Lipscomb RAM. By the end of its first year as a student organization, the Lipscomb chapter had 61 members who participated in service and education opportunities surrounding rural healthcare.

"We were able to work alongside hundreds of others in dental sterilization, patient check-in and as Spanish translators," said senior biochemistry major Riley Robertson. "We had such a fun time getting to know each other, other volunteers and, of course, the patients. It was a blessing to be a part of serving over 346 patients and providing $307,633 of services in the span of just two days!"

"One of the most memorable experiences I had was watching a little girl run bravely to the dental chair to have her teeth cleaned. It was inspirational to witness her joy! I'm so thankful for RAM because they were able to provide her the services she needed," said Robertson.

"This experience opened my eyes to how powerful serving others can be," added fellow Lipscomb RAM member, Karla Rocha-Juarez, a sophomore biology major. "Every person I met had such a genuine, loving spirit, and it reflected the goodness of God in such a clear way. What I witnessed [that] weekend was something special."

Lipscomb RAM seeks to embody the values of both RAM and Lipscomb University in its ambitious service to others. In their first year as a student organization, they packed 40 gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child, partnered with People Loving Nashville's Monday Night Outreach program to hand out warm meals and essential items to the homeless community and volunteered at clinics in both Harriman and Cleveland, Tennessee.

They already have multiple volunteer opportunities planned for this fall, including helping with an on-campus Blood Assurance drive on Sept. 11 and trips to clinics in Sparta, Tennessee, and Stone Mountain, Georgia.

"I believe that if more people could see what I saw, they would feel called to volunteer, too, and be part of something truly meaningful," said Rocha-Juarez.
Students interested in joining Lipscomb RAM can reach out to them on Instagram @lu_ramchapter.