By John Saccenti, Staff Writer
When area dentist Howard W. Silbersher retired in 2009, he immediately began looking for ways to give something back to the profession that had been so good to him.
Having worked as a volunteer with Operation Blessing in 2006 in New Orleans, as well as in Israel and North Dakota, Dr. Silbersher knew he didn’t have to look far for a way to help.
As a volunteer of Remote Area Medical, Dr. Silbersher recently visited New Orleans to provide free dental care to those in need.
”It was exhausting, but spiritually uplifting,” the Princeton resident said about his three-day visit. “Everybody there was glad that they were there, and nobody who went complained. We were all there for a common purpose and we all wanted to help.”
Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps is a non-profit, volunteer relief corps dedicated to providing free healthcare, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world.
During his time in New Orleans — Aug. 26 to Aug. 28 — Dr. Silbersher and a group of 20 dentists and four hygienists saw about 600 patients for extractions, cleanings and fillings.
”We were just trying to relieve people of pain and discomfort,” he said. “The people are very respectful and appreciative of the service we give to them.”
Founded in 1985, Remote Area Medical 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’s dental services — one of the group’s core services — have provided relief to thousands of patients over the years and has grown from offering only emergency extractions to include restorations, cleanings and fluoride treatments.
The people served by RAM include not only the poor, but the under-employed or those who have no access or affordable access to certain medical screenings
”We see more people who might be classified as the working poor, who have either part-time or full-time jobs but for whatever reason are unable to afford health insurance and or dental and vision insurance,” said Amanda Wilson, program associate with RAM. “We see quite a few patients in the 18- to 34-year-old range.
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., RAM works with local medical professionals and provides services on a first-come, first-serve basis with no eligibility requirements. Ms. Wilson said each clinic takes about a year of volunteer work to plan, organize and finally run.
”RAM clinics require the support of local health departments and health agencies as well as state boards of licensure,” she said. “Locally, we would like to have several teams of volunteers who are familiar without our operations that can come to our clinics and direct one area of the clinics.”
For people like Dr. Silbersher, RAM provides the perfect place to put a lifetime of skills to good use. A dentist since 1963, he closed his practice in Washington Crossing when he retired in 2009. Having volunteered for similar expeditions, he decided to continue practicing through RAM.
”As far as dental, it’s obviously a needed care, and they drive for miles,” he said of the patients he sees through RAM.
Part of RAM’s appeal, he said, is that they work to help those in need in America, rather than focusing exclusively outside the country.
”It is a magnanimous, unselfish organization that helps Americans,” he said.
For more information on RAM USA, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.ramusa.org.
[email protected].
