Remote Area Medical (RAM) is returning to Pahrump for its 10th year of offering free medical, dental, and vision services to the community. The highly anticipated clinic will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5, 2025, on the Pahrump Valley High School campus, located at 501 E Calvada Blvd, in the Pathways building. Gates will open at 11:59 p.m. the night before each clinic day, with services beginning at 6 a.m.
According to Community Host Group (CHG) member Ryan Muccio, the milestone is a significant one for Pahrump. “This will actually be our 11th clinic, but it’s our 10th year hosting RAM,” he explained. “Most locations only get to hold one event, so the fact that we’ve been able to sustain this for a decade speaks volumes about the need in our community and the dedication of our volunteers.”
The clinic will once again offer a comprehensive range of services—all free of charge and with no income or insurance requirements. Dental care is always one of the biggest draws, with patients able to receive cleanings, fillings, and extractions. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Sean Yim of Affordable Family Dental in Pahrump, 10 to 15 patients will also receive free dentures.
Vision services include complete eye exams, with glasses made on-site whenever possible. For more complex prescriptions, glasses are manufactured off-site and mailed directly to patients. Optometrists travel from across the country to participate, including Dr. Kozlowski from Arizona, who has faithfully attended all ten years with his wife, a nurse. Additional providers are coming from Tennessee, Las Vegas, and beyond.
Medical services range from basic triage and general health checkups to women’s health exams, Pap smears, and vouchers for mammograms. Patients can also receive screenings for colon cancer, medication reconciliation, and counseling. Importantly, mental health professionals—including counselors and social workers—will be on site to provide support as needed.
While RAM provides the expertise and much of the equipment, it’s the local community that ensures the clinic runs smoothly. Muccio explained that each clinic costs approximately $30,000 in local fundraising to operate. “Those funds go toward feeding our 150 to 200 volunteers each day, housing providers who travel from out of town, covering the cost of tests like Pap smears, and even helping patients with things like gas vouchers when they have to travel from as far as Tonopah or Beatty,” he said.
The committee also occasionally covers urgent needs. “Last year, we were able to help a woman who needed surgery but didn’t have insurance or citizenship status that would qualify her for assistance. We were able to contribute $3,000 toward her procedure, which made all the difference for her health,” Muccio noted.
To support this year’s clinic, volunteers organized a community “Penny Wars” fundraiser. The event, spearheaded by longtime committee member Marlaina Porter, encouraged local businesses to compete by collecting coins and bills—positive points for pennies, negative for larger denominations. The friendly competition raised roughly $2,700, with Enhanced Aesthetics and Wellness emerging as the top fundraiser.
In addition, local business owners like Arlette Newvine of Newvine Law and Amanda Nelson at Top Dog Realty, as well as others, boosted awareness and donations by pledging $1 for every like, share, or comment on RAM-related social media posts. That effort alone contributed around $1,500.
Patients planning to attend this year’s event should be prepared to arrive early. “Most people line up the evening before, between 7 p.m. and midnight, though we’ve had people come as early as two days before to make sure they secure a spot,” said Muccio. Once gates open at 11:59 p.m., attendees will receive a numbered ticket and be directed to park and rest until the clinic opens at 6 a.m.
No qualifying questions are asked, aside from basic demographic information used for reporting and to demonstrate community need. “No one will be denied based on demographics, income, insurance, etc,” Muccio emphasized.
For a decade, the RAM Pahrump clinic has been a vital lifeline for uninsured and underinsured residents in Nye County and beyond. Thanks to the dedication of local volunteers, out-of-town providers, and generous community support, thousands of patients have received care they might otherwise have gone without.
“This event isn’t just about healthcare,” said Muccio. “It’s about dignity, compassion, and proving that when a community comes together, we can take care of our neighbors in very real and meaningful ways.”
The RAM clinic will be held Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Pathways in Pahrump. Services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
