Many would think that working 12 hour shifts, leading Baptist Health Care’s Compassionate Care Committee and orchestrating the Hope Chest closet would be enough for Katrina Snider, R.N., Baptist Hospital Labor and Delivery. However, with an overwhelming commitment to serve, she had to do more for our community.
In June 2015, Snider, a Navarre resident, and her husband, Jeremy Snider, R.N., volunteered at a Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic in Loudon, Tenn. RAM clinics provide free dental, vision and medical care to isolated, impoverished or underserved communities.
In less than 12 hours at these RAM clinics, a group of volunteers converted an open area into a mobile medical center.
Katrina’s participation in the Tennessee RAM sparked the need to serve citizens in Florida.
In November 2015, she recruited two other Baptist nurses, Jessica Hope, R.N., and Chasity Martin, R.N., to travel to Bradenton, Fla. to volunteer at another clinic.
After witnessing the tremendous impact that these RAM clinics have on their communities, Katrina made it her goal and passion to bring one to Pensacola.
For the next 13 months, Katrina and a small group of volunteers gathered to plan the Pensacola RAM clinic. She spoke in front of City Council, petitioned the Mayor and local leaders for permits and approvals, secured a location at Milton High School and recruited sponsors and volunteers.
Katrina’s efforts recruited doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, optometrists, dental hygienists and many other licensed and non-licensed volunteers. From our own community, Katrina was able to compile 566 volunteers who donated their time and energy to her cause.
Finally, on Dec. 3 and 4, 2016, those volunteers gathered to help 587 people receive a total of 628 individual services valued at $247,166 at no cost to the patients.
For many patients, the RAM clinic provided medical attention that had not been checked in years. Now because of Katrina and her team of volunteers, they had important health screenings, blood pressure checks and vision testing.
