Dr. Wykoff Featured in VICE NEWS Article

Dr. Randy Wykoff, Dean of the College of Public Health at ETSU, was featured in a recent article about Appalachian health care needs in VICE News.  The article, “Inside a Life-Saving Rural Clinic in Appalachia,” details the operations of the Remote Area Medical Clinic, a vast open-air mash unit staffed by 1,200 volunteers from all over the country that appears in Wise, Virginia, every summer.  It is part of the Ain’t No Grave series of articles highlighting issues affecting Central Appalachia.

In 2015, the clinic performed 7,035 dental procedures and gave away 840 pairs of glasses to 2,172 people who couldn't otherwise afford them. Dozens of other medical services were on offer: EKGs, ultrasounds, endocrinology, orthotics—all of it free. Patients camp out for multiple nights to stake their spots in line, endure intense heat on top of their pain, and sometimes wait all day for treatment.

Dr. Wykoff’s work with the state health rankings and his explanation of the five factors contributing to premature death was covered in the article.  Of the factors that contribute to premature death, two significantly affect Central Appalachia: behaviors and social circumstances.  The area has some of the highest rates of tobacco use, obesity, diabetes, and other preventable diseases in the country along with some of the highest rates of poverty.

The data Dr. Wykoff discussed helped contribute to the overall picture of the gaps in health coverage that contribute to the need for RAM Clinics.  He stated in the article, "By the time someone gets to RAM, there has been a failure in the system."

VICE News is Vice Media, Inc.'s current affairs channel, producing daily documentary essays and video through its website and YouTube channel. Its documentary TV-series premiered April 5, 2013 on HBO.