Gamma Pi Chapter Gives Up A Weekend to Help Nearly 500 Prince George's Residents Get Free Medical Care

Several years ago during the pandemic, Gamma Pi Chapter fanned out across the Prince George's County community delivering free food to more than 60,000 residents who were impacted by the fallout from COVID. The chapter drew the attention of local media for its stellar work in the community during a dangerous time for public health. Gamma Pi Chapter was also given a Chapter of the Year award from the Second District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.. 

Last weekend, October 2-4, Gamma Pi took part in servicing the local community in a similar way by joining forces with The Links of Prince George's County (Mount Rose chapter) and the Iota Gamma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority to support and staff a weekend-long free countywide medical services clinic conduced by Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps (RAMUSA).

Led by Gamma Pi, more than 40 Omega Brothers participated throughout the weekend, including Omega Brothers from nearby Phi Nu Nu and Theta Xi Nu chapters who volunteered to assist. Bro. Quentin Wilson, DVM, heads Gamma Pi's health initiative and headed the Omega effort. Brothers worked in the rain for most of the clinic due to showers Saturday and Sunday.

The clinic was held on the campus of Prince George's County Community College in Largo. The free clinic provided medical, dental and vision services and was setup and conducted by RAMUSA, a well-known nonprofit that travels the country putting on the clinics by providing the logistics, equipment and medical staff at the venues. This is the second time RAMUSA has put on a clinic in Prince George's County.

Dr. Quentin Wilson, DVM
Gamma Pi Chapter

"It was an eye opening experience and as the Brothers who volunteered will tell you, yes there were folks streaming into the lot at all hours of the night to have the chance to receive medical care that they otherwise aren't able to get," said Bro. Dr. Wilson.

According to Dr. Shary Jones of the Links who was the lead organizer of the free clinic and a RAM volunteer, "Gamma Pi staffed the parking lot, which is where every RAM clinic begins. Patients arrive in the dark, some after waiting overnight, and the first faces they saw were Gamma Pi's. They set the tone of order and dignity for everything that followed."

Parking lots were open overnight Friday and Saturday. Overnight patient parking was permitted to allow patients to grab a spot in line and wait (spend the night) in their cars for services once their number was called once the facility opened 6 a.m.

Dr. Shary Jones  Links, Inc.

Dr. Jones added that preliminary data showed that 428 people were served over the weekend, which is an increase from 418 during the 2023 version of the Largo clinic also spearheaded by The Links. The amount of care provided over the weekend was valued at $276,701, she said. Vision was the most requested service, followed by dental. "It says the need is real, and it is here among our own neighbors. People do not wait in a parking lot overnight for care they could easily get elsewhere. Dental and vision care, in particular, remain out of reach for many, including working people and those with insurance."

Dr. Jones indicated that RAM requires arranging follow-up care for those who need it as part of clinic planning. "No one who needed more care left without somewhere to go."

The Brothers of Gamma Pi were honored and pleased to be a part of such a large and important community service event serving Prince George's County.

TV Coverage (featuring Bros. Dr. Quentin Wilson and Robert Mathews)

NBC4
CTV News #1 (Bro. Dr. Wilson interviewed)
CTV News #2 (Bro. Mathews interviewed)

Photos By Brothers GEORGE DUBOSE AND RONALD YOUNG