Major Cappy Rodriguez, administrative assistant II in the dean's office of the School of Medicine, assists Specialist Craig Holguin to clean and organize dental tools during Operation Lone Star 2004.
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Members of the Texas Medical Rangers (TMR) recently participated in Operation Lone Star 2004, a series of temporary clinics set up in Rio Grande City, La Joya and Brownsville to provide medical and dental care to medically underserved Texans.

From July 26 to 30 and Aug. 2 to 5, more than 8,100 patients were provided with free medical and dental services. Local and state agencies worked together to set up the free clinics at two elementary schools and one middle school in South Texas. The military agencies involved in setting up and running the free clinics were the Texas National Guard, U.S. Navy Reserve, and the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve.

“Working seamlessly alongside other community servants, the volunteers of the Texas State Guard directly cared for hundreds of the neediest citizens living in this underserved border community,” said Lieutenant Colonel Robert Jean Ferry, M.D., assistant professor in the department of pediatrics. “All members of the Texas Medical Rangers benefited from this opportunity to serve the community by preparing for future relief missions along the border.”

Exams, immunizations, teeth cleanings, extractions, oral health education, medical referrals, sports physicals, hearing tests, diabetic screening, restorative dentistry and preventive health education were among the services offered. More than 2,900 prescriptions were also filled, at no cost to the patients, during the two week period.

“I was able to provide direct care and also evaluate how we can be of even more assistance during next year's Operation Lone Star,” said Colonel Charles R. Bauer, M.D., commander of the Alamo Group of the TMR and professor in the department of surgery. “I hope that we can increase the number of TMR volunteers, especially in the area of dental care.”

Operation Lone Star 2003 treated more than 6,200 patients. This is the first year that TMR have been involved in Operation Lone Star.

“I felt very privileged to be a part of making a difference in people’s lives at Operation Lone Star and being able to help out when they needed someone to care,” said Specialist Stephanie Fosbenner, telecommunications customer support specialist.

The TMR are currently recruiting. The next information session is at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, in Room 209L in the School of Medicine building. Questions on membership eligibility, time commitments and what to do to join will be addressed in the session. Attending an information session is the first step to joining the TMR.

TMR are members of an emergency medical response team that trains to provide auxiliary support and assistance to the public health authorities and includes both health professionals and non-health professionals. Health professionals may provide assistance by providing mass vaccinations, emergency medications and surveillance activities of patient symptoms and conditions in emergency situations. People who are not health professionals perform duties such as record keeping, site sanitation, crowd management and serving in call centers to answer the public’s questions.

After attending a TMR information session, participants are welcome to schedule a placement interview by calling (210) 567-7121.

For more information on the TMR, visit: www.texasmedicalrangers.com. For more information on Operation Lone Star 2004, visit: www.agd.state.tx.us/operationlonestar2004/