In Memoriam:
Stan Brock, Humanitarian
By Betty Boyd
Do you have a superhero that you will always remember? Our superhero is Stan Brock, a friend and one of the greatest humanitarians that the world has ever known. He left this world too soon at the age of 82. Stan was a pioneer, and an advocate for the marginalized and underprivileged.
In 1985, Stan founded the Remote Area Medical (RAM) that provides free vision, dental and medical care. In 1998, co-founders of the project in Wis, Dr. Tyson and Sr. Bernie Kenny requested that RAM become part of the Health Wagon’s outreach in Southwest Virginia due to the significant health care disparities in the region. Today, it continues as the largest medical outreach in the United States and has been providing care to the region and beyond for over 19 years.
“Stan was a visionary, a leader who thought outside the box. He had a unique ability to galvanize the community of volunteers like no other. What is more remarkable is Stan’s compassionate caring for others. His legacy will continue to live on through each of us”, states Dr. Tyson.
Another individual who was part of the first ever clinic in Wise, VA was Roger Ramsey/ He relates, “Stan is a genuine person that cared about people. He saw the pain and suffering that individuals were in and spread the mission of help. Stan took healthcare to the masses through the RAM initiative. He was a good friend.”
Joella Dales, nurse, who helped Tyson and Kenny initially in Wise County, first met Stan in Mountain City, Tenn. at a RAM event in 1998. He will be most remembered for being humble and committed to helping others. His legacy will be to continue to bring people together for the good of the community,” says Joella.
In his honor, future Health Wagon outreaches outside of the Wise County RAM will now be known as the Brock Appalachian Medical (BAM) Health Expeditions. This is being done as to pay tribute to a true friend’s legacy so valued by the Health Wagon. The region has been impacted greatly by improving health care access for nearly 100,000 individuals over the years due to his visionary leadership.
Dr. Paula Hill-Collins, clinical director of the Health Wagon, said, “ Let us all remember our friend, brother and hero and all the blessings that came as a result of one man’s idea, effort and faith. Rest in peace and may the wind be always at your back Stan, the Health Wagon’s true superhero.”
