Medical Reserve Corps

FILL OUT A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

Join the Medical Reserve Corps to serve Riley, Pottawatomie, and Geary County during disasters. Volunteers will go through a background check and receive training so they can help respond to floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks.

MRC volunteers also regularly contribute to community preparedness, engaging in activities like outreach events and assisting with community vaccination clinics.

Who are MRC Volunteers?

MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals as well as other community members (both with and without healthcare backgrounds) who want to improve the health and safety of their communities.

Current, retired, and student medical professionals and veterinary specialists are needed the most. There is no minimum requirement for time commitment, but every volunteer will have to complete a basic level of training and will be given the opportunity to join outreach and education events throughout the year. The specific roles and activities performed during and after a disaster will depend upon each volunteer’s background, interests, and skills, as well as the needs of the MRC unit and the community.

What do MRC Volunteers do?

MRC volunteers go through a background check and basic emergency training so they can help the community after a disaster.

MRC Activities include:

Emergency preparedness and response training exercises
Emergency shelter operations and medical care
Disaster medical and behavioral health support
Community vaccination clinics
Veterinary care during disasters

MRC volunteers also regularly contribute to community preparedness, engaging in activities like outreach events and assisting with community vaccination clinics.

Wildcat Region MRC

The Wildcat Region Medical Reserve Corps is a regional unit covering Geary, Pottawatomie, and Riley counties in Northeast Kansas.

Benefits of volunteering

Having a ready team of trained and vetted medical volunteers to respond to disasters creates a safer and more resilient community. Volunteers get to be part of the solution and service is a great way to meet like-minded people and build skills to add to a resume.

History

Following the events of September 11 2001, it became clear that there was no method for coordinating the services of thousands of volunteers wanting to help. As a result, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General announced the formation of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The overall goal of the imitative was to establish teams of local volunteer medical professionals and laypersons to contribute their skills and expertise during times of need.

The MRC is a national network of over 200,000 volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. Volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds. MRC units engage these volunteers to strengthen public health, improve emergency response capabilities, and build community resiliency.