About Us


What is the Medical Reserve Corps?

 

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. The MRC network comprises approximately 200,000 volunteers in roughly 800 community-based units located throughout the United States and its territories.

MRC 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. They prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and floods, as well as other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks. They frequently contribute to community health activities that promote healthy habits. Examples of activities that MRC volunteers participate in and support include:


  • Emergency Preparedness and Response Trainings

  • Mass Dispensing Efforts

  • Emergency Sheltering

  • Vaccination Clinics

  • Responder Rehab

  • Health Education and Promotion

  • Disaster Medical Support

  • Outreach to Underserved Community Members

  • Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Community Event Support

  • Medical Facility Surge Capacity

  • Healthy Living

  • First Aid During Large Public Gatherings

  • Engaging Youth in Public Health Activities

  • Planning, Logistical & Administrative Support

  • Health Screenings

  • Veterinary Support and Pet Preparedness


 

  

Why We're Needed

 

  The need for the MRC became apparent after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when medical and public health professionals, eager to volunteer in support of emergency relief activities, found that there was no organized approach to channel their efforts. Local responders were already overwhelmed and did not have a way to identify and manage these spontaneous volunteers, and many highly skilled people were turned away. As a result, the MRC was established to provide a way to recruit, train, and activate medical and health professionals to respond to community health needs, including disasters and other public health emergencies.