Volunteer Opportunity: Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

(BROOME COUNTY, NY) - The Broome County Health Department is seeking interested community members to volunteer with the Broome County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The Medical Reserve Corps is a national network of nearly 300,000 volunteers, organized in local units to bolster capacity during public health emergencies. For over 20 years, the Broome County MRC Unit has worked in conjunction with local government and community-based agencies to respond during local disasters, such as floods, flu outbreaks, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was created in 2002 as a response to the September 11^th terrorist attacks and the subsequent mailing of anthrax-laced letters in 2001. After these events, a need was identified for structured, pre-trained, and pre-verified volunteers who could be deployed quickly to support public health efforts during emergencies. Broome County established a local MRC unit in 2002.

The Broome County Medical Reserve Corps welcomes active or retired health professionals and other community members interested in providing support to the community during an emergency. The MRC consists of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, EMTs, social workers, clergy, and non-medical volunteers.

Those enrolled in the program are provided with training, participate in drills, and receive resources to prepare them in case of local activation. MRC volunteers can expect to receive trainings in clinic management, mass vaccination procedures, as well as Basic and Advanced Life Support, Basic First Aid and Red Cross Disaster Services.

MRC volunteers help in keeping Broome County prepared, safe, and healthy. More information about the Broome County Medical Reserve Corps can be found on the Broome County Health Department website at https://broomecountyny.gov/ep.