2021-2022

Afghan new arrival support
Working alongside the University of Minnesota’s Mobile Health Initiative, Hennepin County Public Health, and the state health department, the U of MN MRC’s Behavioral Health Response Strike Team, led by team leads Patty Shannon and Tai Mendenhall provided mental health support to newly arriving individuals and families from Afghanistan from October 2021 to May, 2022.

At the request of The Minnesota Department of Health, Behavioral Health Response Strike Team Members (clinicians with expertise working with immigrants/refugees and interpreters) conducted one-on-one mental health assessments and recommended referrals for further mental health follow up, when indicated.

Additional support activities included stress management and yoga classes for women and girls, as well as COVID vaccination clinics staffed, in part, by the U of MN MRC COVID Vaccination Team.

2021

Rabies vaccination clinic
In response to a request from Boynton, 9 MRC members were deployed as vaccinators to assist with a Rabies vaccination clinic for first year Veterinary Medicine students in October of 2021.  

2020-2022

COVID-19 response
The MRC deployed volunteers to support many response efforts across campus and throughout our community from February 2020 to April 2022. Learn more about these COVID-19 Deployments.

2019

Spring flood response 

A veterinary technician from the Veterinary Medicine Response Strike Team conducted health assessments for pets located in a temporary shelter managed by Scott County Emergency Management. The pet owners were evacuated from a flooded neighborhood in the City of Jordan. 

N95 respirator fit-testing

11 members of the N95 Respirator Fit Testing Team, at the request of the U of M Medical School, fit tested 180 first year medical students for N95 respirators. This deployment occurred over three months and included six fit testing sessions.

2018 

Hurricane response and recovery

Office personnel reviewed multiple federal requests for assistance following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Created 16 member multidisciplinary team to provide medical support for a 14 day deployment. Our team was ultimately not chosen to deploy, but we were ready if needed. 

2017

Medical support

Our office and members led the development, implementation, and evaluation of the medical support for the inaugural Chainbreaker Ride fundraising event. Required tasks included creation of medical protocols, staffing plans, and position parameters; medical supply determination, purchasing, packaging, and instruction; creation of documentation systems; coordination with local hospitals, staffing of 15 first aid tents and 20 support and gear vans, implementation and oversight of the medical support operation over a 3 day period; and evaluation of the system. 

2015 

Community-based mental health support

Behavioral Health Strike Team members were deployed to assist a community group in Minneapolis following a double homicide.

2014 

Community-based education and follow-up

MRC members assisted the Medical School with a community outreach initiative related to a glucose testing program that required extensive patient follow-up. 

2013 

Large regional full-scale exercise
MRC members participated in a large regional full-scale exercise designed to test response capabilities following a structural collapse in downtown Minneapolis.

2012 

Hennepin County Biohazard Detection System exercise
MRC members participated in an exercise of the Biohazard Detection System in Hennepin County.  One of the primary goals of the exercise was to test the antibiotic screening and dispensing of US postal employees following detection of anthrax at a postal office.

Pharmaceutical cache repackaging team exercise
The U of M MRC established a Pharmaceutical Repackaging Team at the request of the Minnesota State Health Department designed for rapid deployment in the region should there be a need to repackage medicine during a public health emergency.  In all, 150 team members were trained and drilled on specific procedures.

2011 

Medicine collection event
Members of the Pharmaceutical Response Strike Team were deployed to assist at a Hennepin County medicine collection event.

North Minneapolis tornado response
Behavioral Health Team members assisted in the aftermath of a tornado in North Minneapolis.

2009/2010 

Flu Clinics
Thirty seven U of M MRC members assisted Boynton Health Service during the seasonal influenza clinics held in September and October of 2009.  Over 100 MRC members  assisted  Boynton Health Service during H1N1 immunization clinics held from November 2009 through February 2010. Members served as ushers, registrations clerks, supply staff and injectors.
 
N95 Respirator Fit Testing
The N95 Respirator Fit Testing Strike Team was deployed in August and September. Members of this strike team participated in the fit testing of Student Health Advocates, University Minnesota Police Department officers and Emergency Medical Technicians.
 
Postal Plan
In June, 18 U of M MRC members assisted the Minnesota Department of Health with the implementation of the Cities Readiness Initiative Postal Plan. Members screened postal workers’ health assessment forms and assembled antibiotic kits.
 
Spring Flood Response
At the request of the Minnesota Department of Health, three U of M MRC members joined MRC members from around the state to assist in the Red River Valley flood response efforts. Two registered nurses and one emergency medical technician were deployed to assist with the care of displaced nursing home residents at a hospital that received the evacuated residents.
 
AED Service Project
Four student members have been deployed to assist the University’s Department of Emergency Management in a service project.   MRC members assisted with the yearly maintenance updates of approximately 150 Automatic Electronic Defibrillators located on the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses. The maintenance updates included the changing of expired batteries and pads and running a test cycle.

2008 

Mass Influenza Immunization Clinic
On October 28, 2008, the University of Minnesota (U of M) Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) in partnership with Boynton Health Service, U of M School of Nursing, U of M School of Pharmacy and Minnesota Visiting Nurses Association participated in mass immunization efforts that will likely result in a new Guinness World Record™ for the most flu shots administered in one day. Eighty-five members of the U of M MRC, along with 19 nurses from the Minnesota Visiting Nurses Association administered 3956 at one of the four sites strategically placed around the campus.  The total vaccines administered across all four campus sites was 11,810, well beyond the previous record of 3271 established in 2006 by Centra Care Hospital of Sanford, Florida.

The U of M MRC immunization clinic site was established in a large heated tent on a heavily traveled plaza in the heart of the Minneapolis campus. MRC members served as injectors, ushers, supply staff and post injection area monitors.  By activating the MRC, the university also tested aspects of its emergency response plans.

Iowa Floods 
In response to a request from the Iowa State Veterinarian via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the U of M MRC deployed 9 members of its Veterinary Medicine Response Strike Team to aid in the medical care of small companion animals housed in an animal rescue shelter following the severe flooding of the Cedar Rapids Iowa area.  Three teams consisting of College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians and students were deployed for periods of 3 to 5 days.  As many as 700 small animals were housed and cared for during peak shelter operations. Along with providing daily treatments, the team assessed the animals, inserted microchips and examined incoming animals.  Larissa Minicucci, DVM/MPH Program Director, served as the Veterinary Medicine Response Team leader and assisted in coordinating the response.

Cottonwood Bus Accident Response 
Two U of M MRC members were deployed as part of a behavioral health team assisting the Cottonwood area school children and first responders involved in a tragic bus accident.

2007

35W Bridge Collapse Response 
In response to requests from the University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC) and the City of Minneapolis, the U of M MRC deployed 22 members to aid in medical and behavioral health efforts in the hours and days following the bridge collapse. Members of the MRC’s Mental Health Crisis Response Team responded immediately by providing support at the UMMC emergency room and Family Assistance Center the night of the collapse. The Mental Health Crises Response Team continued their response efforts at the City of Minneapolis Family Assistance Center located initially at the Holiday Inn and subsequently at Augsburg College. Team members conducted 1:1 interventions with family members and facilitated group defusings with first responders and other response personnel.

Other U of M MRC members offered support at the Minneapolis Family Assistance Center by providing basic medical services to the families of missing persons. Services included over-the-counter medications, writing prescriptions, changing dressings, checking blood pressures and providing physical assessments as needed. In total, seven nurses and six physicians provided medical station coverage at the Family Assistance Center.

2005

Hurricane Katrina and Rita Response 
U of M MRC volunteers were deployed in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita through the American Red Cross and Minnesota Lifeline, a joint mission with the American Refugee Committee, Mayo Clinic, College of St. Catherine, and others. A total of 68 members traveled to the Gulf Coast Region, and many additional volunteers, and other U of M staff, assisted with the massive incident command and support activities in Minnesota over the course of 3 months.

2004

Influenza Hotline 
Following the announcements of unexpected seasonal influenza vaccine shortages, the Minnesota Department of Health established an emergency hotline to answer questions from concerned citizens across the state. Call volume quickly escalated beyond existing capacity, and the U of M Medical Reserve Corps, received a request to assist. Approximately 35 MRC student volunteers assisted with the hotline which was in operation for 31 business days. At its peak on October 19th, the hotline received 1,712 calls.