The Medical Reserve Corps Short Promo

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a community-based, civilian, volunteer program that helps build the public health infrastructure of communities nationwide. Each MRC unit is organized and trained to address a wide range of challenges from public health education to disaster response.

The Brookline Medical Reserve Corps is part of this national network of volunteers. The national MRC network comprises 989 community-based units and almost 200,000 volunteers 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. MRC volunteers prepare for and respond to emergencies affecting public health, as well as natural disasters including wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, and floods.

Brookline MRC members are trained and prepared to respond as a team to local emergencies, and to provide education, outreach, and various public health services throughout the year. Members serve as a team during times of emergency or need in the Brookline community. Brookline MRC members may volunteer as much or as little time as they would like. Educational trainings are conducted throughout the year, and all MRC members are encouraged to attend. Many training opportunities offer Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) for participants. Joining the Brookline MRC gives volunteers an opportunity to work with and get to know other Brookline residents, and to gain valuable skills in emergency response and public health.
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In 2008, a leadership committee was established within the Brookline MRC. The mission of the leadership committee is to strengthen the public health infrastructure in Brookline by planning for, training for, and responding to public health emergencies. Members of the Brookline MRC may take additional training classes and join the leadership committee.

The Brookline MRC is part of a regional MRC, Region 4b. Region 4b MRC is comprised of 27 communities surrounding Boston. Brookline MRC volunteers are invited to attend trainings in any Region 4b community.

The Brookline Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) assists with a number of annual events in and around Brookline.

​In the fall, Brookline MRC volunteers help the Brookline Department of Public Health to run several community flu clinics.  In addition to providing a public health benefit to the Brookline community, volunteers practice running an emergency dispensing site.  Emergency dispensing sites would be set up if there was ever a need to dispense medicine to the community in an emergency.

​Each spring, Brookline MRC volunteers join the Town’s Emergency Management Team and volunteer members of the Brookline Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to support the Boston Marathon.

​MRC & CERT Working Together

Brookline MRC and Brookline CERT volunteers work and train together to respond to a variety of local emergency and non-emergency needs throughout the year.

​Trainings & Activities:

•Marathon Shelters/Reception Centers (CERT leads, MRC assists)

•Shelter Drills (CERT leads, MRC assists)

•Flu Clinics (MRC leads, CERT assists)

•Operation Poseidon, Operation Atlas, Urban Shield

•Ham Radio Training

•Emergency Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations Training

Activations & Responses:

•Ice Storms/Power Outages, Central MA

•Multi-family Fires in Brookline (CERT leads, MRC assists)

•H1N1 (MRC leads, CERT assists)

•West Nile Virus Leafleting

•Water Main Break May 2010

•Winter Storm 2013

•Snow Storms and Blizzards; Cape Cod Shelters

•Hail Storm 2015