Medical Reserve Corps
Medical and public health volunteers organized at the community level to strengthen public health infrastructure and surge capacity during emergencies.
What is the MRC?
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of local volunteer units administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. MRC units organize and utilize medical and public health volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
With over 800 MRC units and more than 180,000 volunteers nationwide, the MRC is one of the largest volunteer networks in emergency management. Units are locally organized and managed, but operate within a national framework that enables rapid credentialing and interstate deployment.
Who volunteers with MRC?
MRC units welcome both medical and non-medical volunteers. Roles include:
Medical professionals
Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, dentists, and other licensed medical providers who can provide direct patient care during mass casualty events or medical surge situations.
Public health professionals
Epidemiologists, health educators, environmental health specialists, and public health administrators who support disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and community health interventions.
Mental health providers
Psychologists, social workers, counselors, and crisis intervention specialists who provide behavioral health support to survivors, families, and responders.
Non-medical support volunteers
Administrative, logistics, communications, and general support volunteers who enable medical teams to focus on patient care. No medical background required.
What MRC units do
Medical surge support
Augmenting hospital and clinic capacity during mass casualty events, pandemics, or other situations that overwhelm the healthcare system.
Mass vaccination & dispensing
Staffing points of dispensing (PODs) for mass vaccination campaigns, prophylaxis distribution, and public health interventions.
Shelter medical support
Providing medical care and medication management at mass care shelters for displaced populations.
Community preparedness
Conducting health fairs, preparedness education, and community resilience programs between emergencies.
Joining the MRC
Find your local MRC unit
Use the MRC unit locator at mrc.hhs.gov to find a unit in your area. Units are organized by county or region.
Register and get credentialed
Complete your unit's registration process, which typically includes a background check and verification of professional credentials for medical volunteers.
Complete required training
Most units require ICS-100, IS-700, and unit-specific orientation training. Additional clinical training may be required for medical roles.
Participate in exercises and deployments
Stay active by participating in tabletop exercises, drills, and community health events. When activations occur, you'll be notified through your unit's alert system.
Key resources
MRC National Website
Official MRC program site with unit locator and volunteer resources
MRC Unit Locator
Find an MRC unit near you
ESAR-VHP
Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals — interstate credentialing
HHS OASH
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health — MRC program administrator