Natick has dissolved its Medical Reserve Corps, a volunteer outfit that has complemented the town’s public health efforts since 2006. During its early years the Corps grew to more than 100 volunteers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical and non-medical volunteers assisted the town in doling out vaccines and providing other support. Among other roles they played: Victims during mock terrorist attack training.
When recruiting members, the Medical Reserve Corps sought not just those with medical expertise, but also clergy, those who could provide transportation, and more.
Natick Public Health Director Michael Boudreau said during a recent Board of Health meeting that as of mid-year, the Reserve Corps’ work had been transferred to a regional group called the MetroWest MRC. It also includes volunteers from Hudson, Marlborough, Sudbury, Waltham, Wayland, and Weston. The regional group is within Massachusetts Public Health Emergency Preparedness Region 4A.
Caeli Tegan, Natick Health Department sanitarian, had been serving as the town’s representative to the MetroWest MRC, but recently left her job with the town.
An advisory board with a representative from each participating town’s health department will oversee the regional unit.
(If you have been a member of the Corps. or have anything you’d like to share about your experiences with it, feel free to let us know: natickreport@gmail.com)
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