Thomas Jefferson Health District Medical Reserve Corps

What Is The Thomas Jefferson Medical Reserve Corps?

The Thomas Jefferson Medical Reserve Corps (TJMRC) is a force of dedicated volunteers who augment and support routine and emergency public health operations in Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson counties and the City of Charlottesville. We are composed of teams of medical and public health professionals who, along with interested community members and students, volunteer their skills, expertise and time to ensure a professional, coordinated, and effective response through credentialing, training, exercises, and participation in real-time public health initiatives. We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds and skill sets who are interested in public health and in protecting their communities during public health emergencies. We partner with area volunteer agencies, programs, hospitals, local governments, and emergency services to ensure that our volunteers complement, rather than replace, existing response efforts.

History of the Thomas Jefferson Medical Reserve Corps:

The Thomas Jefferson Medical Reserve Corps (TJMRC) was established by the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 2003. As the first student-run MRC in the country, the UVAMRC was a model in student-faculty partnership and outreach. In late 2009, the TJMRC was expanded and its housing and management was moved to the Virginia Department of Health's Thomas Jefferson Health District. The UVA medical, public health, nursing, and pharmacy student operations continue as chapters of the organization.

What do TJMRC Volunteers do?

The TJMRC participates in a variety of public health trainings and activities based on our community's needs. There are roles for both medical and non-medical volunteers.

Prior to emergencies, TJMRC volunteers train and participate in emergency preparedness activities:

Incident command system

Epidemiological response

Mass prophylaxis and vaccination

Psychological first aid

Mass fatality response

During emergencies, TJMRC volunteers are activated by health department staff to assist in public health emergency response:

Special medical needs shelters

Mass dispensing of medicine and vaccines

Triaging and treating patients during a pandemic

Investigation of infectious disease outbreaks

TJMRC volunteers also supplement existing local public health initiatives:

Health Education

Immunization Programs

Food Safety

Community Events

How do I join the TJMRC?

Register in the Virginia Volunteer Health System (VVHS) by clicking here https://vms.vdh.virginia.gov/vms/ Select Thomas Jefferson as your district.

If applicable, send copies of your driver's license, healthcare license(s) and other medical/clinical certifications to the TJMRC Coordinator (Fax 434-972-6249 or e-mail tjmrc@vdh.virginia.gov)

Attend an orientation session (e-mail tjmrc@vdh.virginia.gov if you wish to arrange an orientation session at your workplace)

Note: All TJMRC volunteers are subject to a background check.

For more information, please check out our website: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/mrc/tjmrc/index.htm

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