20th Anniversary Report

The Health Emergency Response Office (HERO) is integrated into the University and MHealth-Fairview response systems, receiving 24/7 notification of all real, potential, or perceived health emergencies on campus. Personnel follow response protocols for determining the need for additional internal and external notifications and appropriate response actions.

Letter from the Director

Jill M. DeBoer, MPH
Director, Health Emergency Response Office
Deputy Campus Public Health Officer
Director of Public Health Practice, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Adjunct Faculty, School of Public Health
University of Minnesota

In 2004, the University of Minnesota took action to ensure readiness for health emergencies on our campus and to prepare our unique workforce to provide service to the state when needed.

Since its establishment, HERO has worked primarily behind the scenes to prepare for and respond to a multitude of public health issues. We are fortunate to have a dream team in the HERO office with “boots on the ground” public health practice experience at the state, county, city, nongovernmental organization, and international levels.

HERO’s largest and most visible program is the U of M MRC. This national program was created to address rapid response gaps revealed during 9/11. It was the perfect platform for our health sciences schools to engage in readiness work, so we were one of the first applicants for the program. In those early days, the University of Minnesota joined the MRC program knowing we had something important to offer – the largest collection of health faculty, staff, and students in Minnesota – and a commitment to serving both our campus and the broader community. As co-founder of the U of M MRC with Dr. Frank Cerra, I honestly was unsure in 2004 if this idea would take flight. We believed that our health sciences community could be of service during emergencies. We also believed that service would provide unique, interdisciplinary educational and experiential opportunities for those students, staff, and faculty. As I look back on the last two decades, the impact of our members has exceeded my wildest dreams. This report includes highlights from our earliest to most recent deployments, both on our campus and in the community.

My sincere thanks to all of our U of M MRC members, HERO staff, and partners on this anniversary milestone. Here’s to the next 20 years!

History

HERO and U of M MRC were established in 2004 following a series of events at the campus and national level. The events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent anthrax attacks through the mail shone a light on the need for a more prepared nation. In particular, there was a need for a system to pre-identify and train health professionals available for rapid response. The Office of the Surgeon General created the MRC program to meet that need. At the same time, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (UMN-TC) campus had just completed an assessment of responses to “white powder” concerns on campus in 2001 and a near outbreak of meningococcal disease.

Based on the results of this assessment, the University of Minnesota took action by establishing:

a senior-level Campus Public Health Officer position;
the Health Emergency Response Office to support that senior leader and the campus in areas related to preparedness and response to health emergencies;
the U of M MRC as a platform for engaging students, staff, and faculty in the health sciences.

The U of M MRC received federal recognition from the Office of the Surgeon General on April 29, 2004. It is the fourth in the nation out of over 700 MRC programs to date and one of only a handful on college campuses.

“HERO is such an asset to our Crookston campus and the entire University. They have historically provided us with accurate, timely, and consistent information on all health matters, and were true heroes to us particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They had extensive outreach across the state in all five campuses and connections outside the Metro area to ensure concerns and needs of all Minnesotans were heard. We look forward to another 20 years of collaboration with HERO.”

Mary Holz-Clause, Chancellor, University of Minnesota Crookston

HERO Impact

Response and Deployment Highlights

2007 35W Bridge Collapse

The U of M MRC deployed 22 members to aid in medical and behavioral health efforts in the hours and days following the 35W Bridge collapse. The Behavioral Health Response Team responded immediately to the UMMC emergency department and family assistance center the night of the collapse and continued their support at the City of Minneapolis family assistance center. Additional U of M MRC members provided basic medical services including over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, wound care, and more. In total, seven nurses and six physicians provided medical station coverage at the family assistance center.

2008 Animal Rescue Shelter, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Veterinary Medicine Response Team members deployed to aid in an animal rescue shelter following severe flooding around Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Three teams consisting of College of Veterinary Medicine veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and students were deployed for periods of 3-5 days. Approximately 700 small animals were housed and cared for during peak shelter operations.

"The University of Minnesota’s Health Emergency Response Office (HERO) was so essential to not only the University and the state of Minnesota, but to the world during something so complex, challenging, and unpredictable as COVID-19. Under the unwavering leadership of Director Jill DeBoer and her team, we had sound procedures in place, access to the best medical and public health information anywhere, and around the clock support. I, and countless others, will forever be grateful for their incredible work and commitment to keep our community safe and well.”

Joan T.A. Gabel, Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh; University of Minnesota President (2019-2023)

Letter from the MRC Manager

Courtney Wetternach, MPH
Manager, Medical Reserve Corps
University of Minnesota

As we celebrate and reflect on our 20 years of service, I want to focus on our community: the students, staff, and faculty that make up the membership of our University of Minnesota Medical Reserve Corps. More than any community I know, our MRC is filled with people who are caring, selfless, and united in a common mission to respond to the physical and mental health impacts of emergencies on campus and in our greater community. Our members exemplify the University’s commitment to service and innovation by lending their time and skills, often without public awareness or recognition, to respond to emergencies in profound and often incalculable ways.

As of January 2024, there are 2,216 members, one of the largest in the country. Our members range from undergraduate students to world-renowned faculty. They are scholars, researchers, leaders, practitioners, administrators, and support staff. Our members ensure that the MRC operates according to our values of: preparedness, outreach and public service, physical and mental health, partnerships and collaboration, diversity, equity and inclusion, and data-driven response. Among MRC units, ours is unique for its inclusion of students, providing them with practical opportunities to apply the skills they are learning i n their academic clinical programs. Many say it has been one of the best parts of their educational experience. We, in turn, benefit from their unique perspectives, talents, excitement, and optimism.

We continue to look ahead to other emerging infectious diseases as well as threats to our community like mass casualty and fatality incidents, mental health crises on campus, and the public health impacts of the climate crisis. Planning for and responding to these incidents requires dedicated and diverse teams capable of looking at these issues through multiple lenses. We have so much to be proud of over the past 20 years, and I am looking forward to all we can do in the next 20+ years.

Excellence and Accolades

State of Louisiana recognition of efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

On November 5, 2005, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanca released an official statement recognizing the U of M MRC for “outstanding and unparalleled service to the people of Louisiana following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.”

Presidential recognition for Hurricane Katrina and Rita Response

On August 22, 2006, President George W. Bush awarded U of M MRC with the President’s Volunteer Service Award in recognition of its members’ work in Louisiana. MRC member and then-medical student David Jewison, who spent two weeks on the response, received the award on behalf of the MRC in a ceremony with President Bush.

State of Iowa recognition of veterinary support in the wake of flooding

In 2008, the U of M MRC received a Certificate of Recognition from the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture for valuable contributions and efforts during the Iowa floods. From the Iowa State Veterinarian: “Your contributions helped lead to the success of the care that was given to pets and understanding shown to the owners and their families. You provided a very special service to many people who lost their homes and possessions. Many found joy and reassurance when reunited with their pets. The value of this service is difficult to measure.”

2019 National MRC Innovator Award

In 2019, HERO was jointly awarded the National MRC Innovator Award with University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD) for creation of the MRC Witness Support Team. This unique and specialized team responds in partnership with the UMPD to provide immediate emotional, psychological, and basic needs support to witnesses of mass casualty events. The Innovator Award honors an MRC unit that has initiated and carried out a novel and innovative activity that has helped build on MRC unit and housing organization efforts, engaged unit volunteers in the process, and contributed to strengthening the community’s public health, preparedness, and response infrastructure.

"HERO has been an indispensable partner to the Minnesota Department of Health for the past 20 years. HERO has enabled efficient and effective bi-directional communication by establishing a single point of contact at the University for public health issues. Campus public health officers have proven their skill in preparedness and response to multiple emerging and high consequence pathogens, such as pandemic influenza, meningococcus, Ebola, measles, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. HERO has strengthened the University of Minnesota community and public health preparedness in Minnesota."

Ruth Lynfield, State Epidemiologist and Medical Director, Minnesota Department of Health

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HERO Impact

Response and Deployment Highlights

Excellence and Accolades

State of Louisiana recognition of efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Presidential recognition for Hurricane Katrina and Rita Response

State of Iowa recognition of veterinary support in the wake of flooding

2019 National MRC Innovator Award

Health Emergency Response Office (HERO)

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20th Anniversary Report

HERO Impact

Response and Deployment Highlights

Excellence and Accolades

State of Louisiana recognition of efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Presidential recognition for Hurricane Katrina and Rita Response

State of Iowa recognition of veterinary support in the wake of flooding

2019 National MRC Innovator Award

Health Emergency Response Office (HERO)

Call 911

Call 911 if there is a threat to people or property

Contact

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