The summer is off to a great start! The photos above are from the Veterinary Medicine Radiation Emergency Preparedness training we hosted in May, in partnership with the MN Veterinary MRC. We had fun using equipment to detect radiation on both stuffed and real animals. We learned about caring for both people and animals at a Community Reception Center after a nuclear power plant emergency. Thank you to those who attended, and to Vickie Klang, who brought her chihuahua, Luther!
As part of my effort to meet people and build relationships for our MRC, HERO staff are meeting with the Deans and other leaders from the health sciences schools. We are talking with them to generate ideas for enhanced recruitment and partnerships.
We are sharing the great accomplishments of our MRC over the past few years, and why what you all do is so important and why they should be so proud. We have a lot of good ideas, but are always open to more ways to share our story and recruit new members to our MRC. Please share your ideas and opportunities with me!
Finally, we are kicking off a series of Disaster Behavioral Health trainings next week. These are open to all MRC members as well as potential members. The first session will be an introduction and recruitment event, and from there we plan to offer at least quarterly training in specific topics. I hope to see you all there, and please invite a friend!
News
June is Pet Preparedness Month!
Make a plan, build a kit, stay informed
Ready.gov/pets has great resources to make a plan for your pets in disasters. Pets are an important consideration as part of your family's emergency plan. Do you know where you can go if you need to evacuate with your pet? Learn more here.
Contagion Cafe
Please join the MVMA Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Committee and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps for the quarterly Contagion Café. This is a lunchtime meeting for situational awareness on timely issues affecting animals, agriculture, and our communities. The meeting will take place virtually on June 27, 2023. Our speaker will be Nathaniel Forbes from the American Red Cross. He will provide a situational update on the updated sheltering initiatives adopted by the American Red Cross.
Join the call here.
Disaster Behavioral Health Training for ALL Members
Our Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team Leaders, Tai Mendenhall and ThanVan Vu, have been planning a special training session for MRC members as well as potential new members. It is an introduction to the concepts of disaster behavioral health, including Psychological First Aid. Tai and a very special guest will also talk about past deployments and the roles and responsibilities of mental health providers and MRC members. We hope you can join us! Breakfast will be provided, as well as a certificate of completion to submit for CEUs.
Disaster Behavioral Health and MRC: an Introduction
June 29 or Aug 10 (same session offered twice)
8-10 am
REGISTRATION IS OPEN HERE
Now Recruiting New Members
We are always looking for new U of MN MRC members! If you have colleagues or friends that you think would be a good candidate, please share with them how to join by clicking the button below.
Who is eligible to join the U of MN MRC?
Faculty, Staff, and Students in the Health Science Schools; Boynton staff; Student Counseling Services staff; and select undergraduate students in courses taught by HERO Director Jill DeBoer. Others outside of these groups are considered by special exception (if they have response experience, skills, or training but are not in health science programs).
Why join?
The U of MN MRC provides unique experiences for its members. It is an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students from all areas of the health sciences to learn together and from each other. It provides real world experience for students. Serving the campus and surrounding community is a great thing to do!
How do I join?
Click the button below. Complete your information in the MRC Registry and then view a short orientation video. Contact [email protected] with questions.
Member Spotlight
Vickie Klang
Vickie Klang is a Lab Animal Tech Specialist. She has worked at the Veterinary Medical Center since 1990; 27 years in Small Animal ICU and 6 in Medical Records.
Vickie joined the MRC in 2006, to help both people and animals. She has been deployed multiple times, including: 2008 Cedar Rapids Iowa flood response; 2019 Jordan MN Flood response; 2021 various COVID vaccine clinics. Vickie is a Co-Lead of our VetMed Response Team, along with Dr. Michelle Willette.
"I was in Cedar Rapids at the end of the flood response. My main responsibility was reuniting pets that had been displaced by the floods with their owners. It was one of the most rewarding things I have done in my career. Seeing the people and pets reunited after they had lost everything was very gratifying."
Vickie lives in a multigenerational home with her daughter (who also works at the VMC), son in law, and two grandchildren, as well as two cats, four dogs, and three chickens! When not working, she enjoys gardening, reading, sewing, spending time with her grandchildren, and going to Twins games with her sister as 20-year season ticket holders.