Carissa Heinige, the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Deschutes County Health Services, has been recognized with an Outstanding New Leader award at the 2024 Medical Reserve Corps National Summit. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of medical and non-medical volunteers who work to promote preparedness and improve the health and safety of their communities during times of crisis, emergencies, or natural disasters.
Deschutes County became a part of the national MRC network in 2023, with Heinige serving as the Unit Director for the County’s MRC in addition to her role as the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. Heather Kaisner, the Public Health Director for Deschutes County, praised Heinige for her exceptional integration and engagement during her first year of leadership in the National MRC Network.
Under Heinige’s leadership, the Deschutes County MRC has successfully recruited over 100 volunteers within a year. These volunteers have been trained to be prepared to respond in the event of a crisis. In addition to this, Heinige has engaged volunteers in other activities such as assisting with health fairs, preparing kits for vulnerable communities, and supporting crisis intervention training with local law enforcement agencies.
The MRC National Summit is an annual event hosted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). This year’s summit saw participation from over 600 MRC leaders.
