University of Virginia Health System

Seven MRC leaders attended the 3rd annual MRC National Leadership Conference, held April 20-22, in San Francisco.  (front row: Stephanie Jellison, Charlene Jeffries, Kim Dowdell; back row: Scott Beach, Ed Kantor, Mark Fitzgerald, Dave Beckert)

The US Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona, was the key-note speaker at this year's Conference, speaking about the MRC’s vital role in improving emergency preparedness and strengthening America’s public health infrastructure.  He was also in attendence at the evening gala, held on the first night of the Conference.

Pictured above (from left) are UVAMRC Faculty Advisor Dr. Kantor, Student Directors Kim Dowdell and Dave Beckert, and Surgeon General Carmona.

UVAMRC leaders Dr. Kantor, Mark Fitzgerald, Kim Dowdell, and Dave Beckert gave a presentation on the second day of the Conference, entitled "Training Physicians and Health Professionals in Disaster and Bioterrorism: Gearing up for the Core Competancy Movement in Medical Education."

Pictured above is UVAMRC Coordinator Mark Fitzgerald, giving his part of the presentation.

Pictured below is UVAMRC Operations Director Dave Beckert, speaking to an MRC representative following the presentation.  Mental Health liason Scott Beach is pictured in the background, looking on.

Representatives from many of Virginia's MRCs were in attendance, with Virginia Beach MRC, SW Virginia MRC, Fairfax MRC, and UVAMRC giving presentations.  In addition, there was a regional meeting held at the conference, in which MRCs from PA, MD, DE, DC, WV, and VA participated and shared ideas.

Pictured above are some of the representatives from various MRCs in Virginia who attended the conference.  At far right is MRC Regional Coordinator Sam Schaffzin, who will be working as a liaison with all of the MRCs in our region.