Harvard physician Morgan Broccoli discusses her experiences as an emergency humanitarian work responder in a number of disaster settings around the globe. In 2021, Broccoli joined Team Rubicon, a nonprofit disaster relief organization, as an aid to a double disaster in Haiti. This experience would become the first of many disaster response missions for Broccoli.
Broccoli recounts the level of planning that is required to fully assess the best mode of action to provide acute medical care in a safe manner, taking into consideration the political and social factors that often act as obstacles. She takes note of the contrasts between support in a natural disaster and in refugee waves. Using this example, she explains that in each volunteer position, the plan for providing medical care changes to fit the disaster’s needs. Regardless of seeming similarities, no two disasters are the same.
Constant readjustments to provide better aid as a physician is often time consuming, thus Broccoli created resources to help improve efficiency in preparing for the next crisis. Broccoli teamed up with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Brigham and Women’s, Massachusetts General, and Boston Children’s hospitals to create a series of online emergency medicine courses. These courses aim to educate vulnerable populations on the importance of preparedness and on disaster recovery in various disaster settings.
by Maya Yorks