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According to the American Medical Association, in the United States each year, fully functional medical items valued at more than $200 million are directed to landfills or incinerators. At the same time, over 1.2 billion people in the world live on $1 a day. Hundreds of millions suffer from chronic hunger and a severe lack of medical supplies. "The surplus from our health system could be used to heal patients and help physicians in the poorest, most desperate parts of the world. The problem is gathering it together and getting it to where it's needed."
Alaska Medical Missions connects resources in the United States to urgent needs for medical supplies and other aid in developing areas all over the world. We receive donations of fully functioning medical supplies and equipment from a number of sources, including military hospitals, manufacturers, private medical facilities and individuals. A volunteer labor force collects, inventories and stages donated items in a warehouse facility, after which they are distributed by short-term mission teams, church youth groups, career missionaries, airline personnel and others traveling via Alaska to impoverished countries
Alaska Medical Missions has sent approximately 680 shipments of medical supplies and other humanitarian aid to more than 92 countries.
We are supported by partners, just like you, in the community. Your help is urgently needed to allow Alaska Medical Missions to continue its mission of connecting resources in the U.S. to urgent needs for medical supplies and other aid in developing areas all over the world.
There are many different ways you can help, including a one-time contribution, monthly contributions, corporate sponsorships, and volunteering your time. Your help is greatly appreciated and needed. Please join with us in our efforts to share the wealth of our country with those in need all over the world.
It all started with a simple meeting with Dr. Brian Green and Brenda Moore about a completely different subject. I was in their office to discuss a partnership with Project Access. Brian was giving me a brief overview of Christian Health Associates and all the companies under that umbrella. When he got to Alaska Medical Missions my ears perked up. He explained that Alaska Medical Missions connects resources in the United States to urgent needs for medical supplies and other aid in developing areas all over the world. For some reason I stopped Brian and asked to hear more about AMM. Over the next hour Brian and Brenda broke down the operation and function of Alaska Medical Missions for me. I left the meeting with my eyes, ears and heart opened to new possibilities. I left with a smoldering fire that was beginning to burn within me. Over the next month or so that fire became a raging inferno. I pondered how I could help Alaska Medical Missions, what skills do I possess that would best be utilized to aid Alaska Medical Missions? Finally, Brian and I got together and came up with a formula for Alaska Medical Missions' success and the first phase was bringing me on as the Executive Director.
This fire or passion I spoke of earlier is still burning but with more fuel. As I dive deeper into Alaska Medical Missions I'm engulfed with the desire to impact our world in a positive way from Anchorage, Alaska.
Alaska Medical Missions has been the best kept secret in Alaska but it is slowly becoming a name people recognize in out community. Over the past months we have taken in over 8,000 pounds of supplies and have included supplies from AMM's warehouse for 25 trips, from Cameroon to the Philippines. AMM is working in conjunction with Proyecto Fe and HELPS International to ship a container full of medical supplies to Guatemala. AMM had a very productive sort day, thanks in part to Esther Petrie and Dr. Mary Stewart and her staff at Alaska Oncology and Hematology, but many more sort days are needed.
In the coming year Alaska Medical Missions will be developing a procedure and protocol manual, reorganizing the warehouse, holding fundraising events, teaming up with Proyecto Fe on some of their upcoming fundraising events, increasing our relationships with the pharmaceutical companies, physicians, and medical facilities doing business in Alaska and most of all increasing contributions from companies, donation events, individuals and grants. AMM is in the midst of a new paradigm. We are taking it from the best kept secret to the best known company doing what we do.
The vision for Alaska Medical Missions is to be organized, streamlined and utilize time proficiently to positively affect lives around the world everyday. To do this Alaska Medical Missions must identify current needs, organize inventory, develop a marketing strategy and operating budget and reestablish connections with physicians, donors, churches and mission groups. We also need to increase the donor base and donations of medical supplies, medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
To all those that helped last year, from volunteering time to giving financial support, thank you very much. If it weren't for you Alaska Medical Missions wouldn't be a light to our world.
-by Brandon Tatum
On the evening of Monday, December 3rd, 2007, LifeGuard Alaska's communications center received the most disconcerting call: no call at all. LifeGuard One, the BK-117 helicopter stationed at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, was en route from Cordova to Anchorage with a patient. On board were Pilot Lance Brabham, Flight Paramedic Cameron Carter, Flight Nurse John Stumpff, and patient Gaye McDowell. The crew made a position report at 5:18pm, reporting that they were over Esther Island in the northwest corner of Prince William Sound, and that they would arrive in Anchorage in 27 minutes. They gave no indication of any trouble and had been reporting clear weather throughout their flight.
LifeGuard staff were called to report to the hospital a couple days later, where they received the news all had been dreading: a boat had recovered a door as well as the helicopter and the body of Flight Nurse John Stumpff on the beach of Poe Bay, in Passage Canal near Whittier. Over the weekend, further searching within the newly-focused area around Poe Bay turned up medical equipment and some additional helicopter debris. Land-based searchers combed the area, but found no signs of human activity on shore around the bay. Monday afternoon, commanders at the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) concluded that all evidence pointed to the helicopter having crashed in deep water, and decided to suspend the search.
This was a very sad time for all in the medical community and Alaska Medical Missions. LifeGuard nurses and paramedics volunteered their time to come and sort medical equipment at AMM's warehouse numerous times. All of us who make up the Alaska Medical Missions family send our prayers to all the families, friends and loved ones of those lost that very tragic day. You will be missed.
