Former Epidemiologist Comes Out Of Retirement To Help Fight COVID-19

A former infectious disease specialist is spending his retired time now volunteering with the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps. Dr. Joe Bryan is lending a hand where he can. 

"These clinics are so complicated to set up,” Dr. Bryan said. “There are so many steps and so many things to do. Whoever we are, we need to step in and do whatever needs to be done right then.”

Dr. Bryan has previously served with the U.S. Navy, U.S. State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

He spent a lot of his time working abroad, but after he returned to Oklahoma, Dr. Bryan felt the need to step up and volunteer. 

"This is such a major problem that those of us that have had this kind of training. I think is what I have been trained to do my entire life," Dr. Bryan said. "Initially, there were opportunities to help with testing and acute care, all kinds of things. Now we have transitioned to the vaccines."

So far, Dr. Bryan has traveled to Enid, Harrah and Guthrie from his hometown to help with COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

"Oklahoma is a big state, but we need to get the vaccine out," Dr. Bryan said. "Whether it is directing traffic in the parking lot, giving ephedrine, making labels so someone doesn't have to write the lot number 700 times, I'm just trying to fill in wherever I am needed."

You, too, can join in and volunteer with the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps. Prior medical training is not required.

If you would like more information on the OKMRC or learn how to volunteer with the organization, click here.