When disaster descends — from a hurricane, an earthquake,
public health emergency, or other natural disasters — the world turns
to its frontline heroes. During these major emergencies, the role of
pharmacists is essential yet frequently under-recognized. Providing
more than medication, pharmacists deliver stability, clinical expertise,
and compassionate care amidst the most challenging circumstances.
Their responsibilities include coordinating and dispensing emergency
medication and supplies, advising on appropriate treatment protocols,
and offering support to the affected communities. Drawing on my own
experience with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), the following explores the
profound impact we as pharmacists can make during emergencies.
Answering the Call to Serve
About a year after 9/11, I received a flyer in the mail that would shape the
course of my professional life. The flyer was a recruitment call for NDMS
medical personnel of all disciplines, including pharmacists. It highlighted
a group called, Rhode Island-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team
(DMAT), and their response efforts during 9/11 and previous hurricanes.
After attending an informational meeting, I introduced myself as a
pharmacist. The immediate response from the group was overwhelming
enthusiasm. The team lacked a pharmacist — an essential role for a federal
team’s deployment posture. I was compelled to serve and within six months
I deployed.
20 Years and Over 10 Deployments
I have served since then with the RI-1 DMAT, which is one of 40
federal medical teams of intermittent first responders located across the
United States. DMATs are comprised of physicians, physician assistants
(PA), nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, and other medical and support
professionals. We are deployed to provide rapid response medical
care, hospital support, and emergency services during disasters, major
incidents, and national events.
Over the course of my time, I have deployed more than 10 times, most
often in the wake of hurricanes. Each assignment has presented its own
challenges and I’m proud of my team’s incredible achievements, however
a few deployments remain unforgettable.
Responding to Hurricanes
In 2005, following Hurricane Katrina, our team deployed to the
Superdome in New Orleans shortly after the levees failed. The situation
was critical, and our mission was to provide medical care to every patient
sheltered there before they could be transferred to hospitals, alternative
facilities, or other shelters. Over the course of two months, I spent five
weeks in Louisiana supporting multiple operations. During that time,
our team established a mass vaccination clinic where we administered
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and tetanus-diphtheria vaccines. Additionally,
we operated a special needs shelter for residents displaced from nursing
homes that had been destroyed, ensuring they received continuous care
in the aftermath of the disaster.
In 2017, after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, we set up a pharmacy
tent next to our temporary field hospital on a pier in San Juan. We treated
a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, but one of the most pressing
issues was patients simply needing refills for their daily medications.
With the island’s power grid down and internet access unreliable, all
prescription labels were handwritten. Another distinctive aspect of this
mission was living onboard the USNS Comfort, one of two Navy hospital
ships. It was deployed to Puerto Rico to provide care for patients our team
triaged. The ship also was our temporary home, as much of the island
remained without power and few hotels were operational.
TWO DECADES
OF DISASTER
RESPONSE
WINTER 2026 I RETAIL/COMMUNITY • SPECIALTY • LTC
Contributed by Megan McCaskill, Vice President of Compliance and Strategy
at Horizon Pharmacy and Chief Pharmacist for RI-1 DMAT
A PHARMACIST’S EXPERIENCE
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