Visit their web site: www.marco-ltd.org
The Medical Amateur Radio Council (MARCO) is an organization of Amateur Radio Operators who are professionals in the healing arts, or who have an interest in the medical, dental, or allied health fields. It was founded in 1965.
On-the-air network operation is an integral part of MARCO activity, conducted for the purpose of exchanging medical and technical information, and for members to be of service to the public by assisting during medical emergencies. These general goals have expanded over the past 30 years to encourage MARCO members participation in a volunteer program offering medical assistance, counsel and volunteer services through MARCO's MediShare International Program.
The Medical Amateur Radio Council (MARCO) is a scientific membership organization whose members are in or are interested in the 'health industry', such as physicians, dentists, nurses, hospital administrators, pharmacists, veterinarians, and the like, and who are also Amateur Radio Operators .
As Amateur Radio Operators, members who are active, own and operate their own private radio stations and thereby can 'talk' to each other in any of a variety of modern communication modes - whether by voice, code, teletype, or digital techniques. In addition, communication by Amateur-built satellites is commonplace.
ON-the-air "nets" are scheduled regularly throughout the week, which permit MARCO members to exchange and discuss medical information and subjects and to enhance their communications skills. It is not unusual for member- doctors to be called upon over the air, to assist as consultants or advisors in medical emergencies. Many times over the years, members have been called upon to advise in such crises, as for example, serious illness or trauma to seamen on ships at sea when no other medical person was available, or as consultants to other physicians or health professionals in Third World and other remote clinics and hospitals.
As for example, a few months before the Jonestown, Guyana, tragedy was perpetrated, MARCO members were consulted on a regular basis by Dr. Lawrence Schact, the Jonestown camp physician. He was an amateur radio operator and an applicant for MARCO membership at the time.