JMU's Global Medical Relief Project Bridging Education and Humanitarian Aid Across Continents
Africa Medical Relief Project
Dream it.
Dr. Bill Ritchie, CSX Professor of Management at JMU partnered with Dr. Mark Smith, Executive Director of Mihret Medical Supply Group to create the Global Medical Relief Project. The purpose of the endeavor was to provide the JMU Supply Chain students with an engaged learning opportunity.
Build it.
The project thrived through diverse support: healthcare assets from Carilion and Sentara RMH, discounted storage by InterChange Group, transportation by JS-Expedite and EFL Global to Djibouti, and technology from Geollect and Odoo for tracking and management, demonstrating a broad coalition of stakeholder involvement.
Grow it.
Dr. Bill Ritchie and Dr. Mark Smith launched a project in 2019 to engage JMU students in global logistics, initially focusing on the Ebola crisis in Congo. With donor support, they've sent five 40′ containers of medical supplies to Africa and expanded to Ukraine in 2022, blending education with critical healthcare support.