World Medical Relief was established in 1953 to address the needs of Korean War orphans. Over the years, the non-profit organization has expanded its mission to impact the well-being of the medically impoverished on a local, national and international basis and provided medical aid to thousands of underserved people in the Detroit metropolitan area and in over 130 developing nations worldwide. WMR achieves this through the collection of financial donations and goods, including medical, dental and laboratory items, as well as through the purchase and distribution of such commodities. Goods are distributed in a non-discriminatory manner without regard to race, color, gender, religion, nationality or political beliefs.
After developing a partnership between World Medical Relief and Project My Heart Your Heart, Dr. Kim Eagle joined the World Medical Relief Board of Directors in 2010. MCORRP then began to integrate World Medical Relief into its summer internship program. Beginning in the summer of 2010, each student is scheduled to visit WMR headquarters in Detroit for four days to help with the sorting and shipment of medical supplies. Staff members also attend for a single day during the summer. This opportunity not only raises awareness of the substantial need for medical supplies in third world countries, but also supplements the educational curriculum by familiarizing students with a vast assortment of medical supplies and equipment.
World Medical Relief is also an integral partner of Project My Heart Your Heart. On June 9, 2018, WMR opened the Sheldon and Marion Davis Pacemaker Recycling World Headquarters and became the only pacemaker reconditioning facility in the country. To date, more than 40,000 devices have been donated to the project and students continue to volunteer year round. Volunteers interrogate an average of 200 devices every Saturday.