This is a personal recount from LCol Leilani Doyle on the creation of the Canadian Medical Emergency Response Team (CMERT); from the original pitch of the idea, through the training and creation of the concept, to the first deployment of the CMERT with the United Nations on Op MINUSMA in Mali.

1. The creation of the
Canadian Medical Emergency Response Team (CMERT):
from nascent concept to deployed reality.
LCol Leilani Doyle

3. Act 1: The Idea

6. Lesson 1: If you make a suggestion, be
prepared to follow through with your idea

7. Act 2: The Creation
So what’s the plan boss?

12. Lesson 2: You are not alone. Ask for help.
People are very generous with their time
and expertise esp. in the FOAMed world

13. Act 3: The Deployment

14. “You feel like basically a pet trapped in a car,”
said Lt. Col. Leilani Doyle”

16. Lesson 3: Patience is not always easy.
But you may need it since it may take
longer than you expected to see the
results of your work

17. Final thoughts