A committed community of caregivers answered the call to serve their state and nation by volunteering for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Smallpox Response Team.

The team is part of the state's plan to manage and reduce the adverse impact of a bioterrorism incident involving smallpox in Iowa.

Iowa's smallpox plan calls for one or two hospitals in each of six regions to prepare medical teams that can quickly respond to a smallpox outbreak. Hospitals included in the plan must meet certain criteria, and all team members must receive the smallpox vaccination.

"These volunteers will be the first to care for Iowans with smallpox intensively should the disease make its way here," said Charles Helms, M.D., Ph.D., chief of staff at UI Hospitals and Clinics.

The UI Hospitals and Clinics team includes (left to right): Fred Moyes; Frank Morriss, M.D.; Valerie Maglioachetti, R.T.; Helms; Bob Zeman, R.N.; Monica Firme, R.N.; Richard Sontheimer, M.D.; Nicholas Zavazava, M.D.; Warren Piette, M.D.; Marta Van Beek, M.D.; Vicki Kraus; Tom Lawrance, R.N; James Carroll, M.D.; Jess Mandel, M.D.; Cheryl Schnell, R.N.; Amil Baines; Mildred Yoder; Michelle Nagle, R.N.; and Craig Vickstrom, M.D.

Team members unavailable for the photo include Mercedes Carrasquillo, R.N.; Megan Farnsworth, R.N.; Doug Freeman; Laurence Fuortes, M.D.; Mark Graber, M.D.; Charles Grose, M.D.; Debbie Hess, R.N.; Robert Kelch, M.D.; Kim Lopez, R.N.; Sarah Lorenz, R.N.; Joseph Lucero, M.D.; Cheryl Person, R.N.; Alisa Schantz, R.N.; D. Michael Shasby, M.D.; Jack Stapleton, M.D.; Andrew Sulma; and Pat Winokur, M.D.