Krissy Dietrich Gallagher

MedWish International a not-for-profit organization committed to repurposing medical supplies and equipment discarded by the health care industry with the objectives of providing humanitarian aid to save lives and reducing waste to save our environment. Each year, millions of people worldwide die from preventable diseases and lack of access to adequate health care. At the same time, hospitals in the United States discard millions of tons of medical supplies and equipment every year. Much of what is discarded is still sterile and safe for use, but is disposed of due to stringent U.S. regulations, inadequate inventory systems or upgrading of equipment that renders usable but no longer state-of-the-art machines obsolete. As an alternative option that reduces waste and saves lives, MedWish collects, sorts and redistributes donated supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics in developing countries. MedWish was founded in 1993 by Dr. Lee Ponsky to address the medical needs in developing countries that he witnessed firsthand as a volunteer in Nigeria before enrolling in medical school. Since its beginning the organization has grown to impact the local community through employment, volunteer opportunities and waste reduction and internationally through service to more than 110 countries. For more information, please visit our website at www.medwish.org.