The Task Force’s Medsurplus Alliance program is becoming an independent nonprofit organization, reflecting its next stage of growth.
Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro, Antigua Guatemala, Photo credit: Ryan Zimmerman.
After almost a decade as a program of The Task Force for Global Health, the MedSurplus Alliance (MSA) will become an independent nonprofit organization. The transition, which will take place on February 28, marks a milestone in MSA’s growth and reflects the maturity of MSA’s mission, programs and partnerships.
MSA was established in 2012 and has been a program of The Task Force since 2018. MSA’s mission is to engage and inspire cross-sector medical product donation partners to advance equitable access to health by providing quality medical products when and where they are needed.
MSA delivers measurable global health impact at scale, having supported millions of patients across dozens of countries through accredited Medical Surplus Recovery Organization (MSRO) partners and programs such as Kits4Life and health system surplus recovery initiatives, while reducing chances of usable medical products going to waste. The Kits4Life program plays a crucial role by providing a donation tool that tracks donation quality and placement. It transforms what would be unused equipment and supplies into meaningful tools to save lives.
“MSA’s work has always been about more than moving surplus medical products; it’s about improving quality, strengthening trust, and making every donation count,” said MSA Director Lori Warrens, who founded the program. “The Task Force for Global Health shares this commitment, and I’m grateful for its leadership and support, as well as for our members, donors, and MSRO partners whose dedication has made this transition possible. MSA’s next chapter as an independent organization is full of promise. With a new board in place and strong leadership stepping forward, I’m confident the next chapter will bring continued innovation and even greater impact for our partners and the people we serve.”
Quality, accountability and ethical distribution will remain central to MSA’s model, guided by its Code of Conduct and MSRO Accreditation Program, with The Task Force for Global Health continuing as a valued and trusted partner in the global health community.
A key element in the timing of MSA’s transition is Lori Warrens’ decision to retire after dedicating more than three decades to nonprofit, community and global health leadership. As Director, Warrens shaped the organization into a respected, cross-sector alliance advancing quality, accountability and ethical standards for donated medical products worldwide. Under her leadership, MSA strengthened its Code of Conduct and Accreditation Program, expanded global partnerships, developed Kits4Life with the life sciences sector, innovated national health system donation partnerships, and improved access to life-saving medical equipment and supplies, while helping prevent inappropriate donations that burden health systems and harm the environment.
“There are countless wonderful people and partner organizations who worked with Lori to make MSA the extraordinary, impactful organization that it is,” said Task Force for Global Health President and CEO, Patrick O’Carroll. “But I will always view Lori as the absolute heart and soul of the MedSurplus Alliance.”
Long-time MSRO leader Josh Kravitz will serve as the interim director for MSA for 2026. Kravitz served formerly as CEO and COO of MSA member MSROs.
For more on MSA, see last year’s Q&A with Lori Warrens.
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