Executive Director
Distribution Center Supervisor
Kiana is a former PSMA volunteer. She returned as our Office Manager in Tucson before being laterally transferred to Distribution Center Supervisor. Prior to her return as a full-time employee, she was a lead medical aide at Immediate Care Arizona.
Office Supervisor
David joined the team in November 2023. He is a former teacher now using his experience in education to champion our community's welfare and progress under PSMA's banner.
Program Development Coordinator & Grant Writer
Alex started at PSMA in March 2024. She graduated from Arizona State University with her degree in journalism, where she found her love for writing and the nonprofit sector.
Volunteer
The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. If you would like to volunteer, every hour is helpful! Click the button below to find out more about volunteering.
Warehouse Assistant
PMHDC Southwest Medical Aid (PSMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing durable medical equipment and supplies free to the community, through other qualified charitable organizations, for their clientele who may otherwise go without.
Our supplies come from excess inventory at hospitals, private practitioners, ERs, clinics, churches, thrift stores and individuals. Donated medical supplies and equipment – which can range from personal hygiene items to hospital beds – are primarily distributed through a network of nonprofits, hospitals, churches and other agencies.
Anyone can be a recipient of aid, but most are people who have become marginalized through poverty, fixed income, natural disasters, political unrest, physical or financial hardship, loss of a job or home or family member, incarceration, homelessness or other life events.
Based in Tucson, PSMA primarily serves Southern Arizona and Pima County, as well as areas in Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Maricopa, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yuma, California, New Mexico and Northern Mexico. Occasionally, PSMA is called upon to help other countries such as the Philippines, Belize, Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, and countries in Africa.
Over 100,000 pounds of medical supplies and equipment are distributed each year through our partner organizations:
-PPEP
-PMHDC
-El Rio Health
-Gospel Rescue Mission
-South Tucson Lions Club
-Tucson Collaborative Care Community
-Tucson Fire and Police Departments
-Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports
-Tucson Medical Center
-Northwest Medical Center
-Differently Abled Entertainment
and many more!
In our nearly 20 years of existence, we estimate we have distributed over ONE MILLION POUNDS of medical materiel that may have otherwise ended up in landfills, dumps and recycling centers. Instead, they have a second life and can continue helping people in need.
Southwest Medical Aid (SMA) was founded in 2004 by Jan Izlar, who noticed the growing need for an organization that could collect surplus medical supplies and package and distribute them to medical clinics in Tucson and abroad. Her husband Jim (1937-2021) and a small team of enthusiasts started out at their house, and we have since grown into a thriving organization with a 5,000 sq. ft. warehouse.
SMA, working with the Society of the Divine Savior (the Salvatorians), took many mission trips to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Peru and Ecuador. There, they distributed medical supplies and equipment and assisted in the building and renovation of schools, churches and other community buildings.
Cheryl Cecil and others led the organization for a number of years. Jose Ralls took the reins around 2018 and, under his leadership, SMA was acquired by PPEP Microbusiness & Housing Development Corporation (PMHDC).
Southwest Medical Aid (SMA) was incorporated into the nonprofit PPEP Microbusiness Housing Development Corporation to become PMHDC Southwest Medical Aid (PSMA) in 2019.
PMHDC is itself part of the Portable Practical Educational Preparation Inc. (PPEP) family, started by Dr. John David Arnold in 1967.
Copyright © 2020-2024 PSMA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PSMA * 720 E. 46th St. * Tucson, AZ 85713 * 520/622-2938 * psma@ppep.org
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