Medical students launch lifesaving initiative at American Legion Post 55 in Hannibal
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Two students from the University of Missouri School of Medicine, who have been completing clinical rotations at Hannibal Regional, focused their required project on supporting the American Legion Post 55 in Hannibal.
Medical students Jessalyn Hultz and John Williams developed a project titled “Resource Initiative for Veterans in Rural Missouri” after Williams learned about an incident that occurred at the Legion.
During an event in 2024, a Legion Post 55 member experienced a cardiac emergency and was found unconscious. Fellow members quickly began administering CPR until paramedics arrived and transported him to Hannibal Regional Hospital, where he later died.
After hearing the story, Williams asked whether anyone at the Legion had CPR or AED training and discovered no one had any experience. Williams then reached out to Allysa Starbuck, an American Heart Association instructor at Hannibal Regional, for help.
Since then, CPR training has been offered to Post 55 members who were highly engaged and eager to learn these lifesaving skills. In April 2025, with support from Starbuck and the Marion County Ambulance District, an AED was officially presented to the Legion.
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