As part of the specialized training program for the Emergency Medicine and Support Center in the United States, today’s activities kicked off with a distinguished lecture by Dr. Tim Frieze, Chair of the Disaster and Emergency Management Program at Georgetown University, on the topic of “Natural Disasters and Risks.”
Dr. Frieze is a prominent academic and international expert in environmental risk and disaster assessment. Holding a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, he oversees community preparedness and disaster planning programs at Georgetown University. His research focuses on utilizing spatial analysis (GIS) and enhancing community resilience to climate change and rising sea levels.
In the second half of the day, our team met with lecturers from the U.S. Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Presentations were given by:
- Taylor Bunch – Deputy Chief of Operations
- Darrin Donato – Director of Policy Division
- CDR Katie Watson – From the Response Center
They provided a detailed overview of ASPR’s crucial role in coordinating federal health response efforts, especially during major crises and disasters. This session offered a valuable opportunity to learn from ASPR’s extensive expertise in health emergency preparedness and readiness.
