Medical Schools and Teaching Hospitals Respond to Bioterrorism

Medical schools and teaching hospitals are preparing medical students, educating residents and physicians, and making research contributions that will prepare the nation for biological, radiation, and chemical terrorism.

Midwest/Great Plains Region

Iowa | Minnesota | Nebraska | Ohio | Wisconsin

Iowa

University of Iowa

The Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa (UI) is playing a role in the state and national response to bioterrorism, as members of the National Laboratory Network for Bioterrorism Detection.

The state of Iowa has established the Iowa Laboratory Alert Network (ILRN), as part of a national bioterrorism preparedness and response network of public health and clinical laboratories for the purpose of disease surveillance and emergency response to possible acts of bioterrorism. If one of the participating state laboratories suspects it has discovered a biological agent, they are advised to contact the UI Hygienic Laboratory, which serves as a reference laboratory for the state.

Contact: Steve Maravetz, Media Relations, 319-335-8033

Minnesota

Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic provides an infection control video to employees and staff that addresses the threat of bioterrorism, and hosted a lecture for staff on coping with fear. An Intranet site was created as a source for crisis information. Both the Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Pediatrics presented grand rounds on bioterrorism.

Contact: Lisa Copeland, Communications, 507-284-5005

University of Minnesota

Since September 11, 2001, the University of Minnesota (in collaboration with the state's department of health) has scheduled two web-based training forums for health professionals. The online educational programs discussed the threat of bioterrorism, the diagnosis and medical management of the suspected cases, and the infrastructure in place to quickly respond to bioterrorist attacks.

Contact: Sarah Youngerman, Media and Public Relations Manager, 612-624-4604

Nebraska

University of Nebraska Medical Center

The Nebraska Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) is one of the nation's few public health laboratories located on the campus of an academic medical center. Housed at the University of Nebraska, the NPHL was funded by the CDC in 1998 and began a bioterrorism preparedness project in 1999. NPHL is part of a national electronic disease surveillance system, an electronic communication and data tracking system that monitors trends in public health. The system monitors, for example, increases in particular patient symptoms and pharmacy purchases that signify changes in public health, and may be warning signs of a biological danger.

Homeland Security Advisor Tom Ridge visited the University of Nebraska Medical Center on Nov. 1, 2002, to see first-hand how the state has become a model of bioterrorism preparedness and a key ally in federal efforts to combat bioterrorism. Ridge, former governor of Pennyslvania, spent two hours on the UNMC campus learning about bioterrorism preparedness efforts that have national implications.

Contact: Tom O'Connor, Senior Associate Director of Public Affairs, 402-559-4353

Ohio

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

The Schools of Medicine and Nursing at Case Western Reserve University held a one-day course on October 26, "Biological and Chemical Terrorism: What Area Health Care Providers Need to Know." The program was intended for doctors, nurses, and other health care providers in northeast Ohio. The course was designed to educate health care teams on their roles in identification, triage, treatment, referral, and reporting of biological or chemical acts of terrorism.

Contact: George Stamatis, Director of Public Affairs, 216-368-3635

Medical College of Ohio

"Basic Anti-Terrorism Emergency Lifesaving Skills" is a course aimed at educating future physicians about disaster medicine. Medical students cover topics such as: triage, treatment of blast and crush injuries, hazardous materials situations, biological and chemical agents, and mass casualty management. In 2002, the MCO curriculum committee declared this course a mandatory part of the medical student curriculum. This course is a cooperative effort between MCO and the University of Findlay Center for Terrorism Preparedness.

Contact: Matt Lockwood, Office of Institutional Advancement, 419-383-5145

Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine

In response to current threats of bioterroism the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine has offered eight continuing medical education (CME) activities throughout Ohio and in Florida since April 2002. These programs are offered to physicians and other health care providers to educate them to identify, treat, and report acts of terrorism. The programs also provide physicians with information about local resources. An occupational safety and health conference planned for February 2004 will focus on air quality and air-borne infectious diseases.

Contact: Patrick Crowley, Director of Public Relations, 330-325-6673

University of Cincinnati Medical Center

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the University of Cincinnati developed two forums on bioterrorism. The first, a one-time presentation to medical students, faculty, and medical center staff, addressed key biological agents, provided guidance on diagnosis and treatment, and identified the local community's system of preparedness.

The second forum is a 3-credit CME program for practicing physicians, designed to provide an overview of biological and chemical agents, with a focus on identification of symptoms and delineation of the community-wide system of response.

Contact: Sheryl Hilton, Public Relations, 513-558-4553

Wright State University School of Medicine

Wright State University School of Medicine's Department of Emergency Medicine led a symposium for local health care providers and has developed a process and format for public advisories, in conjunction with the local medical society and search and rescue task force. In February, emergency medicine physicians led a public meeting on bioterrorism, and presented a Mini-Med School lecture in April. Wright State School of Medicine faculty have played a major role in mock community disaster drills, working in coordination with local fire and police departments, hospitals, and emergency management agencies. Dayton, where the school is located, was one of 126 cities selected to participate in a weapons of mass destruction terrorism exercise by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Contact: Judi Engle, Director of Public Relations, 937-775-2951

Wisconsin

Medical College of Wisconsin

The Medical College of Wisconsin held a one-day bioterrorism seminar for members of the media. Faculty experts presented information on local preparedness, infectious diseases, community disaster response, emergency room readiness, pediatric concerns, and mental health response.

Contact: Toranj Marphetia, Associate Director of Public Affairs, 414-456-4700

Updated: November 2004

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