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.

Southern Region

Alabama | Florida | Georgia | Louisiana | Mississippi | North Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | West Virginia

Alabama

University of Alabama School of Medicine

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine created a Web site on Bioterrorism and Emerging Infections designed to provide content, learning modules, and free continuing medical education on emerging pathogens and potential bioterrorist agents for first point-of-care clinician specialists. The site was designed by the UAB Center for Emergency Care and Disaster Preparedness, the School of Medicine's Division of Continuing Medical Education, and the UAB Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education.

UAB's Center for Emergency Care and Disaster Preparedness was funded by the Department of Homeland Security to develop a professional curriculum on biological terrorism, chemical attacks, radiation and other mass casualty incidents for first and second point-of-contact physicians and medical students. This curriculum provides the user with a matrix for choosing educational materials specific to the user's awareness and performance level needs, his/her first or second point-of-contact status, and tailored learning objectives, competencies, course materials, suggested delivery methods and evaluation/assessment
tools.

Contact: Joy Carter, Media Specialist, 205-934-1676

Florida

University of South Florida

Three federally funded centers at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Public Health are preparing public health workers and emergency medical personnel to respond to the threat of bioterrorism.

The USF Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance provides education, training, and research initiatives on disaster mitigation—preventive strategies to lessen the impact of future disasters, including potential terrorist attacks. The center works with the military and civilian agencies to improve the operational readiness for disaster management and humanitarian missions in the Western Hemisphere, with particular emphasis in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The USF Center for Biological Defense is helping to prepare the state's public health system for the threat of a bioterrorist attack. Center members are developing laboratory technology to more rapidly identify deadly biological agents and setting up computer systems to monitor any unusual patterns in school attendance that might be an early indication of bioterrorism-related epidemics.

The Florida Center for Public Health Preparedness is training frontline public health workers in bioterrorism preparedness (including dealing with the psychological trauma), infection control, and other emergency situations. USF is one of seven accredited schools of public health in the country awarded designation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Public Health Preparedness Center.

Contact: Marissa Emerson, Health Sciences Campus, 813-974-3300

Georgia

Medical College of Georgia

Students at the Medical College of Georgia are offered an elective called "Disaster and International Emergency Medicine." This elective is designed to familiarize students with emergency preparation and response to a variety of natural and technical disasters, including exposure to the biological and chemical agents that may be used in terrorist acts. Students gain a basic understanding of national, state, and local health response to natural and other disasters, as well as a basic understanding in evaluating emergency preparedness in the United States or abroad.

Contact: Toni Baker, Media Relations Coordinator, 706-721-4421

Louisiana

Louisiana State University

Physicians and research scientist faculty members of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Shreveport have instituted new direct patient care programs, as well as programs for "infection defense" against agents of biological warfare. The LSU Hospital in Shreveport is designated by the state of Louisiana as the regional facility for bioterrorism healthcare response. Physicians and other hospital personnel are attending specialized bioterrorism response programs offered by the Army and other federal agencies. Initial steps have been taken to develop a statewide computer-based network that will allow the Level I Trauma Centers at LSUHSC in Shreveport and New Orleans to direct triage for all hospitals in Louisiana. Basic science faculty experts are collaborating with clinical faculty toward development of a Center of Infection Defense that will capitalize on the university's extensive expertise in infectious diseases. The bioterrorism element of the medical school curriculum was expanded significantly following September 11, 2001, and is now integrated throughout all four years of medical school.

Contact: Elaine King, Director of Public and Governmental Relations, 318-675-5408

Mississippi

University of Mississippi Medical Center

The University of Mississippi Medical Center occasionally offers a seminar for physicians, residents, students, and other health professionals titled "Bioterrorism: Fact vs. Fiction." The program gives a medical overview of biological and chemical agents and their use in terrorist acts.

Contact: Barbara Austin, Division of Public Affairs, 601-984-1100

North Carolina

East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine

The director of the Brody School of Medicine's Telemedicine Center has been named to a Southern Governors Association task force, charged with creating a seamless regional communication network that would connect communities across southern states in the event of a terrorist attack. Telemedicine Center staff members have participated in local, national and international disaster drills, including the Operation Strong Angel multinational disaster-response exercise in 2000 and a regional terrorism response exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Marine Base in the summer of 2002.

Contact: Doug Boyd, Medical Center News and Information, 252-816-2481

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Medicine

The school of medicine at the University of North Carolina offers a course in disaster management for emergency medicine residents and faculty. Following a lecture and tabletop exercise, class participants assist in a final exercise - a 5-hour simulated mass casualty drill in the Emergency Department.

"Zoonotic Infections: Bacterial Agents of Bioterrorism," is a lecture presented to first year medical students taking the microbiology course at the medical school. The lecture includes a discussion of anthrax and other bacteria considered to be potential agents of germ warfare.

Contact: Leslie Lang, Medical Center Public Affairs, 919-843-9687

Tennessee

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Vanderbilt offers a course called "Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness and Treatment" for physicians, nurses and staff. The course focuses on biological, nuclear, and chemical weapons, and emphasizes the protection and treatment of patients.

Contact: John Howser, News and Public Affairs, 615-322-4747

Texas

Parkland Health and Hospital System

Parkland Health and Hospital System has created a set of nuclear, biological, and chemical guidelines that serve as a comprehensive disaster plan. The disaster manual was created to educate hospital staff to be ready in the event of a nuclear, biological, or chemical attack.

Contact: April Foran, Director of Corporate Communications, 214-590-8054

Baylor College of Medicine

Baylor College of Medicine is working in the area of smallpox and anthrax vaccine enhancement. The department of molecular virology and microbiology participated in a four-site dilution trial that has significantly increased the number of available doses. In addition, the department is studying the effectiveness of "found" vaccine stores from a French pharmaceutical company, to see if that stock might be used for vaccination.

Another professor in the department of virology and microbiology, in conjunction with four other institutions, is conducting a study determine if the number of doses in the anthrax vaccine can be reduced, and whether vaccine can be given in the muscle rather than under the skin.

A city of Houston medical strike team, headed by Baylor's president, is looking at more effective responses to incidents involving casualties or injuries resulting from nuclear, biological or chemical agents. The strike team was in place prior to September 11, 2001, and since then has placed special emphasis on bioterrorism preparedness.

Contact: Heather Russell, Public Relations, 713-798-4710

West Virginia

Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Medical students at Marshall University can earn a Certificate in Bioterrorism Studies as part of their course in medical microbiology.

In the "Introduction to Clinical Medicine" course, second year medical students participate in lectures on bio/chemical agents, bioterrorism preparedness, and the history of biological warfare.

After Sept. 11, the university hosted a Symposium on Bioterrorism Preparedness, jointly sponsored by Marshall's forensic science program and the local health department. This symposium was intended to educate the local community.

Contact: Beverly McCoy, Director of Public Relations, 304-691-1713

Updated: November 2004

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