Key Objectives:
- Provide networking opportunities for epidemiologists and public health professionals that work in, or would like to learn more about, the field of disaster epidemiology.
- Discuss the CSTE Disaster Epidemiology Subcommittee, current projects, and future initiatives.
Brief Summary:
Disaster epidemiology is the application of epidemiologic methods to characterize the nature and dynamics of the health consequences in a disaster setting. Epidemiology plays an important role in all phases of the disaster management cycle and includes epidemiologic methods such as rapid needs assessments, health surveillance, descriptive research, evaluation, and tracking or registries. The information generated can directly inform decision-making and prevent future health consequences from disasters. The Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists Disaster Epidemiology Subcommittee brings epidemiologists from local, state, regional, and national levels together to discuss current epidemiological methods, tools, and projects that relate to disaster epidemiology. The subcommittee hosts monthly webinars to share knowledge, experiences, and to connect with partners. The subcommittee has developed a web-based disaster epidemiology toolkit that enables epidemiologists to easily access tools, resources, and publications. Annually, the subcommittee plans and hosts the annual Disaster Epidemiology Workshop. Subcommittee workgroups developed a Shelter Surveillance Guidance Document and are working towards a Disaster Epidemiology Guidance Document to be completed spring 2017. For the 2017 CSTE Annual Conference roundtable discussion we invite members of the subcommittee and those that would like to learn more about disaster epidemiology to network and discuss current projects and initiatives.