MISSION

Enhancing preparedness skills and knowledge in the areas of medical preparedness, first responder preparedness, public health preparedness, and business/industry preparedness through affordable, needs-based training; customized organizational assistance; and comprehensive resources.

HISTORY

In 2002, in response to Federal and State initiatives to establish and improve the public health system's response to biological events, Nebraska Health and Human Services commissioned the state's two medical schools - Creighton University School of Medicine and University of Nebraska Medical Center - to join forces to form The Center for Preparedness Education, which is under the direction of the Chiefs of the Infectious Disease Departments at both medical centers and a multi agency consortium.

Participation in our programs has increased steadily as a result of increased program offerings based on information from a variety of sources. The type and number of programs we offer varies year to year based on information collected from several sources:

• Health Professions Tracking collaborative needs assessment surveys
• Evaluations from all Center programs
• Surveys to past participants
• Regular input from consortium members
• Input from program partners
• Extensive networking at conferences and with others in the preparedness community
• Outreach to business and industry

Although the Center’s audiences have traditionally been health care, public health and first responders, as preparedness needs change and the disaster scenarios we face evolve, our programs and other offerings also evolve to meet emerging needs.

The Center serves a broad base of professionals involved in preparedness activities at all levels of their organizations and their communities. We anticipate this diverse mix of professionals will continue to grow as we expand our program offerings into the business/industry and educational sectors.

We offer continuing education credits for most of our programs, thus providing an added value to the busy professionals we serve.

DIRECTORS

Dr. Gary Gorby of Creighton University Medical Center and Dr. Philip Smith of University of Nebraska Medical Center serve as co-directors of the Center. Sharon Medcalf serves as Associate Director.

  Philip W. Smith, MD - Co-Director

Dr Smith is a professor in the Infectious Diseases Division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), and Director of the Center for Biosecurity, Biopreparedness and Emerging Infectious Diseases in the UNMC College of Public Health. He is Medical Director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit.

He serves on various local, state and national committees for biopreparedness and pandemic influenza preparedness, and is president and founder of the Nebraska Infection Control Network. He received the Sir William Osler Teaching Award from the Department of Internal Medicine at UNMC, the Robert D Sparks Award for Achievement in Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the UNMC College of Public Health, and the Physician of Distinction Award from the Nebraska Medical Center . A Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Dr. Smith has nearly 200 total publications.

Contact Phil at center@preped.org or 402.552.2529

   Gary L. Gorby, MD - Co-Director

Dr. Gorby is Chief of Medicine for the Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. He is also an Associate Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at Creighton University School of Medicine and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Dr. Gorby serves on the Creighton University Biosafety Committee and has an active interest in applying computer technology for designing interactive lectures and websites. He has received the Innovative Use of Instructional Technology Award from Creighton University.

Contact Gary at center@preped.org or 402.552.2529

   Sharon Medcalf, PhD, MEd, RN - Associate Director

Sharon Medcalf is the Associate Director of the Center for Preparedness Education in the Center for Biopreparedness, Biosecurity, and Emerging Infectious Diseases and an instructor in the UNMC COPH Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health. Sharon was instrumental in the establishment of the College of Public Health’s new academic programs in emergency preparedness. She developed four core courses for the professional certificate and master of science programs and directs two of the courses each semester. Ms. Medcalf is serving her second term on the Board of Directors of the Public Health Association of Nebraska and values being part of an organization that is bolstering the public health infrastructure in Nebraska. Her research area of interest is smallpox. She was heavily involved in the National Smallpox Vaccination program launched in 2003. In response to a credible threat, the US vaccinated almost 40,000 health care and public health workers across the nation. Her colleagues in the laboratories also established a network of sites to test for smallpox. Her current research project is looking at smallpox vaccination in laboratory workers at smallpox testing sites across the country.

Contact Sharon at center@preped.org or 402.552.2529

  Leslie Gunning-Scofield, MPH - Interim Associate Director

As Director for First Responder Education, Leslie’s responsibility involves identifying gaps in knowledge and training needs as they pertain to Law Enforcement, EMS, Emergency Management and Fire personnel within the state of Nebraska.

She is Coordinator for a regional training center for National Disaster Life Support™ programs and is an active member of the NDLS®Educational Consortium, serving as Chair of the NDLSEC Academic Review Committee and member of the NDLS Advisory Committee. She has served as a proctor for the National Disaster Life Support Foundation and has become a mentor to organizations wishing to become NDLS® Training Centers. Leslie oversees the planning efforts and leads the steering committee for the Nebraska Infrastructure Protection Conference, Nebraska’s annual homeland security and critical infrastructure preservation conference. Leslie is involved with the Omaha Metropolitan Medical Response System (OMMRS) Steering Committee, and is the Training Officer for the NE-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team. She is a member of the Omaha Area Medical Reserve Corps.

Contact Leslie at lscofield@unmc.edu or 402.552.3116

   Barbara L. Dodge, B-Ed - Director of Hospital Preparedness

As Director of Hospital Preparedness, Barbara works with Nebraska Hospitals to develop preparedness plans and promotes implementation of a Hospital Incident Command System.

Contact Barbara at bdodge@unmc.edu or 402.552.3101

   Kristine Sanger, BS, MT(ASCP), HCPCP - Director of Hospital Training and Exercise Programs

In her role at the Center for Preparedness Education, Kristine is responsible for coordination of disaster exercises and conferences. The trainings and exercises that she has developed range from small internal programs to large community exercises. She provides expertise in facilitation, training & exercise plan development, disaster preparedness continuing education, conference coordination and coalition building for healthcare and public health emergency managers. She has been trained in Healthcare Business Continuity through DRI International and is a certified Healthcare Provider Continuity Professional (HCPCP). She is involved in the Medical Response Systems throughout Nebraska and the Greater Omaha Association for Infection Control Practitioners (APIC). Kristi has extensive experience in the healthcare field with a background in Clinical Laboratory Science, Embryology, Infection Prevention, Patient Safety, Employee Safety and Disaster Preparedness.

Contact Kristine at ksanger@unmc.edu or 402.552.3099

   John Lowe, PhD, MS – Director of Public Health Training and Exercise Programs

In his role at the Center for Preparedness Education, Dr. Lowe is responsible for facilitation, development and coordination of disaster exercises. He has worked with hospitals, public health departments and Medical Response Systems across Nebraska to conduct numerous disaster exercises. Dr. Lowe provides expertise in facilitation, training & exercise plan development, disaster preparedness continuing education, and coalition building for healthcare and public health emergency managers. He has served on the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit Leadership committee, the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health Curriculum Committee, and contributed to the development of both a graduate certificate and a Master of Science in emergency preparedness at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical center and holds a PhD in Health Sciences focused in Biosecurity, Biopreparedness and Emerging Infectious Diseases as well as a Master’s Degree in Molecular Virology.

Contact John at jjlowe@unmc.edu or 402.552.3001

   Brian Madison, MPA - Exercise Outreach Specialist

In his role at the Center for Preparedness Education, Brian is responsible for facilitation, development and coordination of disaster exercises. He currently just retired from the United States Air Force after 22 years of service as a First Sergeant. He has expertise in Air Force Medical Readiness Plans and Programs and humanitarian assistance. He has worked with hospitals, public health departments and Medical Response Systems in Okinawa Japan and Colorado to conduct numerous disaster exercises. Brian provides expertise in facilitation, training & exercise plan development, disaster preparedness continuing education, and coalition building for healthcare and public health emergency managers. Brian holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Bellevue University, Bachelors of Arts in History degree also from Bellevue University and an Associate’s degree in Human Resources and Dental Laboratory Technology through the Community College of the Air Force. He has been trained in Air Force Medical Readiness Planners course, and the Status of Readiness Training Air Force course.

Contact Brian at brian.madison@unmc.edu or 402.552.9724

   Beckie McCaw - Administrative Assistant

Beckie provides administrative assistance for the Center staff. She serves as an initial point of contact for those who work with the Center and those attending trainings provided through the Center for Preparedness Education. Beckie also handles many of the accounting functions for the Center and works behind the scenes to make sure Center operations run smoothly.

Contact Beckie at rmccaw@unmc.edu or 402.552.2529