The Drexel University School of Public Health (SPH), Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication (CPHRC), recently received a $566,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, through the Keystone Alliance. The CPHRC is currently involved with several key research and community projects related to terrorism preparedness, including taking the lead in the evaluation of a Lehigh Valley Project in conjunction with local, state and federal partners. This project, a potential national model, aims to plan and evaluate regional preparedness efforts among several counties and a regional Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public Health District.
CPHRC is directed by Peter Rumm, MD, MPH, and co-directed by Curtis Cummings, MD, MPH. Both are Associate Professors in the School’s Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health. Several other SPH faculty members are involved, along with Asst. Professor Xiaohua (Tony) Hu, PhD, of Drexel’s College of Information Science and Technology (IST).
(l-r: Assoc. Prof. Curtis Cummings; CPHRC Acting Co-ordinator Katie Gleason, MPH; Assoc. Prof. Peter Rumm; CPHRC Research Co-ordinator Jennifer Sinibaldi, MPH)
On June 6-9th, the CPHRC and the SPH helped lead several portions of the U.S. Public Health Professional Conference in Philadelphia which this year focused on global health issues. Dr. Rumm moderated a special session on "Effective Risk Communication to the Public in Times of Crisis" on June 6th, and a second session on "Global Emergency Preparedness." Dr. Rumm also presented on "The National Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism and Related Planning Efforts for Special Populations."
