Caribbean Center for Disaster Medicine
The CCDM creates collaborations focused on enhancing the ability to prepare for and manage the healthcare needs of Caribbean populations when disaster strikes
**IMPORTANT UPDATE ON 2020 CONFERENCE**
Due to ongoing health, travel, and personal safety concerns, we have decided to change the International Conference on Disaster Medicine and Hurricane Resiliency planned for Sint Maarten to a one-day virtual event to be held Friday, March 27. The safety of our global community including our participants, speakers, students, and employees is our top priority and we believe this decision is in the best interest of all concerned.
Purpose of the Caribbean Center for Disaster Medicine
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) has created the Caribbean Center for Disaster Medicine (CCDM), a center of excellence designed to foster collaboration among professionals responsible for healthcare delivery, disaster preparedness, emergency response, and medical education. The center is being developed in cooperation with Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (HMFP), a physician group that includes Harvard Medical School faculty with global disaster medicine experience.
In recent years we've seen the impact of hurricanes like Irma, Maria, and Dorian on the Caribbean region. We all understand the need to continually improve preparedness for major disasters and emergencies. After Hurricane Irma devastated the Caribbean in September 2017, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine began working with global experts on disaster medicine to explore ways to help islands like Sint Maarten prepare for and deal with those kinds of disastrous events.These discussions led to the creation of the Caribbean Center for Disaster Medicine -- based at AUC School of Medicine -- that brings in global expertise while cooperating with local and regional Caribbean authorities to understand the best way to help the region build resilience against disasters, natural or man-made.
Key Collaborators
- American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (CCDM is based at AUC)
The CCDM is based at American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, a leading international medical school. Faculty of AUC have been trained to provide disaster-related training and education, and AUC has an active interest in disaster-related education and training.
HMFP is AUC's strategic collaboration on the Caribbean Center for Disaster Medicine, via the Division of Disaster Medicine at the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA.
CDEMA is a Caribbean regional inter-governmental agency for disaster management in the Caribean Community (CARICOM). CDEMA and CCDM entered into an MOU in 2019.
The Caribbean Center for Disaster Medicine is an affiliate of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine.
Annual Conference
The CCDM's flagship annual event is the International Conference on Disaster Medicine and Hurricane Resiliency. The first CCDM conference was held in March 2019. Upcoming in March 2020 is the second annual international conference, to be held March 26-29, 2020 on the campus of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. This conference will gather professionals from around the world to share insights and expertise on preparing for and managing disasters, building disaster management capacity in the workforce, and educating and training in the health professions.
2020 Conference
We are once again excited to collaborate with Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, as well as our regional partners in Sint Maarten and the Caribbean, to bring this event to you. The 2020 Annual Conference will invite perspectives from all dimensions of disaster medicine, including hurricanes and natural disasters, mass casualty incidents, and infectious disease.
2019 Conference
In March 2019, we held our inaugural Continuing Medical Education conference on the AUC campus in Sint Maarten. Over 280 professionals representing every corner of disaster medicine and emergency management attended. View the Conference Summary to learn more about the event and sessions.
What Does the Caribbean Center for Disaster Medicine Do?
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Create collaborations with governments, agencies, academic institutions, healthcare delivery institutions, and other groups involved in emergency preparedness and response
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Develop and deliver continuing education, professional development, and training programs
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Provide advisory services to improve operational capacity
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Engage in academic exchanges involving faculty and medical students
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Lead conferences and symposia focused on disaster medicine and natural disaster resiliency
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Research