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Resources
- Recorded webcast
- Speaker’s presentation (421KB .pdf)
- Speaker’s presentation (4.9MB .pdf)
- AHCJ core topic: Infectious diseases
July 25, noon ET
A natural disaster, such as a hurricane, flood, fire or earthquake, can cause catastrophic damage to health care infrastructure, leaving people vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks and other challenges. How can health reporters prepare for covering a natural disaster in their community and then how can they best report on the event as it is happening, as well as what to look out for regarding the health impacts in the aftermath? In particular, what do natural disasters mean for children? What infectious diseases might they be at risk of contracting? Learn answers to these questions during this webcast for members.
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Irwin Redlener, M.D., director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness
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Umair A. Shah, M.D., M.P.H., executive director, Harris County (Texas) Public Health
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Moderator: Bara Vaida, AHCJ topic leader/infectious diseases
Irwin Redlener is a recognized national leader in disaster preparedness and the public health ramifications of terrorism and large-scale catastrophic events. He and his team have developed major programs to enhance public health and health systems readiness with respect to disasters. Redlener also has more than three decades of experience providing health care to medically underserved children in rural and urban communities throughout the U.S. As founder and president of the Children’s Health Fund, he is a renowned advocate for access to health care for all children. In 1993 & 1994, Redlener served as a special consultant to the National Health Reform Task Force for the Clinton White House.
Since 2013, Umair A. Shah, M.D., M.P.H., has served as executive director and local health authority for Harris County Public Health (HCPH) – the nationally accredited county public health agency for the nation’s third largest county with 4.7 million people. Shah earned his medical degree from the University of Toledo Health Science Center and completed an internal medicine residency, primary care/general medicine fellowship, and master’s degree in public health (management) at the University of Texas Health Science Center. He started his formal public health journey as chief medical officer at Galveston County’s Health District before joining HCPH to oversee its clinic al health system and infectious disease portfolio. He previously served as president of NACCHO (and its Texas affiliate) representing the nation’s nearly 3,000 local health departments. Over his career, Shah has been a clinician, an innovator, an educator, and a leader in health.
