Research, Resiliency and Reflection: Lessons from Iceland
Trip to the Arctic reaffirms professional commitment for two students and their mentor Immersive Research For Dr. Michelle Ritchie, there’s no such thing as armchair research. To her, proper immersive
UGA IDM and partners strengthen hospital readiness ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup Chaos to Care When a mass casualty incident occurs, the first few minutes at a receiving healthcare
Caring for the Canine First Responder
UGA researchers propose national training standard for OpK9 emergency care You wake up on a Monday morning, strap on your gear, and get ready to head out for a 12-hour
Student Spotlight: Alif Indiralarasati, MD
A Defining Moment What started as an ordinary morning in 2006 became a defining moment for Alif Indiralarasati. A 6.2-magnitude earthquake had struck her hometown in Indonesia. Having been born
Faculty Spotlight: James P. O’Neal
Clinical professor’s lifetime of service in US Air Force, emergency medicine, public health Since the age of 6 James Patrick O’Neal has had a penchant for flying. “It was just
How to stay safe during hurricane season
Stock a kit with food, water, medications and stay informed with national, local officials It’s been an unusually quiet hurricane season so far. But that may change with Hurricane Gabrielle
UGA students conduct campus-wide study on disaster mitigation
Student-led survey reveals gaps in disaster readiness while promoting active learning Michelle Ritchie is demystifying the research process for undergraduate students, and shaping campus preparedness along the way. An assistant
Curbing the CNA workforce shortage
New UGA study explores why CNAs are leaving the workforce and what can be done As the American population ages, the nation faces a crisis in its long-term care system—a
Alumni Spotlight: Crystal Shelnutt (MPH ’22)
Advocating for trauma patients—and the people who care for them Crystal Shelnutt’s path to public health leadership began in the back of an ambulance. Now, as the Regional Trauma System
UGA team crafts University Assistance Center plan in case of campus disaster
Plan supports cross-campus action following disaster When disaster strikes a university campus, police and emergency services are ready to jump in and respond. But what occurs in the days that
Improving the well-being of health care workers
Helping certified nursing assistants advance their careers could fight burnout, high turnover The stress health care workers such as certified nursing assistants face can be overwhelming. New research from the University of Georgia
Becoming a Triple Dawg: Makayla Peebles
Makayla Peebles knew she was destined for a career in public service. With both parents working as first responders, it was a no-brainer. What really drew her in was the
CPH celebrates faculty, staff and students during Honors Week
The UGA College of Public Health had a lot to celebrate during UGA’s 2025 Honors Week. This week is an opportunity to recognize outstanding students, faculty and staff, and to
How UGA’s Institute for Disaster Management is keeping Georgia’s nursing homes safe. Curt Harris doesn’t care for the word, “No.” In his mind, it is often a barrier to progress.
CPH honors outstanding faculty, staff, students & alumni in April
With the end of the 2023-2024 academic year on the horizon, the UGA College of Public Health is pleased to recognize the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members who
Inaugural Research Day Celebrates Team Science
Over 100 faculty, staff and students from the UGA College of Public Health gathered on Friday, February 9, for the College’s inaugural Research Day. The event brought together researchers from
CPH honors outstanding faculty, students, alumni, community members
As the 2022-2023 academic year draws to a close, the UGA College of Public Health is pleased to recognize more than 70 dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members
Faculty Spotlight: Kelli McCarthy is prepared for anything
Kelli McCarthy knows how to handle the worst situations. As a clinical assistant professor in the College of Public Health’s Institute for Disaster Management (IDM), she helps others learn how
CPH In the Media: January 2023
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of January 2023: Christina Proctor, clinical assistant professor of help promotion and behavior, spoke to WALB News on
Health care workers struggle to recall emergency codes
Workers only matched code words to corresponding emergencies 44% of the time A new study by University of Georgia researchers reveals that many health care workers cannot accurately identify emergency
Student Profile: Morgan Taylor
Morgan Taylor, a doctoral student studying in the Institute for Disaster Management, is expanding her expertise in data analysis and modeling in order to work on research projects that apply
CPH In the Media: November 2022
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of November 2022: Environmental health science professor Erin Lipp provided insights to Flagpole about the current viral load
Getting to Know You: Jeannette David
The College of Public Health has welcomed ten new faculty this fall who we want to introduce to the wider CPH community. Up this week is Jeannette David, who has
CPH In the Media: October 2022
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of October 2022: The College of Public Health’s contributions to the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance (CTSA)
New initiative aims to address CNA shortages
A growing shortage of qualified health care workers in long-term care facilities has spurred a team of researchers at the University of Georgia College of Public Health to take action.
How A Warming Globe is Driving Heavy Flooding
Originally published on the UGA Institute for Disaster Management blog. Climate change is driving more inland and coastal flooding across the U.S., sometimes in communities with no history of flooding.
Experiential Learning through Immersive Research in Iceland
By Alexandra Steele. Originally published on the UGA Institute for Disaster Management news blo One thing that the University of Georgia’s Institute for Disaster Management (IDM) stresses is giving students
College recognizes achievements of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members
In celebration of UGA Honors Week and the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, the College of Public Health recognized more than 70 dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community
NPHW 2022 Explainer: Climate Change – How the warming of our planet affects our health
Climate change is impacting the health of communities and further exacerbating health inequities all over the world. With expertise in geography and climate science, Michelle Ritchie, an assistant professor in
Third round of Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grants awarded
How can we better support dementia diagnosis and care in rural Georgia? That’s one of the questions that will be explored through funding provided by a third round of Presidential
Leveraging social media during a disaster
During a disaster, many people turn to social media seeking information. But communicating during disasters is challenging, especially using an interactive environment like social media where misinformation can spread easily.
CPH In the Media: November 2021 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of November 2021: Adam Chen, associate professor of health policy & management, provided commentary for the Chinese American
EMS responders may be vulnerable to outbreaks
Emergency medical services responders provide life-saving care every day, but new research that they may be vulnerable to deadly disease outbreaks. A study, led by University of Georgia researchers, found
CPH In the Media: May 2021 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of May 2021: Mark Ebell, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, helped unravel the CDC’s most recent mask recommendations
People with disabilities faced pandemic triage biases
When COVID-19 patients began filling up ICUs throughout the country in 2020, health care providers faced difficult decisions. Health care workers had to decide which patients were most likely to
CPH In the Media: February 2021 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of February 2021: Related to COVID-19 – Toni Miles, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, discussed the overwhelming sense
CPH announces 2021 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Mini-Grant Winners
Three student-led outreach projects addressing health disparities in the Athens-Clarke County community have been selected for funding through the UGA College of Public Health’s 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mini-Grants
CPH In the Media: August 2020 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of August 2020: Related to COVID-19 – Kerstin Emerson, clinical associate professor in the Institute of Gerontology, published
Maintain your distance to ‘flatten the curve’
You’ve heard all the public health experts say it: Disrupting the spread of coronavirus means social distancing. But what exactly is social distancing? Why is it important? And how do
CPH students develop water tablet to address diarrhea crisis
Three University of Georgia students are developing a tablet that could help global communities access clean water. John Parker, a master of public health (MPH) student at UGA’s College of
CPH In the Media: February 2020 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of February 2020: Related to the COVID-19 – In a series of UGA Today features, José Cordero, head
How first responders can protect themselves
EMS, police, and health care workers need to take special precautions Healthcare personnel working on the front lines to contain and prevent the spread of the new coronavirus that originated
Institute prepares for handling disease disasters
Ebola simulation gives disaster and health professionals hands-on experience On the morning of Nov. 4, 2019, Anna Chocallo arrived at a local health care facility. She had a fever, and
UGA faculty lead largest ever region-wide Ebola response training
In September 2014, the first-ever confirmed case of travel-associated Ebola arrived on U.S. soil. Since that time, emergency planners across the country have been working to prepare our healthcare systems
CPH In the Media: May 2019 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of May 2019: A recent study from Changwei Li used metabolomics to pinpoints lifestyle factors that could lead
CPH In the Media: March 2019 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of March 2019: In a report from the Georgia Health News on Georgia’s most recent county health rankings
Students participate in disease outbreak simulation
Do you ever wonder what would happen if a dangerous disease threatened our community? Who responds? What are the steps taken to contain it and protect the public’s health? Thirty-three
Don’t panic: UGA study examines lessons learned from Hawaii false alarm
When people in the Hawaiian islands received a false alarm text message “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill,” in January 2018, the
UGA training course prepares nursing homes for natural disasters
The Institute for Disaster Management at the University of Georgia College of Public Health has received $1.6 million in civil money penalty funds from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
DeYoung named section editor for Global Pediatric Health
Sarah DeYoung, assistant professor in health policy and management at the University of Georgia College of Public Health and UGA’s Institute for Disaster Management, has been selected as the new Section Editor
Evacuating with pets during a disaster is complicated, UGA research finds
Imagine there is a powerful storm bearing down on your town. Officials are calling for everyone to evacuate. Where would you go – and if you couldn’t bring your pet,
Groups providing prenatal, postpartum care for refugee women need more support, UGA study finds
As the refugee crisis continues to grow in Europe, Bangladesh and now in Central and South America, a growing number of non-profit organizations are working to provide a range of
CPH In the Media: August 2018 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of August 2018: Dr. Cham Dallas, director of the Institute for Disaster Management, presented at a two-day National Academies
Even higher income nations struggle with safe infant feeding during a disaster, UGA study finds
A recent World Health Organization resolution sought to encourage breastfeeding as the healthy and safe choice for infants around the world but especially in poorer, developing countries where clean water
CPH In the Media: April 2018 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of April 2018: Dr. Kerstin Emerson, clinical assistant professor in HPB and the Institute of Gerontology, had the
TEDxUGA: ‘Be More Than a Bystander’
Elizabeth Hardister, a fourth-year student completing her BA in international affairs and MPH in disaster management, was one of three UGA students selected to present TEDxUGA: CONNECT 2018 held March 22, 2018
CPH In the Media: March 2018 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of March 2018: A recent study by HPB professor Dr. Pamela Orpinas found that addressing two behaviors in
High school training could save lives in the event of a disaster, UGA expert says
2017 was a record breaking year for disasters. The U.S. experienced three major hurricanes, out of control wildfires, flooding, mudslides, and two of the deadliest mass shootings to date. All
CPH In the Media: February 2018 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of February 2018: In an interview on WABE’s “A Closer Look with Rose Scott,” epidemiology assistant professor Dr. Andrea
Mothers need better safe infant feeding support post-disaster, study finds
In the wake of a natural disaster, displaced families face a number of hardships that may lead to poor health and nutrition. In these conditions, babies and mothers are particularly
Disasters create platforms for discriminated groups to voice concerns, lessons for relief agents
In the spring of 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 people and injuring more than 20,000 people. The disaster displaced thousands of people as local and
U.S. medical profession unprepared for nuclear attack, says study
Escalating tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea’s nuclear program have fueled concerns about the possibility of nuclear warfare, and a study from the University of Georgia has found
MPH student in disaster management named Schwarzman Scholar
College of Public Health MPH student Elizabeth Hardister will continue her studies in China next fall as one of 142 students selected internationally as Schwarzman Scholars, a program designed to
CPH In the Media: October 2017 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of October 2017: The Oct. 17 State of the Public Health’s Conference, organized by the CPH Office of
Infant Feeding in Emergencies: How to Support Families During Evacuation and Sheltering
Originally published as a part of the “Research Counts” series for the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Reprinted with permission. By Sarah DeYoung Of all of
College faculty, students respond to Hurricanes Irma and Harvey
Two University of Georgia College of Public Health faculty members deployed to Georgia’s State Operations Center (SOC) in Atlanta on Fri. Sept. 8 at the request of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
UGA conducts long-term funded research in disaster management
The mission of the University of Georgia Institute for Disaster Management (IDM) is to reduce the casualties and social disruption of natural and human-made disasters through research, teaching, and service.
UGA researchers awarded $3 million grant to enhance coastal communities
Researchers Dr. Sarah DeYoung, Dr. Curt Harris, and Tawny Waltz (MPH) in the Institute for Disaster Management are co-investigators on $3 million grant from the Gulf Research Program of the National
Public health professor Cham Dallas named University Professor at UGA
Cham Dallas, professor of health policy and management in the College of Public Health and director of the Institute for Disaster Management, has been named University Professor, an honor bestowed
College of Public Health researcher prepares hospitals to manage disasters
As a UGA undergraduate, Tawny Waltz always expected to pursue a career in government. After all, she earned her bachelor’s degree in international affairs and political science from the university’s
Cham Dallas honored for role in creating the NDLS courses
The University of Georgia’s leading Emergency Medical Systems (EMS) expert was recognized for his role in developing National Disaster Life Support (NDLS) Courses, which have become a national training standard for health
College of Public Health institute charged with preparing Georgia for disaster. The College of Public Health’s Institute for Disaster Management was recently awarded $756,000 in new federal funding to design
Dr. Cham Dallas, director of the Institute for Disaster Management in the College of Public Health, has shared his expertise on the threat of nuclear disasters and terrorism with Congress,
In the News: What if it happened again? What we need to do to prepare for a nuclear event
As we observe the 70th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it may seem like the threat from nuclear weapons has receded. But it hasn’t; the threat is
Hospital disaster drill tests response skills, preparedness
Ilmer Living published an article about the Region A Full Scale Disaster Drill on May 8th: Posted May 22, 2014.
Dr. Curt Harris Recognized for Public Health Service
Dr. Curt Harris has received the 2014 UGA College of Public Health Service Award. He was honored at the College of Public Health faculty meeting, which individually signifies a College faculty
IDM in Action- Region J Full Scale Exercise
On March 19, 2014, the Institute for Disaster Management attended the Region J Full-Scale Exercise. Here’s an excerpt about the exercise from the Georgia Health Care Association’s “Emergency Preparedness Newsletter.”
Dr. Cham Dallas wins award for paper on emergency medical preparedness at IPRED III
Dr. Cham Dallas, director of the Institute for Disaster Management at the UGA College of Public Health, received a second place award for a presentation of his research at the
Did Fukushima disaster make U.S. sailors and Marines sick?
CNN reports that dozens of U.S. military who worked in the disaster recovery now report serious health issues. Dr. Cham Dallas, director of UGA’s Institute for Disaster Management who has traveled
Dr. Cham Dallas Recognized by Oak Ridge Radiation Emergency Response Group
Dr. Dallas is pictured in the November 2013 issue of Oak Ridge’s National Security and Emergency Management programs newsletter, after a Quest lecture entitled “The Future of Disaster Management &
Institute for Disaster Management in Action
Dr. Curt Harris, Associate Director of the Institute for Disaster Management, is pictured facilitating at the Region J Tabletop Exercise in Savannah, GA. Each year, in collaboration with the Georgia
In the News: Polonium – Deadly radioactive substance
(CNN) — Whether a radioactive substance called polonium-210 was involved in Yasser Arafat’s death is under investigation. The body of the former Palestine Liberation Organization leader was exhumed Tuesday for
In the News: Nuclear industry slowed by its own waste
Just as the nuclear industry is starting to build reactors after a 30-year drought, it faces another dry spell. The industry thought it had what it needed for its rebirth:
Nation needs to act now to address energy challenges
The double shock of last week’s 5.8-magnitude earthquake and the weekend landfall of Hurricane Irene, alongside the ongoing recovery in Japan from the earthquake-and-flood crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear
UGA Researcher Hopes for Best, Helps America Prepare for Worst
Dr. Cham Dallas has testified in front of congressional panels, advised federal agencies, conducted mass casualty exercises in nearly all of Georgia’s 150 hospitals, published volumes of research on nuclear
AP Investigation Finds Radioactive Tritium Leaks at 48 U.S. Nuclear Power Sites
ATLANTA, GA (WABE) – As Georgia starts a return to nuclear power generation, a recent Associated Press investigation found leaks of radioactive tritium at 48 nuclear power sites in the
New threats loom, UGA expert notes
A new treaty with Russia to reduce nuclear arms won’t lessen our risk of nuclear attack, according to a University of Georgia scientist who studies nuclear terrorism. “The problem we
