Disaster preparedness will be the topic on Nov. 15 and 16 in Wayne, Norfolk and Seward, as part of “UNMC Simply Science,” an outreach program from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Sharon Medcalf, associate director for the Nebraska Center for Preparedness Education, will be the featured speaker. Medcalf also is an instructor in the Department of Health Promotion in the UNMC College of Public Health.
The hour-long presentations will be held in:
· Wayne — Monday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m.: “Bio-chemical Preparedness: What does it all mean?” Wayne State College, Gardner Auditorium, 1111 Main St.
· Norfolk — Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m.: “Are you prepared for a disaster?” hosted by the UNMC College of Nursing Northern Division, Northeast Community College Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E Benjamin Ave.
· Seward — Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.: “Bio-chemical Preparedness: What does it all mean?” Concordia University, Thom Leadership Education Center, 800 North Columbia Ave.
Medcalf is responsible for developing educational programs in bioterrorism focused on the needs of Nebraska’s healthcare providers and public health officials. She has worked in the international arena, holding positions in Canada and Saudi Arabia and eventually moved from bedside nursing to infection control and staff development.
Prior to her current position, she was involved with various bioterrorism preparedness committees, including the Omaha Metropolitan Medical Response System. Recently, for Nebraska’s pre-event smallpox vaccination plan, Medcalf led a team across the state to train professionals to administer the smallpox vaccine and provided education to the clinics.
As part of UNMC Simply Science, faculty members travel to different regions of the state, delivering presentations on various topics of health care. The visits take place four times per year to different parts of the state. For more on UNMC Simply Science, visit www.unmc.edu/simplyscience.
Travel expenses for UNMC Simply Science are sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.