Academic and Training Program Hub

We focus on research, planning, training, exercises, and education related to public health and health care emergencies.This includes conducting traditional academic and community activities in preparedness and infectious diseases. We also provide coordination and support for the interdisciplinary activities of research, education, and all-hazard preparedness planning on local, national, and international scales.Our programs are designed for the people they serve. This means keeping training affordable by bringing programs and services to you and traveling across the country to conduct in-person programs. We also develop web-based education for public health, health care, emergency responders, and businesses.

Hubbard Water, Climate and Health Fellowships are now available for students researching topics at the nexus of water, climate and health. Potential topics of interest include but are not limited to 1) Link between water quality and pediatric cancer or birth defects; 2) Health outcomes related to flooding or drought; 3) Mapping of at-risk populations and environmental exposures; 4) The impact of technology, such as precision application of nitrogen fertilizer, on soil and water quality.

In collaboration with the UNMC College of Medicine, the Water, Climate and Health Program offers a “Climate Change and Health” Enhanced Medical Education Track program to current medical students. Developed in 2021, the Climate Change and Health EMET program is designed to enhance medical student’s educational experience through directed study and research on topics at the intersection of climate change and health.The Climate Change and Health Enhance Medical Education track will expose students to different types of research related to climate change and health with the anticipation that students will choose an area of focus for further studies during the M2, M3, and M4 years. The majority of the research and laboratory work conducted will be done during the summer break between M1 and M2. After which, the student will synthesize their research project into a poster board that will be presented at a National Meeting. Students will also join the Healthy Earth Alliance, participate in presentations, attend speaking engagements, participate in clinical shadowing, and attend events put on by the Water, Climate, and Health program. All throughout the experience students will be guided by their faculty mentor who will provide the support and expertise necessary to provide a rich learning experience on the topic of climate change and health.

The Water, Climate and Health Program offers educational opportunities for students at both the MPH and PhD levels. Our faculty regularly teach courses at the graduate level on the intersection of water, climate, and human health. Our MPH and PhD students receive rigorous training and mentorship from our faculty and regularly present and publish scholarly work. Our students are exposed to research at the highest levels, participating in projects funded through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the National Integrated Drought Information System, and other prestigious scientific organizations. Students meet regularly with the faculty and staff research team to discuss research best practices, networking, professional development, and other topics. Learn more about our graduate students or contact Jesse Bell, PhD for more information.

At UNMC, you will receive a personable and flexible education from experts in the field of emergency preparedness. Our competitive tuition rates and asynchronous modules are a great fit for graduate students, first responders, public health professionals, and health care providers seeking advanced-level training in emergency preparedness and response.

The DrPH concentration in emergency preparedness is designed to provide high-level problem-solving and critical thinking skills that can be used in preparing for and responding to emergencies. Courses focus on the concepts inherent to leadership and the management of complex events in emergency preparedness through the phases of prevention, protection, response and recovery. Contents related to exercise design and managing complex disasters provide essential strategies to prepare students for progressive leadership positions both in public health and health care.The DrPH concentration in emergency preparedness enhances the practice of disaster planning and response for health care, public health, humanitarian, and private-sector emergency managers. Graduates will be capable of preparing their organization/community for a disaster and serving in a leading role during disaster responses.

The Emergency Preparedness concentration is designed to prepare professionals in a world where emergency preparedness and response skills are increasingly essential to the public health infrastructure. Events explored include naturally occurring disasters, intentional acts of terrorism, and new emerging infectious disease threats, such as Ebola and the COVID-19 pandemic. The course curriculum reflects current and nationally endorsed competencies in emergency preparedness leadership, crisis communication, information management, practice improvement and planning, and responder health and safety.

The Public Policy Center is a university-wide, multidisciplinary research and outreach unit committed to addressing complex issues by linking academic research, stakeholder perspectives, and practical experience through innovative and creative solutions. Our mission is to link policy with research, process, and practice by working with researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to actively inform public policy.