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Today, the notion of crisis is beginning to be formulated less in terms of circumstances that trigger change and uncertainty, with greater focus on the systems - social, institutional, economic – that sustain functioning populations and provide the core basis for recovery. 

Recognizing synergies across formerly distinct areas of study of crisis - such as climate change, conflict, natural disasters, and populations severely impacted by AIDS - this TWG will seek to bring critical inter-disciplinary capacities from across the School and University to develop innovative strategies that support resilience and recovery from humanitarian emergencies.

Conveners:  Neil Boothby and Patrick Kinney

Seminars:

April 28th 2011 at 701 W 168th St. Hammer Health Sciences Center, Lower-level Room 107, 1:30-2:30pm

The Japanese Emergency Medical Response:  Report from the Field
with Robert B. Bristow, MD, FACEP

Medical Director of Emergency Management, New York Presbyterian Hospital
Director of Disaster Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

From his recent mission to Japan, Dr. Robert Bristow will share his assessment of the country’s clinical emergency medicine, disaster preparedness and humanitarian response in the wake of its complex crises.  Dr. Bristow will also reflect on the many best practices observed in Japan that could potentially enhance U.S. disaster preparedness.

Presentation

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April 14th 2011 at 722 W 168th Street Hess Commons, 2:00-3:30pm

Linking Knowledge and Action to Reduce Risk in Climate related Disasters

Video

Climate-related emergencies already devastate many of the world’s most vulnerable communities. As the intensity of catastrophic events increases in coming decades with climate change, communities face further erosion of their ability to respond and rebuild after successive disasters. In response, humanitarian efforts are implementing strategies aimed at reducing risk; enhancing prevention and coordination on the ground; and strengthening community resilience. This seminar will focus on such efforts and the linkages between humanitarian actors and knowledge institutions like Columbia University to make strategic use of technologies and capacities to reduce disaster risk and mitigate loss of lives and livelihoods in climate-related crises.
Please join us for important discussions that aim to bring interdisciplinary insight and innovation to the area of humanitarian crises. Featured speakers will include:

Patrick Kinney (Facilitator)
Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Director, The Program in Climate and Health
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

Madeleine Thomson
Senior Research Scientist
International Research Institute of Climate and Society (IRI)
Earth Institute, Columbia University

Presentation

 Ashley Curtis
Climate Program Associate
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) & IRI Partnership

Presentation
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 March 10th, 2011 at 722 W 168th Street 8th Floor Auditorium, 2:00-3:30pm

Assessments of Health in Crisis:  The Impact of Data on Human Well-Being

Measurement and assessment of health in humanitarian crises are critical to the development, prioritization, monitoring, and evaluation of emergency programs.  Such data prompts NGOs, UN agencies and governments to coordinate effective, efficient operations and influences the allocation of resources based on evidence from the field.  The gathering of such evidence, however, is challenged by methodological and situational constraints in emergency settings, which often compromise humanitarian efforts for creating genuine, transformative impact.
 
This seminar reviews the history of assessments in emergency contexts; highlights examples of data-collection studies by Mailman School faculty researchers; and features special discussant insights from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Please join us for important discussions that aim to bring interdisciplinary insight and innovation to the area of humanitarian crises with leading experts, including:
 
Leslie F. Roberts
Associate Clinical Professor of Population and Family Health
Mailman School of Public Health
 
Richard Garfield
Henrik H. Bendixen Professor of Clinical International Nursing & Clinical Population and Family Health
Mailman School of Public Health
 
Colleen Hardy
Epidemiologist
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(formerly Epidemiologist, International Rescue Committee)

Echo360 Presentation

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December 13th, 2010

Social Ecology of Crisis: Human, Social and Cultural Capital as the Basis of Relief and Recovery

Compounded socio-economic and environmental threats are resulting in more frequent and severe disasters -- with dramatic, long-term impacts at all levels of society.  

• What are the factors, activities and dynamics that empower communities to recover and rebuild?
• How does such analysis relate to crises associated with climate/environment?
• How can such learnings better inform and design development efforts to address ‘cross-crisis’ models of analysis and intervention?

Please join us for important discussions that aim to bring interdisciplinary insight and innovation to the area of humanitarian crises, with Mailman School faculty experts, among them:

Alastair Ager
Executive Director, The Global Health Initiative
Professor of Clinical Population & Family Health

PowerPoint Presentation from Seminar

Patrick Kinney
Director, The Program in Climate and Health
Co Convener, GHI’s Thematic Working Group on Health in Crisis
Professor, Environmental Health Sciences

David Abramson
Director of Research, National Center for Disaster Preparedness
Assistant Professor of Clinical of Sociomedical Sciences

Slides from Presentation

December 13th 2010/2-3:30pm/722 W. 168th Street,Hess Commons
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October 22nd, 2010

Pakistan Floods: Prevention and Preparedness to Guide Humanitarian Action in Future Crises

The interplay between climate change and humanitarian action is a critical one for addressing the challenges and opportunities for relief and recovery efforts now and prevention and preparedness planning for the future. Featured speakers;

Relief and Early Recovery after Pakistani Floods
Mark S. Ward 
Acting Director, U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
U.S. Agency for International Development
 
Climatic Context of 2010 Flooding Events Over Pakistan
Andrew W. Robertson 
Research Scientist and Program Leader, International Research Institute Climate & Society
The Earth Institute
Columbia University     

October 22nd, 2010/10am-12pm/722 W. 168th St./8th Fl.Auditorium