Health professionals in Houston and across the nation are going to know what to do if a major disaster strikes, thanks to the Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness at the UT School of Public Health at Houston.

The center is educating and training frontline public health workers, medical and emergency responders, key leaders, and other professionals to respond to emergencies related to dangerous emerging infectious diseases and acts of terrorism. The center has been able to respond to the unique public health preparedness challenges in Texas through the school's regional campus system, including sites along the critical US-Mexico Border. Staff at the center work with state, national and international academic institutions, governmental agencies, relief organizations and foreign ministries of health to promote public health preparedness programs.

"After the anthrax outbreak in 2001 it became a question of not 'if' but 'when next,' " explains Scott Lillibridge, M.D., director of the center. "We also find our nation in a war with terrorism that's likely to continue for some time, and health providers and public health workers really are front-line responders for this nation and have unique training needs."

Lillibridge brings a wealth of experience to his challenging job in Houston. He was Special Assistant for National Security and Emergency Management for Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, and directed the Centers for Disease Control's Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program. He has worked extensively domestically and
abroad on emergency public health issues caused by civil wars and
other disasters.

The Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness serves as a resource throughout Texas to provide the science, service and education to prepare our public health and medical communities
for disasters.