Protecting the health of our communities requires a public health workforce that is well prepared to respond to a wide range of public health threats. Key elements of public health preparedness include regularly-exercised plans, timely access to information, clear knowledge of individual and agency roles and responsibilities, reliable communications systems, and connectivity between and among responding agencies.
The Center for Public Health Preparedness at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH-CPHP) is dedicated to enhancing preparedness in Massachusetts, Maine, and beyond by providing training on these key elements of preparedness for public health, public safety, and healthcare professionals.
Current Events
Pandemic Preparedness: What we have learned from H1N1
The Harvard School of Public Health Center for Public Health Preparedness (HSPH-CPHP) continued its 2009-2010 HSPH-CPHP Speaker Series with a presentation by Drs. Alfred DeMaria and Marc Lipsitch. The speakers discussed lessons learned by state and public health agencies as a result of the 2009 H1N1 experience and described how several public health pandemic influenza planning assumptions were modified in response to the pandemic H1N1 2009 experience to date. November 13, 12:30 PM. This lecture has been recorded and may be viewed online: View Webcast (this application is best viewed with Mozilla Firefox for your browser window)
View the PowerPoint presentation of Dr. DeMaria (The PowerPoint presentation is available here as a Pdf)
View the PowerPoint presentation of Dr. Lipsitch (The PowerPoint presentation is available here as a Pdf)
The H1N1 Pandemic and Global Health Security
The Harvard School of Public Health Center for Public Health Preparedness has presented the first HSPH-CPHP 2009-2010 Speaker Series. Dean Julio Frenk shared his expertise with the Harvard community and discussed the recent public health response to the H1N1 outbreak. September 16, 12:30 PM. This lecture has been recorded and may be viewed online: View Webcast (this application is best viewed with Mozilla Firefox for your browser window)
Harvard Gazette, September 21, 2009: HSPH dean evaluates H1N1 response, lessons learned
Download the Pdf version: HSPH dean evaluates H1N1 response, lessons learned
Information on influenza A (H1N1)
The Harvard School of Public Health Center for Public HealthPreparedness is closely monitoring the information on the recentlyreported human cases of influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu. Information at the above link tracks the evolving situation, both nationally andinternationally, and provides access to the main sources of informationon this topic. A panel discussion on H1N1 influenza and the publichealth was presented May 6, 2009 by the Division of Public Health Practice and theHarvard Center for Public Health Preparedness. Leading experts convenedto cover a variety of topics current to the situation. This paneldiscussion is now available to view online: Type A Influenza H1N1: Science and the Public Health.