St. George’s, University of London is considering launching an intercalation in Disaster Medicine. Disaster Medicine is an emerging specialty that was introduced to many in an article in The Lancet Student last year. The chairman-founder of the American Board of Physician Specialties Dr Maurice A. Ramirez had a few words to contribute. One of the horrifying possibilities that would significantly impact healthcare provision he envisioned was an unwitting anticipation of the plot of The Dark Knight in the form of the deliberate destruction of a hospital. The textbook Disaster Medicine has had its first edition published in 2006, the same year the American Board announced board certification in the speciality.

The proposed Intercalated BSc in Leadership in Disaster Medicine aims to give students a solid grounding in the basics of safe and effective practice in humanitarian medicine in conflict and disaster scenarios at home and abroad. As well as being taught the fundamentals, students will be introduced to the agencies and organisations with major roles in the field and encouraged to address the key issues in order to develop potential leaders in Disaster Medicine for the future.

To anticipate potential demand for the course, UK medical students were invited to complete an online survey. The results of this study have are not yet released. If so this will be the first intercalation in Disaster Medicine,  which will help raise its profile in medical schools. Disaster Medicine may provide a useful set of skills, but I can’t help hoping these won’t be used very much in the future.

- Dom

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