Optimising the role of the public health community in planning and implementing large-scale evacuations

Author's Biography

Ian Portelli is the project manager for New York University’s Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response and NYU School of Medicine. He manages the Department of Homeland Security Large Scale Emergency Readiness (LaSER) Project. He has a BSc from the University of Malta and an MSc from Manchester University. He has experience in research and consulting in paediatrics and biogenetics, and substantial military medical expertise. For the past five years, Ian has been focusing on research and leadership in the disaster preparedness and management arena while working with non-profit, governmental and academic organisations. Email: Ian.portelli@nyu.edu

Lewis R. Goldfrank is the first Chairman and Professor of New York University’s Department of Emergency Medicine. He is also the Medical Director of the New York City Health Department’s Poison Center. He has served as the Chairman of the American Board of Emergency Medicine’s sub-board on Medical Toxicology, the American Board of Medical Toxicology and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. He is senior editor of Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine. He currently chairs the standing committee at the IOM on Personal Protective Equipment in the Workforce. E-mail: Lewis.goldfrank@nyumc.org