World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

08/25/2026

✅ New original research article in PDM! 🧠

"Enhancing Emergency Medical Response Education through Generative AI-Powered Game-Based Learning: A Retrospective Comparative Study"

This study introduces a breakthrough approach to training future doctors for emergency disaster by combining game-based learning with artificial intelligence ( ). The authors compared traditional lectures, standard games, and AI-enhanced games. The results were significant: while both game methods improved learning better than lectures, the AI-enhanced group retained knowledge the best over time.

Notably, students using the AI “tutor” reported the lowest mental stress and found the system more useful for solving complex problems. By providing real-time, expert guidance within a simulated hashtag scenario, AI bridges the gap between theory and practice.

This study suggests that integrating AI into medical hashtag can create a more efficient and effective training environment, ensuring medical professionals are better prepared to make critical decisions when lives are on the line.

Read the full-text article here: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X26108978.

08/21/2026

🚨 Don't miss next month's webinar from the Special Interest Group (SIG)! 🏥

"Building the Roadmap for Pediatric Disaster Medicine: A US National Consensus Agenda"

🗓️ 9 September 2026
🕙 10:00 EDT / 16:00 BST / 17:00 CEST
🔗 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_q9ydTkc0QHuXAf9cjhsEOA

Presentation Summary:

in the US are disproportionately affected by , yet pediatric-specific disaster medicine research remains critically limited. To address this gap, a national panel of 48 subject-matter experts from 28 institutions conducted a modified Delphi process to establish an expert consensus-driven research agenda to guide the field over the next decade.

In this session, Dr. Yae Sul Jeong explores the findings of this landmark JAMA Network Open consensus statement, which synthesized 261 research topics into 20 subtopics across five core pillars: , and , , , and . We will dive into the journey to the top five high-priority subtopic areas identified by the panel: and capability, community involvement, health equity considerations, mental health needs, and technology, and discuss additional critical domains such as disaster metrics and research infrastructure.

Attendees will learn how this national roadmap can be leveraged to align research priorities, secure resources, and drive evidence-based interventions. Whether you are a clinician, researcher, or disaster-planning advocate, this presentation offers clear insights into closing readiness gaps and improving health outcomes for children in future emergencies.

Many thanks to Dr. Ashley Kane, Dr. Lea Sarna Cahan, and Dr. Shana Godfred-Cato for helping to organize this event.

08/19/2026

Today is World Day, a time to recognize and remember those health care workers who provide care and assistance to those affected by , , and , often under very difficult and dangerous circumstances.

Check out the statement from the Global Health Cluster: https://healthcluster.who.int/newsroom/news/item/19-08-2026-someone-is-waiting-for-them-to-come-home.

08/17/2026

New original article in PDM!

Understanding how the need for emergency care changes during and after conflict is important for local healthcare and humanitarian organizations. This work shows that following the implementation of a ceasefire agreement, overall attendances reduced alongside those for more severe , and those for children.

It is important to understand that the majority of presentations, even during conflict, are for non-trauma conditions, such as infections, strokes, or heart disease.

The work has the potential to inform how organizations deliver care during and prepare for its aftermath. Check out the article here: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X26109030.

08/13/2026

Upcoming workshop: Disaster Medicine & Global Health Security for LMICs (16-18 November; New Delhi, India)

are increasingly affected by , humanitarian crises, climate-related emergencies, conflicts, population displacement, and emerging infectious disease threats. At the same time, declining international aid is placing greater responsibility on national and regional systems to strengthen self-reliance in , , , and .

The COVID-19 and recurring outbreaks have demonstrated that health emergencies do not respect borders. Strengthening preparedness, , resilient health systems, and international is essential to protecting populations and reducing the impact of future crises.

Co-hosted by WADEM affiliate Savings Lives International, this workshop invites leaders in disaster and humanitarian medicine, public health, academia, government, humanitarian organizations, and policymakers to work together to identify practical solutions that strengthen Disaster Medicine, advance Global Health Security, and build sustainable, LMIC-led capacity for future .

For more detailed information, including registration fees, please visit: https://isavinglives.org/workshop.

08/12/2026

Don't miss the August Lecture Series from the University of Massachusetts Disaster Medicine and Emergency Management Fellowship Program, in partnership with the WADEM affiliate, the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), on 18 August, 13:00-15:00 EDT.

Featured Presentations:
"Improving Diffusion of Clinical Care Innovations in Public Health Emergencies" presented by Dr. Sandy Schneider, Chief Medical Officer at the American College of Emergency Physicians and Adjunct Professor at the University of Pittsburgh

"The Role of the National Guard in Disaster Response" presented by Dr. Kyle Herbert, Captain, United States Army Reserve, NIDHC Visiting Scholar

Dr. Sandy Schneider and Dr. Kyle Herbert will share practical insights on advancing innovation and strengthening military- civilian coordination during public health emergencies and disasters. Their presentations will highlight implementation strategies, disaster preparedness, and healthcare system resilience.

This session will equip participants with practical approaches to improve preparedness, strengthen coordination, and apply these concepts in clinical, operational, educational, and leadership settings.

Who can attend? Everyone is welcome!

An American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) account is required to watch the presentation and to claim CME credits. Please note that a paid ACEP membership is NOT required.

How To Enroll:
1. Follow this link (https://learn.acep.org/cw/course-details?entryId=18773255&itemId=798487)
2. If you don't have an ACEP account, create a free one.
3. Click "Launch" below and open the Zoom registration window.
4. Close the window.
5. You will find this webinar under your "My Enrollments" and receive an email.
6. You can join at the time of the event from your email or from this course page.

CME Accreditation: The CME offered is AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and is specifically designed for doctors. While anyone can attend the webinar and claim the CME, attendees will be responsible for providing the CME information to their respective licensing boards for approval.

08/10/2026

🆕New Innovation Report in : Hotel-to-Hospital Conversion as an Alternate Care Facility Strategy for Large-Scale Medical Surge: Development, Validation, and Operational Framework of the Hotel2Hospital Guidebook 🏥

When a or pushes hospitals past their limits, where do the extra patients go? The authors asked whether everyday hotels could be a better answer than the convention centers used in past emergencies. The short version: yes. Hotels already offer private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, individual climate control, and on-site food and laundry, and they exist in nearly every community, not just big cities.

To turn that idea into something usable, the authors built the Hotel2Hospital (H2H) Guidebook, a step-by-step framework for converting a hotel into a functioning hospital, including intensive care. It covers choosing the right building, navigating licensing and safety rules, estimating costs, and standing down the facility afterward. It was then tested for real, building working ICU and medical-surgical rooms inside actual hotel spaces.

The goal is simple: give emergency planners a practical, tested blueprint so the next surge meets prepared communities instead of improvised ones. The full guidebook is free at: hotel2hospital.info.

Read the full-text article in PDM: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X26109029.

08/07/2026

🚨 Don't miss next week's webinar from the Special Interest Group (SIG)! 🚑

This insightful two-part presentation examines interprofessional in disaster management and the role of in supporting people impacted by . Check out the descriptions below. ⬇️

🗓️ 12 / 13 August
🕙 19:00 PDT, 22:00 EDT / 10:00 MYT, 11:00 JST, 12:00 AEST
🔗 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ims9izjJRPCv6MKbDnZy2w

Working Together When It Matters Most: Interprofessional Collaboration in Disaster Management (Dr. Nurul'Ain Ahayalimudin)

This presentation explores the principles and practical applications of interprofessional collaboration across the disaster management continuum—from preparedness and response to recovery. Participants will gain insights into the characteristics of effective collaborative teams, common barriers to coordination during disasters, and evidence-informed strategies to strengthen communication, leadership, role clarity, and joint decision-making. Real-world examples will demonstrate how collaborative practice enhances emergency response, improves health outcomes, and supports resilient communities.

The Role of Physiotherapists in Supporting Disaster-Affected People during the Disaster Recovery Phase (Dr. Norhaslinda Kamarudzaman)

This presentation will explore the evolving role of physiotherapists throughout the disaster recovery process, including early rehabilitation, multidisciplinary collaboration, community-based rehabilitation, and strategies to strengthen community resilience. Drawing on international recommendations and practical rehabilitation principles, participants will gain a better understanding of how physiotherapy contributes to sustainable recovery following natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

Many thanks to Prof. Mayumi Kako and Prof. Ally Hutton for helping to organize this event.

08/05/2026

🌟 A Special Thank You to Our Editorial Board 🌟

2026 has already been an exceptionally busy year for Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, with a record number of manuscript submissions! 📈 📚

Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Franc and Managing Editor Ellen Johnson extend their sincere appreciation to the Editorial Board members who have worked tirelessly over the past six months—providing thoughtful, timely, and expert manuscript reviews. 🙏

👏 Bruria Adini, Paul Arbon, Tareg Bey, Sue Anne Bell, Joe Cuthbertson, Elaine Daily, Erik Gaull, Pinny Halpern, Mark Keim, Andrew Milsten, Jerry Overton, Carl Schultz, Darren Walter, and Richard Zoraster 👏

Your expertise, generosity, and commitment are essential to maintaining the scientific quality and integrity of the journal. 🌎 🚑 🏥

Thank you for your outstanding service to our authors, readers, and the global prehospital and disaster medicine community! 💙

08/03/2026

📊 How should researchers report differences in binary outcomes—and why does the choice of measure matter?

A new educational article in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, written by PDM's Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Jeffrey Franc, provides practical guidance on selecting and interpreting the absolute risk difference, relative risk, and odds ratio.

🔍 “Choosing the Right Measure of Effect: Guidance for Authors Reporting Binary Outcomes” explains why the absolute risk difference is often the most direct and clinically meaningful way to describe differences between groups. It also examines when relative risks are informative—and why odds ratios can exaggerate the apparent magnitude of an effect when interpreted incorrectly.

🎓 This concise resource will be valuable to researchers, trainees, peer reviewers, and educators seeking to improve the clarity and accuracy of statistical reporting.

📖 Read the article here: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X26108954.

Choosing the Right Measure of Effect: Guidance for Authors Reporting Binary Outcomes - Volume 41 Issue 1