Recent world events have illuminated the issues surrounding control of highly infectious disease, and the humanitarian, social, medical, emotional, psychological, ethical, and economic impacts effected by a pandemic. While the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Pandemic is the current crisis; prior events of other etiological agents, such Ebola and Zika, still brew in endemic areas of the globe. The principles of the disaster management and the prevention and mitigation of Public Health Emergencies coalesce in the effort to recover and enhance resilience in the face of these and other novel biological threats to humanity.

The participants in this Community of Inquiry will examine the strengths of the US Medical and Public Health effort demonstrated in a metropolitan statistical area through the experiences of those involved at multiple levels. This exploration will be juxtaposed against the historical and evolving best evidence. Through holistic group discussion and literature research combined with the observations of individuals’ experience and reflections, participants will develop educational resources to theoretically enhance community resilience against future biological threats.

Course Start: August 23, 2021 – Course End: December 16, 2021 (15 weeks course)
Course is mostly online asynchronous, with supporting recordings, and a few live virtual sessions. Members will converse with the group via a variety of asynchronous collaborative techniques.