The Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Department of Emergency Medicine, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and Believers Church Medical College Hospital in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India, will present the International Conference on Awareness, Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Resilience in Disaster Management, in Thiruvalla.

UNITED'24, or Unfolding Newer Innovations for Tomorrow's Emergencies and Disasters, a four-day global conference, will take place Nov. 14-17 in Kerala, India. The groundbreaking event aims to serve as a pivotal platform for education, hands-on training, collaboration, networking, strategic planning and fostering resilience. Its mission is to empower participants to effectively anticipate, respond to and recover from disasters, while building stronger, more resilient communities worldwide.

A team from Wayne State University that includes Vijaya Arun Kumar, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Emergency Medicine and co-director of WSU’s Global Health Research Collaborative;  Mark Rosenthal, Ph.D., D.O.,  assistant professor of Emergency Medicine; Trini Mathew, M.D., associate professor Internal Medicine; Keith Alangaden, M.D., assistant professor of Emergency Medicine; and medical student Kelsey Trulik have been working with international and local collaborators to develop the program during the past year and will be present in India to facilitate it.

The conference, Dr. Kumar said, will offer a robust mix of expert lectures, immersive training sessions and international perspectives. UNITED'24 is designed to enhance the safety and resilience of communities facing the increasing threat of natural and human-made disasters.

The conference will feature discussions on health services during disasters, individual and systemic resilience, ethical considerations, hospital surge capacity, the management of communicable and non-communicable diseases, tropical disease prevention, mental health during crises, organizing disaster response teams and the future of disaster response in India.

A highlight will be a hands-on disaster mock drill, offering participants practical, real-world experience.

“This initiative represents a significant evolution in disaster management education, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical expertise,” Dr. Kumar said. “By amplifying the voices and experiences of those who have faced disaster firsthand, UNITED'24 sets the stage for a new era of preparedness and resilience. As we move forward, we must recognize that disaster response is a shared global responsibility, and our collective efforts in preparedness can make a profound difference in protecting our homes and communities.”

For more information, visit https://united24.in.