Disaster Health Management: A Primer for Students and Practitioners

The second edition of this leading textbook provides the definitive guide to disaster health management. From the key concepts, principles and terminology, to systems for mitigation, planning, response and recovery, it gives readers a comprehensive overview of every aspect of this emerging field.

Split into eight parts, the book begins by drawing the parameters of disaster health management before outlining key elements such as communication, community engagement and legal issues. It then moves on to discuss preparing for potential disasters, managing and mitigating their impact, and then recovering in the aftermath. Offering key insights into evaluation, leadership and the psychosocial aspects of disaster health management, the new edition also features a range of international case studies, including those outlining the management of COVID-19.

It is essential reading for both students and practitioners engaging in this important work.

Gerard FitzGerald retired in July 2019 as Professor of Public Health at QUT and discipline Leader of Health Management and Disaster Management.

Stacey Pizzino is a humanitarian epidemiologist and global health expert focused on strengthening the evidence base for vulnerable populations impacted by disasters, armed conflict and complex humanitarian emergencies.

Penelope Burns is a General Practitioner, and a local Disaster Manager with appointments at the Australian National University and Western Sydney University.

Colin Myers has recently retired from a career in Emergency, Retrieval and Disaster Medicine and holds current appointments as adjunct Associate Professor in the Public Health Faculty at Queensland University of Technology and as Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, James Cook University.

Michael Tarrent holds an adjunct appointment Associate Professor in the Public Health Faculty at Queensland University of Technology.

Ben Ryan is a Professor in the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America.

Marie Fredriksen is a senior Paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service and a guest lecturer in Disaster Management at QUT.

Peter Aitken is Executive Director, Disaster Management Branch, Queensland Health.