Science and education are foundational to protecting health in disasters, but they alone are not sufficient to delivering impact. There is a critical need to advance operations in the field, which requires taking an action-oriented approach to research in disaster medicine and public health. To meet this need, the National Center has established a Field Operational Research Team (FORT) model designed to mobilize experts in science, operations, and education at the speed of response. Teams are comprised of individuals and capabilities from across the country and are led by the National Center in direct support of federal partners involved in the medical and public health response to disasters. Team members are selected by a combination of factors, including their familiarity with the operational realities of the federal organizations they will support, as well as their respective organization’s infrastructure for moving quickly and effectively in a disaster.

For more information on the National Center’s FORT model, email us at: NCDMPH@usuhs.edu