Global Disaster Medicine - Health Needs and Response
We are an interdisciplinary research group in global disaster medicine. Our main activities are research, education, policy advice and external monitoring, and field work in disasters. Our aim is to contribute to strengthening and improving Swedish and international health care response in the event of major disasters. We are a WHO Collaborating Centre and collaborate with the Centre for Health Crises at KI. We are also a research centre for the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare.
Who are we and what is global disaster medicine?
Our main activities
Research
A disaster is defined by a lack of resources - a lack of staff, lack of skill, lack of material and lack of time. Our research concerns the challenge of how we, despite the lack of resources, can provide optimal health services. Our team members conduct research in projects about moral stress, needs assessment, management of conflict injuries, and Emergency Medical Teams.
Education
Are you interested in learning more about global disaster medicine?
We teach a variety of different courses and an Erasmus Mundus Master programme. We also offer tailor-made courses for organisations and public authorities, and we have developed the simulation tools AnTriEx (Analogue Triage Exercise) and ViTriEx (Virtual Triage Exercise).
Policy advice & expertise
Based on our team's extensive experience in both field work and research in disaster medicine, we conduct analyses, monitoring and offer expert advice and evaluations. We are one of the National Board for Health and Welfare's research centre (kunskapscentrum) and publish external monitoring reports, research overviews and global analyses. Moreover, we are part of the IPA Care project along with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and others.
Field work in disasters
Our group shares a strong dedication to work in disaster-stricken areas around the world. We firmly believe that in order to conduct the best research, provide the best education, and conduct the best analysis for our partners it is important to never lose our connection to practical work in the field of disaster medicine. Consequently, our group members are, and have been, involved in disaster relief work in several places around the work.
Meet the researchers
Johan von Schreeb
Martina Gustavsson
Anneli Eriksson
Märit Halmin
Nieves Amat Camacho
Andreas Älgå
Maximilian Nerlander
Louis Riddez
Louis Riddez is docent and chief physician at the Karolinska University Hospital, specialising in trauma surgery. He advises our centre on matters related to education in prioritisation and decision-making.
Therese Djärv
News and events
Applications to our Erasmus Mundus Master programme Public Health in Disasters are now open!
The Erasmus Mundus Master programme Public Health in Disasters provides high quality education and training in the field of public health in disaster situations. It is taught jointly by Global Disaster Medicine at KI, the University of Oviedo in Spain and the University of Nicosia on Cyprus.
Click to find out more about the programme and submit your application! Deadline for applications is the 15th of January 2024.
Application open to the course Health Assistance in Humanitarian Crisis
The course provides concrete tools for planning and implementing humanitarian health assistance. The basis of the course is the global health situation and determinants for health. It illustrates how context and different types of disasters affect public health. The course highlights health strategies aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality.
Global Disaster Medicine - Health Needs and Response arranges the course in collaboration with the Centre for Health Crises at KI, and Médecins sans frontières (MSF) Sweden.
The course starts 15th of January and ends 8th of March 2024. It is taught 4,5 weeks onsite at KI's campus Solna and 3,5 weeks online.
Click here to find out more and apply! Please note that to study the course you must have been offered a position with Médecins Sans Frontières (Läkare utan Gränser) Sweden or be endorsed by your employer.