Public & Global Health

The Department of Emergency Medicine has an active and growing section of Public and Global Health. Many faculty members have advanced degrees and education in the field, including Masters in Public Health and International EM Fellowship training. The Public Health Section is directed by Dr. Ed Bernstein, with Dr. Hani Mowafi as co-director. The Global Health Section is directed by Dr. Hani Mowafi. The steering committee is headed by Dr. Thea James and Dr. Bill Fernandez.

This section is a natural synthesis of the many aspects of the central public health mission of our patient care, research, education, and advocacy. Our emergency department epitomizes Boston Medical Center’s role as the “Safety Net” for the neediest in the City of Boston. Clearly there are many challenges in delivering care to this vulnerable population. But there are even more rewards in both individual lives as well as community well-being. It will always be exciting for us as emerging physicians to take care of critically injured or ill patients. But it is just as meaningful to play a significant role in substance abuse and violence intervention, helping stem a city wide hepatitis outbreak or making the necessary referrals to bring an asthmatic’s frequent life threatening flare ups under control... Jon Olshaker, MD, Chair

The section meets monthly and the agenda includes projects by the residents. We have the resources to bring notable speakers for grand rounds and provide a reference library.

Mission Statement

By utilizing the principals of epidemiology and public health, the Emergency Medicine Section for Public and Global Health strives to promote excellence in emergency care through research, education, and advocacy.

Public Health The BMC Department of Emergency Medicine is at the forefront of public health research and intervention. Section activities have included multi-specialty grand round speakers, yearly community visits by the residents, and mentorship. This year the section has taken an active role in developing public health measures to address the issue of violence in our patient population by obtaining funding for two emergency department based violence intervention advocates.

Global Health

In the past years the section sponsored a university-wide global health meeting and has worked on projects in Ethiopia, India, Haiti, and Guatemala. Residents are traveling all over the globe participating in research, global health, and language programs. We have had residents working in India, Mexico, Haiti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lebanon, and Mozambique with specific projects involving EMS and Public Health in developing countries. If you have an idea and a place to go we will help you get there.