Mission
History
Structure
- CEPAR Staff
- Board Members
Education Programs
Mission Johns Hopkins’ Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) serves as the command center for enterprise-wide planning for and reaction to a disaster. CEPAR’s objectives are: - To create and implement effective Johns Hopkins enterprise-wide planning and preparedness for critical events requiring a medical/public health disaster response.
- To develop a model medical/public health disaster response plan integrated with local, regional, military and federal entities.
- To serve as a model medical/public health disaster planning and response system adaptable to other major metropolitan areas nationally and worldwide.
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History of Johns Hopkins' Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) Shortly after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Dr. William Brody, President of The Johns Hopkins University and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Johns Hopkins Medicine, offered the services of all the Hopkins Institutions to assist in the development of a Homeland Security Plan. To provide guidance for such undertakings, as well as coordinate Hopkins’ own disaster preparedness and response efforts, Dr. Brody directed that Hopkins establish an Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR). 
Johns Hopkins possesses unique resources and expertise. CEPAR combines the talents of Johns Hopkins Medicine with the tactical planning capabilities of the Applied Physics Laboratory, the investigative skills of the School of Public Health, and the faculty and facilities of the Homewood campus. This enables Hopkins to take a leadership role in any planning activities for responding to critical events. Since its creation, CEPAR has demonstrated its leadership both within the Hopkins Institutions and nationwide. It spearheaded the creation of the 24-member consortium of academic, business and government entities that comprise the national Center for the Study of Preparedness and Catastrophic Event Response (PACER). Funded in 2006 by a $15 million grant from the federal Department of Homeland Security, PACER is developing projects to ensure that this nation’s immense technological, medical and physical resources can be coordinated effectively in response to any disaster. [ return to top ]
Structure
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CEPAR is an office of the Johns Hopkins Institutions. It oversees an enterprise-wide, inter-entity effort to coordinate the efforts of Johns Hopkins to enhance Homeland Security and to address potential disasters.
CEPAR is not meant to supplant the existing disaster-response command and control structures of individual Johns Hopkins University/Johns Hopkins Medicine enterprises. Although each component of the Johns Hopkins Health System and University maintains its own disaster plan, CEPAR will set priorities for all Johns Hopkins Institutions if a disaster overwhelms one entity or involves two or more of them. It has the authority to tap every asset of the Hopkins enterprise – and to speak as the official, unified voice on behalf of all of them – in the event of an all-encompassing calamity. CEPAR is directed by the head of the Department of Emergency Medicine and supported by the Emergency Department Chief Administrator. Daily activity is managed by an administrator or a deputy director. Web-based communication activity is managed by an information service specialist. This core group is responsible for all activity within CEPAR. Three formal groups bring unique knowledge and representation to CEPAR’s undertakings. - The Executive Council is comprised of senior individuals representing key components of The Johns Hopkins University/Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHU/JHM). It sets priorities and formulates institutional policies. Its members include top decision-makers, including the Chief Operating Officers of the three Johns Hopkins Health System hospitals, the Applied Physics Laboratory, the School of Nursing and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Its members also include senior experts in disaster response organization and biological, chemical and radiation/nuclear hazards.
- An internal Advisory Council, composed of individuals who research emergency response issues, recommend actions to the Executive Council, and carry out its plans.
- An external group of advisors composed of local, regional and national public health agencies, government experts, military planners and local and regional business and community leaders.
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Education Programs CEPAR has developed educational programs for public and health professionals. These programs include symposia and Web-based learning. CEPAR has also developed a fellowship in disaster management and is working with JHU to develop courses and an advanced degree program in disaster management. In addition, CEPAR is collaborating with the American Medical Association to revise the curricula for the National Disaster Life Support program. [ return to top ] |
