The Critical Need for Disaster Medicine in Modern Medical Education

Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2024 Apr 29:18:e80. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2024.56.

Abstract

Current escalation of natural disasters, pandemics, and humanitarian crises underscores the pressing need for inclusion of disaster medicine in medical education frameworks. Conventional medical training often lacks adequate focus on the complexities and unique challenges inherent in such emergencies. This discourse advocates for the integration of disaster medicine into medical curricula, highlighting the imperative to prepare health-care professionals for an effective response in challenging environments. These competencies encompass understanding mass casualty management, ethical decision-making amidst resource constraints, and adapting health-care practices to varied emergency contexts. Therefore, we posit that equipping medical students with these specialized skills and knowledge is vital for health-care delivery in the face of global health emergencies.

Keywords: disaster medicine; emergency preparedness; medical education; resource allocation.

MeSH terms

  • Curriculum / standards
  • Curriculum / trends
  • Disaster Medicine* / education
  • Disaster Medicine* / methods
  • Disaster Medicine* / trends
  • Education, Medical* / methods
  • Education, Medical* / standards
  • Education, Medical* / trends
  • Humans