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The Institute for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness is a regional and international resource center providing interprofessional education and training, information dissemination, and technical assistance related to all-hazards preparedness, including diverse and vulnerable populations, within a global society.

IDEP works closely with state, national and international agencies to provide educational programs and services. Beginning just after 9/11, it began training health professionals and first responders in all-hazards preparedness.  Shortly after, it received support from the Florida Department of Health to train school nurses and others responsible for the health and safety of children from K-12. Ultimately it became the Institute for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness supported by major grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as well as the U.S. Office of Preparedness and Response (ASPR). IDEP also received major funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to provide training for its Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program.

In addition to educational programs for students in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, it conducts programs in other colleges of the Health Professions Division (HPD). Continuing education also is provided for practicing physicians and other health professionals as well as first responders throughout the United States and internationally. For the latter, Nova Southeastern University is partnering with neighboring Broward College to provide all-hazards training to health care professionals and health care workers who require two years or less to earn their degrees or certificates. IDEP includes a program leading to a Master of Science degree in Disaster and Emergency Preparedness, providing students applied skills in the rapidly growing interprofessional field of emergency management and preparedness.  The program includes tracks in maritime safety and security, cyber security, law enforcement, and public health. 

Our Goals

• Interprofessional all-hazards education and training designed to reinforce the basic tenets of preparedness to meet community, national, and international needs.
• Tailored training and technical assistance to address the needs of vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.
• Graduate education in all aspects of disaster and emergency management, including preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.