The Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication (CPHRC) at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health conducts research and provides service and education in the field of public health emergency preparedness.

The Center’s mission is to build public health infrastructure and capacity for disaster response and recovery, and enhance community preparedness and resilience. We have particular interest in improving outcomes for individuals who may be at risk for severe consequences after disasters.

The Center has expertise in the following areas:

• Public health practice and preparedness
• Crisis and emergency risk communication
• Planning
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Infectious diseases and their control

Partners include local and state public health agencies, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders engaged in emergency response and preparedness.

Recent Projects

Disaster Preparedness Toolkit

In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CPHRC collaborated on a four year project with the AJ Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia to study the disaster information needs of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). To help address these disaster information needs, we created a toolkit of disaster preparedness resources for families of CYSHCN and their health care providers. To access the resources and learn more about the toolkit, click here.

Home Assessments and Emergency Preparedness

The CPHRC is collaborating with the Center for Children with Youth and Special Health Care Needs at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children to study the impact of home assessments on the emergency preparedness of CYSHCN. The project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Graduate Minor in Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Interested in public health preparedness? Any students enrolled in a Drexel University graduate program can enroll in the Graduate Minor in Public Health Emergency Preparedness.

This minor prepares students for careers in emergency and disaster preparedness in government, health care, and the nonprofit sector.

To learn more about what it's like as a student working with Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication, watch Dornsife MPH Student Helps to Craft Disaster Preparation Plan.