July 14, 2008
Groups Discuss Pandemic Preparedness
From left to right: UPB President Livingston Alexander, CRHP Interim Director (and GSPH Associate Dean) Maggie Potter, GSPH Dean Burke, Erie County Common Pleas Judge John Bozza, and McKean County Common Pleas Court President Judge John Cleland
On June 2, 2008, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (UPB) and the Center for Rural Health Practice cosponsored a meeting titled “The Municipal Response to Infectious Diseases: What You Can Do to Prepare Your Communities” at the Robert L. Jackson Inn of Court in Bradford, PA. Over 40 municipal solicitors; school officials and health care providers from the McKean, Cameron, Elk, Forest, and Warren counties; a state public official; and UPB officials and staff were in attendance.
Speakers at the meeting included the Graduate School of Public Health’s Dean Donald Burke presenting “Epidemiological Judo: Exploiting Influenza’s Epidemic Strengths and Weaknesses,” and Judge John Cleland presenting “Can History Repeat? Lessons from the 1918 Flu Pandemic in Kane – How You Can Prepare Today.” The discussion following the presentations revealed concern for amplifying the legal authority of municipalities to prepare for a future flu pandemic. The Center for Rural Health Practice remains committed to continue working with rural officers to protect the rural populations.