Fellowships - Homeland Security Studies
Graduate Medical Fellowship in Homeland Security Studies
The Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Tennessee is partnering with the National Security Directorate of Oak Ridge National Laboratory to begin a Graduate Medical Fellowship in Homeland Security Studies that will train eclectic physicians in the broad scope of competencies necessary to build the professional cadre for the next generation of medical and administrative leadership in homeland security. This fellowship addresses two homeland security needs: the need for in-depth physician training in homeland security-related medical science, and the need for capability to integrate all of the multiple diverse aspects and functions involved in homeland security.
Physician education in homeland security matters has thus far consisted mainly of brief courses centered on biological threats, but there has been relatively little comprehensive medical education that brings together the broad scope of medically related homeland security topics such as chemical or radiological terrorism, epidemiology, and mass casualty management. In-depth education in all such areas relating to homeland security will increase the medical community's threat awareness and capability to respond to the broad range of terrorist threats. Graduates of this fellowship will help to fill these needs, and will also contribute medical expertise into the decision making processes of homeland security administrative functions.
One of the biggest challenges in homeland security is the integration and coordination of the many diverse agencies and activities that have been brought together under the homeland security umbrella, such as law enforcement, fire science, public health, and technological acquisition. Generalist physicians are experienced in complex decision-making that coordinates large amounts of diverse scientific information, real world data, subject matter expert activity, psychosocial concerns, and other factors. These generalist skills can also be used in the homeland security arena to coordinate the diverse aspects of this eclectic field. Fellows will be trained to fill the need for the homeland security generalist orientation that is important to administering these wide-ranging concerns and functions. The outcome will be that as fellowship graduates are integrated into the homeland security administrative decision making structure, they will enhance the overall homeland security effort beyond their medical expertise alone.
Our Program
Physicians who have completed residency training in family medicine or other similar generalist training, will be engaged in a diverse two-year homeland security curriculum, while maintaining and advancing their medical practice abilities. The didactic part of the curriculum will consist of lecture classes in relevant technical sciences, related infrastructure, emerging technologies, and governmental affairs. A practical skills lab class will teach related necessary skills such as decontamination procedures, law enforcement procedures, and weapons effects. Fellows will be required to make a longitudinal commitment to involvement in disaster preparedness, such as with a Disaster Medical Assistance Team. To keep medical skills up to date, six months of medical clerkships are planned in such areas as emergency medicine and trauma surgery. Six months of governmental clerkships are also planned with local, state, and federal agencies that are involved in homeland security, such as the National Security Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security, and the federal Department of Homeland Security. The course of study will also include a seminar class on homeland security topics, and a related major project or thesis that will advance the homeland security mission.
This fellowship concept will be proven and expanded at the University of Tennessee, then disseminated within the state through the Tennessee Homeland Security Consortium of educational institutions, and also nationally. It is anticipated that large parts of the Homeland Security curriculum being developed at the University of Tennessee for this Graduate Medical Fellowship in Homeland Security Studies, will also be utilized in parallel programs envisioned by the University of Tennessee's College of Nursing, College of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
Faculty
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