Thursday, February 6, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:15 PM Pacific (Online Only)

9:00 AM - 9:05 AM: Welcome and Introduction with Michelle Beltran, Director, COEH Continuing Education, UC Berkeley and Sheri Belafsky, MD, MS, FACOEM, Director, Medical Surveillance Program, COEH, UC Davis

9:05 AM - 9:45 AM: Responding to the Los Angeles Fires: A Disaster Response Case Study with Gina Solomon, MD, MPH, Chief of the Division of Occupational, Environmental & Climate Medicine, UC San Francisco

This session will examine the multifaceted emergency response efforts during the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Dr. Solomon will provide an overview of preparedness lessons prior to a major wildfire and discuss aspects of the fires themselves. She will also address critical occupational and environmental health concerns faced in the aftermath, and common questions posed by community members in Los Angeles.

Infectious Disease

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM: The Slow-Moving Catastrophe of Antimicrobial Resistance with John Swartzberg, MD, FACP, Health Sciences Clinical Professor Emeritus, Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, UC Berkeley Public Health 

We have a problem: Each year, an estimated 7.7 million deaths are attributed to bacterial infections. Almost 5 million are associated with drug-resistant pathogens. One out of every five deaths related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurred in children under the age of 5. By the year 2050, there will be an estimated ~10 million deaths annually. Join Dr. John Swartzberg to learn more about AMR and recommended actions that can prevent this from occurring.

10:15 AM - 10:30 AM: Break

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Infectious Disease: Ready? or Not? with Erica Pan, MD, MPH, State Epidemiologist; Deputy Director, Center for Infectious Disease, California Department of Public Health

This presentation from the California State Epidemiologist, Erica Pan, will describe key issues and lessons learned for public health and occupational health specialists, including collaboration across infectious disease, occupational health, public health, and OSHA/Occ Health regulators. 

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Emerging Infectious Diseases: A Clinical Update and One Health Perspective with Angel Desai, MD, MPH, Associate Clinical Professor, UC Davis Health Department of Internal Medicine

This session will provide a comprehensive clinical update on emerging infectious diseases, including MPox, H5N1, and Oropouche Virus Disease from a One Health perspective. Dr. Desai will explore the virology, transmission dynamics, and clinical presentations of these pathogens, as well as their public health implications. 

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Panel Discussion and Joint Q&A with Erica Pan, MD, MPH and Angel Desai, MD, MPH, moderated by Sheri Belafsky, MD, MS, FACOEM

As infectious disease threats continue to evolve, healthcare, public health, and workplace safety professionals must work together to strengthen preparedness, response, and prevention efforts. Learn how the landscape of infectious disease is evolving, and identify strategies to improve emergency preparedness and response to infectious disease. The session will conclude with an open Q&A, providing participants the opportunity to engage directly with experts and discuss solutions for building a more resilient infectious disease response system.

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM: Lunch

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM: Navigating the Latest Workplace Safety Regulations: An Update with Cal/OSHA with Mark Stainer, Associate Safety Engineer at Cal/OSHA

As workplace safety regulations continue to evolve, staying informed about new Cal/OSHA standards is essential for employers, safety professionals, and employees. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest regulatory updates affecting workplace safety and emergency preparedness in California. Participants will gain practical insights into employer responsibilities, compliance strategies, and available resources to navigate these regulatory changes.

Earthquakes

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Earthquakes, Early Warnings, and MyShake: Leveraging Technology for Safer Communities with Suresh Raman, MyShake Lead, UC Berkeley Seismology Lab

MyShake is the citizen science project bringing users together to build a global earthquake early warning network. Our app keeps you informed about earthquakes and monitors for them using data from your phone’s sensors. From the software engineer lead of MyShake, this presentation will focus on earthquake basics, earthquake forecast versus prediction, the necessity for earthquake early warning systems, and on the MyShake App for alerting users to an imminent shaking so they can take protective action.

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Learning from Stress: Transforming Trauma into Sustainable Risk Reduction with Louise Comfort, PhD, Project Scientist, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley; Professor Emerita, GSPIA, University of Pittsburgh

This presentation will explore the process of community rebuilding after earthquakes, with a focus on the 2023 Turkey earthquake. Join Dr. Louise Comfort to understand how communities collectively learn from the stress of seismic events and how communal approaches can enhance disaster preparedness and response.

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM: Break

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM: Panel Discussion and Joint Q&A with Louise Comfort, PhD and Suresh Raman, moderated by Michelle Beltran

Improving emergency preparedness requires innovative approaches that leverage technology, enhance communication, and prioritize worker protection. This panel will explore the evolving role of technology in early warning systems, disaster response, and workplace safety during crises—while also addressing the limitations of relying on technology. The panel will end with an open Q&A, where attendees can pose their questions and exchange ideas with experts on building a more resilient and inclusive disaster response framework.

 

Friday, February 7, 2025, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Pacific (In-Person)

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Registration, Continental Breakfast (provided) & Networking

9:30 AM - 9:35 AM: Welcome & Introduction with Michelle Beltran, Director, COEH Continuing Education, UC Berkeley and Sheri Belafsky, MD, MS, FACOEM, Director, Medical Surveillance Program, COEH, UC Davis

9:35 AM - 10:25 AM: Emergency Preparedness in Healthcare Panel Discussion with Jane Thomason, CIH, Lead Industrial Hygienist, California Nurses Association/National Nurses United; Sheri Belafsky, MD, MS, FACOEM; Joshua Smith, Section Chief, Homeland Security, San Francisco Fire Department; and Jessica Early MSN, RN, FNP-C, Patient Advocacy Organizing Coordinator, National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW); moderated by Michelle Beltran

Disasters and public health crises place immense pressure on healthcare systems, first responders, and frontline workers. Panelists will explore key lessons learned from past disasters, best practices for interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategies for ensuring hospitals and emergency responders are equipped to protect both workers and patients. The discussion will also highlight the role of unions in advocating for safer working conditions and how frontline healthcare professionals can push for more meaningful emergency preparedness policies. The session will conclude with an open Q&A, offering attendees an opportunity to interact with panelists and discuss strategies for improving disaster preparedness in healthcare settings.

10:25 AM - 10:40 AM: Break

10:40 AM - 12:00 PM: Emergency and Crisis Communications Lecture and Workshop with Scott Summerfield, Principal of SAE Communications

When a crisis - whether a natural disaster or people-caused - hits your agency will you be prepared to respond transparently and effectively with your community, the media and internal audiences? Scott Summerfield, Principal of SAE Communications will cover crisis communications planning and response in this interactive workshop. His wealth of experience and knowledge will equip you with effective, cutting-edge risk and crisis communication tactics and strategies, using lessons learned from real-world events. This training will empower you to navigate communications when a crisis strikes.

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM: Lunch (provided)

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM: Playing it Safe: Evacuation Games as Tools for Community Education with Thomas Maiorana, MFA, Associate Professor of Design, UC Davis

Traditional emergency preparedness strategies often struggle to engage communities in meaningful ways. In this session, learners will explore how game-based learning can transform disaster preparedness by making complex decision-making more tangible and interactive. Learn how participatory design and scenario-based learning can help individuals and communities better prepare for wildfires and other disasters.

1:45 PM - 2:00PM: Break

2:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Emergency Action Plans: Protecting Workers During an Emergency - Presentation and Workshop with Jason Ferguson, MPH, Director, Emergency Management, UC Berkeley; Nestor Andre Castillo, MPH, Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP), UC Berkeley; and Tenaya Lafore, EdD, Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP), UC Berkeley

Emergencies can happen at any time, and workplaces must be prepared to protect employees from harm. This interactive workshop will provide participants with practical strategies for emergency preparedness, decision-making during crises, and understanding the legal protections in place for workers. Through discussion, reflection, and hands-on simulations, attendees will learn how to assess risks, develop workplace emergency action plans, and enhance their ability to respond effectively in high-pressure situations.

 

Friday, February 7, 2025, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Pacific - COEH Get Together

Enjoy light appetizers, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks (hosted) with COEH while you connect with one another and share ideas and insights with your peers.