University of Colorado Anschutz – Diploma in Climate Medicine – Disaster Resilience and Response
Climate change, recognized by The Lancet as the “biggest global health threat of the 21st century,” is intensifying wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme weather events that degrade air quality, disrupt communities, and lead to widespread illness. These shifts strain the social determinants of health, with climate-related effects resembling an emergency department triage list: heat-induced fainting, respiratory issues from pollution, vector-borne diseases, and trauma from extreme weather events. This course delves into the root causes of climate-driven disasters and equips participants with strategies for disaster response and resilience planning including vulnerability assessments and climate action plans.
Course dates: 2:00–5:00 p.m. Mountain Time, October 28, 30, November 2, 2026 (Virtual portion), all day November 7–8, 2026 (In-person portion)
Cost: $1900-$3150
View Offer chevron_rightKey Features
- Case studies such as extreme heat events in the Western United States, extreme weather in the Gulf coasts and Caribbean, and threats to major safety net hospitals in New Orleans and New York City.
- Risk and vulnerability assessments for healthcare facilities and hospital systems.
- Exploration of climate action plans.
- Insight into stress injury awareness in disaster settings.
- Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Training.
- Collaboration with environmental justice leaders on equitable approaches to disaster preparedness and response.
- National Incident Management System and disaster response training.
- Climate disaster simulation exercises.
Topics Covered
- Incident Command System
- National Incident Management System
- Disaster Medicine
- Community Preparedness & Resilience
- National Disaster Response Framework
- Mass Casualties
- Climate & Health Adaptation Planning
- Vulnerability Assessments
- Early Warning Systems
- Leveraging Data in Disasters
- Energy Resilience
- Environmental Health Surveillance
- Disasters & Disability Health
- Mental Health & Disasters
- Preparation For Providers
- Stress Injury Awareness
- Environmental Justice
- Disaster Case Studies
- Medical Ethics in Disasters
- Crisis Communication
- Simulation Activities
Learning Objectives
1. Describe disaster medicine operational stages (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery) as they pertain to climate adaptation and resilience.
2. Apply climate adaptation principles when outlining effective heat action, wildfire, and flood preparedness plans, focusing on mitigation, response coordination, and long-term recovery.
3. Define best practices for promoting environmental justice when engaging with disaster management and recovery.
4. Demonstrate working fluency with incident command system structures in disaster simulation exercises.
Target Audience
This activity is designed for healthcare providers from all disciplines and specialties.
Additional credit info
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) and Climate & Health Program at University of Colorado School of Medicine. The WMS is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Wilderness Medical Society designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 49.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™️. Each physician should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Participants also earn a microcredential issued by the University of Colorado.