Terrorism readiness talk open to campus

he School of Public Health and Health Sciences is opening a guest lecture in its course on terrorism preparedness to the campus at large 1-2:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, in the Student Union Ballroom.

     Rear Admiral Donald Arthur, former deputy surgeon general of the U.S. Navy, and Commander Mary Chaffee, '83, deputy director of the U.S. Navy Office of Homeland Security, will address students in "Terrorism-Ready?" (ENV HL 497B and NURSE 497B), presenting an overview of global terrorism, response abilities and preparedness of the federal government and health care system, and the role of health-care providers in anti-terrorism and emergency preparedness efforts.

     As senior health program analyst in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs for nearly three years, Chaffee, oversaw TRICARE, the military health system that serves 8.4 million beneficiaries. In her current position, she is responsible for executing a plan to prepare for and respond to attacks or threats involving the Navy Medical Department.

     Chaffee double-majored in Nursing and Public Health as an undergraduate at UMass.

     "Terrorism-Ready?" is taught by Sal DiNardi, chair of Environmental Health Sciences. It covers the "myths and realities" of chemical, biological, radiological and environmental threats.