American Academy of Disaster Medicine

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The American Academy of Disaster Medicine (AADM) was founded in 2006 to promote the science and art of disaster healthcare. [1] It is one of the newest medical organizations in the world. On October 18, 2007 the American Academy of Disaster Medicine was also the first medical organization in history to fulfill a Presidential mandate (Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21) that called for the formal organization of disaster healthcare. AADM was instrumental in establishing disaster medicine as a recognized medical specialty; a certifying board, the American Board of Disaster Medicine was approved by the American Board of Physician Specialties in 2004. The Academy's headquarters is in Tampa, Florida.

The AADM awards the degree of Fellow (FAADM) to recognize members who have distinguished themselves among their colleagues, as well as in their communities, by their service to disaster medicine. A fellow must meet a minimum accepted amount of continuing education and community service. Most AADM members are active in academic, leadership and clinical aspects of disaster healthcare.

The AADM's purpose is to educate physicians and healthcare professionals about disaster preparation in the medical community. [2] The American Academy of Disaster Medicine (AADM) should not be confused with the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), founded in 1993. [3]

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The medical establishment in North America and the United Kingdom began forming study and discussion groups in disaster medicine. In some cases, the medical schools were on the front lines of this movement. Meanwhile, courses and fellowships in disaster medicine related fields at universities in London, Paris, Brussels, Bordeaux and the United States have been in existence since the early 1980s.

Throughout this period, incomplete and faltering medical responses to disaster events made it increasingly apparent that federal, state and local emergency management organizations were in need of a mechanism to identify qualified physicians in the face of a global upturn in the rate of natural and man-made disasters. Many physicians who volunteer at disasters have a bare minimum of knowledge in disaster medicine and often pose a hazard to themselves and the response effort because they have little or no field response training. It was against this backdrop that the American Academy of Disaster Medicine (AADM) and the American Board of Disaster Medicine (ABODM) were formed for the purpose of scholarly exchange and education in Disaster Medicine as well as the development of an examination demonstrating excellence towards Board Certification in this new specialty.

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References

  1. Donahue, Donald A.; James, James J. (2018). "Translating Theory to Practice: Towards a Certificate in Global Health". Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 12 (3): 281–283. doi:10.1017/dmp.2018.72. (editorial)}
  2. "American Academy of Disaster Medicine". American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. (aapsus.org).
  3. American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM)