DomesticPreparedness met Michael Fraser, PhD, Deputy Executive Director, National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The NACCHO deputy executive director details his association’s support to local health departments (LHDs) and emergency-response agencies responsible for bioterrorism and pandemic influenza preparedness, while highlighting the roles of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and the Advanced Practice Centers (APCs).
DomPrep has divided the 37 minute interview into four segments.
Download full audio interview to your MP3 player.
Listen to Audio Segment One Overview of NACCHO’s Work in BioTerrorism
Highlights of recent NACCHO bioterrorism preparedness activities benefiting local first responders, first receivers, public health officials, and emergency-response agencies, with special focus on the Advanced Practice Centers and the need for rapid communications and planning among local health departments.
Duration: 3 Minutes 20 Seconds
Listen to Audio Segment Two NACCHO and the Medical Reserve Corps
The NACCHO cooperative agreement to support the Surgeon General’s Medical Reserve Corps program. Support for: capacity building; National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance; technical-assistance assessments; and the development of standards for the eight core competencies.
Duration: 9 Minutes 18 Seconds
Listen to Audio Segment Three NACCHO and the Advanced Practice Centers
The Advanced Practice Center as a “laboratory” for developing cutting-edge tools and resources for public health preparedness among local health departments and regional disaster-response agencies. A closer look at the Santa Clara, California, APC.
Duration: 11 Minutes 37 Seconds
Listen to Audio Segment Four NACCHO and Pandemic Influenza Planning
The NACCHO view that local pandemic planning cannot rely exclusively on mutual-aid agreements. NACCHO’s “Local Health Department Guide to Pandemic Influenza Planning” developed by the Santa Clara and Seattle-King County (Washington) APCs. NACCHO’s assessment of the current vaccine supply, distribution plans, and medical surge capabilities and capacities.
Duration: 13 Minutes 13 Seconds
Michael Fraser re-joined the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) in April 2001 as a Senior Advisor working to support the work of local public health agencies nationwide and currently serves as the Association’s Deputy Executive Director. Prior to returning to NACCHO, Dr. Fraser was a Regional Program Manager/Public Health Advisor with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program. While with CDC, Dr. Fraser worked with state and local health departments in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions to develop their bioterrorism preparedness and response programs under cooperative agreements with the CDC. Based in Washington, D.C.,Dr. Fraser has worked on federal, state, and local public health issues in various capacities including prior positions as a Senior Staff Fellow at the Health Resources and Services Administration and Bioterrorism Program Manager for the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Dr. Fraser has presented at numerous professional conferences and meetings. His recent publications include preparedness planning guidance for local public health agencies, a recent Chartbook on Local Public Health Agency Infrastructure and peer-reviewed articles for Public Health Reports, the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, and Contemporary Sociology. Dr. Fraser earned his Doctorate in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and is on the adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland’s University College.
