Disasters and the surge environment

David L. Glotzer, DDS; Walter J. Psoter, DDS, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2006.0032

Authors

David L. Glotzer, DDS
Walter J. Psoter, DDS, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2006.0032

Keywords:

disaster, surge response, dental profession

Abstract

With the recent actual, and the anticipated possible, disastrous events in this country, it is an absolute duty of responsible agencies on all levels to prepare and improve the medical response system. Past experience has shown that one critical area of preparedness that needs to be addressed is the available number of trained individuals in the public health workforce that can and will respond. We propose that the dental profession, with proper additional training and integration into an organized healthcare system, can be one additional source of this much needed manpower.

Author Biographies

David L. Glotzer, DDS

Clinical Professor, Department of Cariology and Operative Dentistry, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, New York.

Walter J. Psoter, DDS, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, New York University College of Dentistry; Associate Professor, School of Dentistry, University of Puerto Rico, New York, New York.

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