Region 7 Center for Public Health Preparedness and Response

The field of Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR) plays a crucial role in protecting public health and responding to emergencies. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent events have revealed both strengths and significant gaps in knowledge, practice, and structures within the PHPR field. To enhance even further uptake of PHPR evidence-based strategies and interventions (EBSIs), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established 10 regional PHPR Centers across the country in each of the 10 HHS regions. These Centers will support such PHPR practices and collaborations at the state, territorial, local, and tribal (STLT) levels. University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) was awarded the PHPR Center in Region 7 (R7) (IA, KS, MO, NE). Specifically, the University of Iowa College of Public Health will be a partner on the project. The center will work with a coalition of regional partners, including local and tribal public health departments, healthcare coalition coordinators, state leaders and private industry leaders.