UMBC Department of Emergency Health Services

We’ve Moved to a New Official Page!

The UMBC Emergency and Disaster Health Systems Department (EDHS) has a new official page!

Please follow us here ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581011192848

Our new page will feature program updates, student highlights, community outreach, and upcoming events.

This older page will remain up for a short time, but all new content and announcements will now be posted on the new page.

✅ Click the link and hit “Follow” or “Like” on the new page to stay connected with EDHS at UMBC!

UMBC Department of Emergency and Disaster Health Sytems We prepare the next generation of leaders in emergency health services, disaster management, and resilience. Our programs blend education, research, and community engagement to strengthen health systems.

We’re back!

EDHS is officially in Sherman Hall as of today. Stop by your new classrooms or visit us in the main office (Room 342). Here’s to a great semester in our renovated home!

Today, we pause to remember the lives lost, the courage shown, and the resilience that continues to inspire us.

As a department rooted in emergency and disaster health systems, we honor the first responders, healthcare providers, and countless others who answered the call that day, and every day since, in service to their communities.

We carry forward their legacy by preparing the next generation of emergency health leaders, disaster managers, and healthcare professionals who stand ready to serve.

Never Forget.

Even with packed boxes and our big move back to our newly renovated space tomorrow… the learning never stops!

Today our junior paramedic interns are visiting MIEMSS/SYSCOM to see firsthand how Maryland’s EMS communications system operates. Experiences like this give our students a behind-the-scenes look at statewide EMS coordination and patient care support.

Big news!

The EDHS Department is moving back to Sherman Hall this weekend. Starting Monday, Sept 15, all classes and offices will be in Sherman Hall. Check the graphic for your new room assignments!

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Jungwon Yeo to UMBC’s Department of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems!

Dr. Yeo joins us as an Associate Professor and the Graduate Program Director. She earned her Ph.D. in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and previously served as an Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida.

Her research centers on advancing human security through collaborative efforts among government, nonprofit organizations, and civil society. She also examines accountability, ethics, leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), particularly in relation to public service delivery during both crises and normalcy.

Dr. Yeo will be teaching in both our graduate and undergraduate programs, and we are excited for the expertise and leadership she brings to EDHS!

Grateful to have Dr. Chizmar, Maryland’s EMS Medical Director, join our EDHS 461 Junior Paramedic class today to discuss EMS Systems. An incredible opportunity for our students to learn from a leader shaping prehospital care across the state.

The UMBC Department of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems is proud to share an historic milestone: the establishment of the John W. Ashworth, III Professorship in Emergency Health Services, the very first named professorship in our program.

John Ashworth’s leadership has shaped emergency care in Maryland and beyond for more than four decades. From his pivotal role at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center to helping launch UMBC’s groundbreaking Emergency Health Services program, his vision and dedication have left a lasting mark on both the field and our students.

This new endowed professorship honors that extraordinary legacy while ensuring continued excellence in teaching, research, and innovation for future generations of EDHS students. It is a tribute not only to John’s career, but to the countless lives improved through his work.

We invite our community of students, alumni, faculty, and partners to celebrate this remarkable achievement for both John and UMBC.
Read the full story here: https://umbc.edu/stories/john-ashworth-iii-emergency-health-services/

A new semester is here!

We’re excited to see our EDHS students back in class, in the labs, and out in the field.

Wishing everyone a strong start this fall.

In a collaborative effort, UMBC’s Department of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems transferred its HERO Ambulance Simulator to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Service on August 15, 2025. This full-size, realistic mock-up of an ambulance interior allows students to practice patient care and teamwork in a confined space, building critical skills and confidence

This transfer was made possible by Renee Decker, Kyle Bates, Acting Chair Tim Nohe, and Assistant Chief David Sabat, and aligns with the department’s move to new facilities in Sherman Hall, which will include a state-of-the-art ambulance simulator.

From BGE: conserve electricity this afternoon and evening, and prepare for potential outages.

It’s going to be dangerously hot tomorrow. As EMS and disaster professionals, we know how fast heat-related illness can escalate.

Watch for:
🔹 Heavy sweating
🔹 Weakness or dizziness
🔹 Nausea or confusion
🔹 High body temperature

Take action early. Stay cool, drink water, and check on your people. The heat can be just as dangerous as any emergency, treat it with the same respect.