As medical director of the Penn State Shock Trauma Center, Dr. Robert Cherry knows all too well that each day brings many unexpected challenges and the need to adapt to constantly changing situations. "Whether you're in a hospital or you're a public health official, thinking about how you would manage a disaster or threat scenario, there are situations and circumstances that can occur that may make the best planning very, very difficult to carry out."
The $250,000 computer-generated mannequins at the Hershey Medical Center's simulation lab got him thinking outside the box. The mannequins can simulate all types of physiology, giving people the opportunity to practice and fine-tune their critical care skills before an actual event occurs. Dr. Cherry wondered if they could be used for hands-on training of personnel who cope with the aftermath of disasters or bioterrorism.
His experiences at Lincoln Hospital in New York during 9/11 served as a further impetus for discussion with colleagues about the vital need for a home security program that would teach adaptability. As he says, "You have to adapt a plan to changing situations, and it may be relatively difficult, depending on how fixed your plans are. The goal is to make plans adaptable, getting people to respond to the unexpected."
Dr. Cherry's team agreed that Penn State's College of Medicine would be an excellent institution for starting a master's degree program in homeland security, offered completely online through Penn State World Campus. Interestingly enough, on September 11, 2004, they presented their proposal to the University for that program—the only one of its kind in the United States from a medical school, the Penn State College of Medicine.
As lead faculty member of the World Campus homeland security initiative, Dr. Cherry looks forward to leading the charge for programs that will provide well-trained leaders to fill roles in the public health workforce. "We need students to think out of the box, and who can see the possibilities. That’s really the fun part of leading this program."
