Staff
by cpeadmin Sharon Medcalf, PhD, MEd, RN Co-Director Sharon Medcalf is a Co-Director of the Center for Preparedness Education in the Center for Biopreparedness, Biosecurity, and Emerging Infectious Diseases and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Sharon was instrumental in the establishment of the College of Public Health’s new academic programs in emergency preparedness.
She developed four core courses for the professional certificate and master of science programs and directs two of the courses each semester. Ms. Medcalf is serving her second term on the Board of Directors of the Public Health Association of Nebraska and values being part of an organization that is bolstering the public health infrastructure in Nebraska. Her research area of interest is smallpox.
She was heavily involved in the National Smallpox Vaccination program launched in 2003. In response to a credible threat, the US vaccinated almost 40,000 health care and public health workers across the nation. Her colleagues in the laboratories also established a network of sites to test for smallpox.
Her current research project is looking at smallpox vaccination in laboratory workers at smallpox testing sites across the country. [email protected] ǀ 402.552.2529 Gary L. Gorby, MD Co-Director Dr Gorby is Chief of Medicine for the Department of Veteran Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. He is also an Associate Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at Creighton University School of Medicine and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Dr Gorby serves on the Creighton University Biosafety Committee and has an active interest in applying computer technology for designing interactive lectures and websites.
He has received the Innovative Use of Instructional Technology Award from Creighton University. [email protected] | 402.552.2529 Keith F. Hansen, MBA Operations Director, Center for Preparedness Education Keith Hansen is responsible for the operations, management and progress of the Center for Preparedness Education. He has conducted planning, education, training, and exercises for Fortune 500 companies, higher education, local and state public health departments, hospitals, emergency management agencies, and first responders.
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Mr. Hansen has worked in public health and medical disaster response since 2002. From 2002 to 2006, he served as the Emergency Response Coordinator for the Nebraska Health & Human Services System.
In this position, he responded to numerous state disasters and created and implemented Nebraska’s Strategic National Stockpile Plan. He also conducted numerous exercises and coordinated Nebraska’s Public Health and Medical disaster responses. From 2006 to 2014 he served in numerous capacities in the Center for Preparedness Education. Mr.
Hansen conducted education, training, and disaster drills/exercises for Fortune 500 companies, higher education, local and state public health departments, hospitals, emergency management agencies, and numerous first responders. From 2014 to 2019 Mr. Hansen served as Assistant Dean of Operations & Management at the UNMC College of Public Health.
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As such, he supervised operations in the areas of: general administration; finance and fiscal affairs; staff supervision and human resources; building supervision and maintenance; and assigned internal and external College relations. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals. This organization is dedicated to serving disaster preparedness professionals in any healthcare setting.
Moving Preparedness Forward is the mission of the organization. Mr. Hansen has earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with an emphasis in organizational management.
He received his Bachelor’s in Community Health Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln [email protected] ǀ 402.552.3501 Rachel Lookadoo, JD Director of Legal and Public Health Preparedness Rachel Lookadoo is the Director of Legal and Public Health Preparedness for the Center for Preparedness Education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and an instructor in the Epidemiology department of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She co-chairs the COVID-19 Critical Questions and Ethics committee.
As an attorney, Ms. Lookadoo focuses on the various legal and regulatory issues that can arise in emergency preparedness. She specializes in CMS regulations, quarantine law, infectious disease response, public health effects of climate change, and legal preparedness.
Ms. Lookadoo also conducts emergency preparedness trainings and assessments for public health departments and healthcare facilities across the state of Nebraska. Ms. Lookadoo has written book chapters and legal reference guides regarding topics such as isolation and quarantine law and other legal concerns that arise in disaster response and recovery.
Ms. Lookadoo received her Juris Doctor degree from American University Washington College of Law, and her Bachelor’s degree from Baylor University. [email protected] ǀ 402-552-9649 Leslie Gunning-Scofield, MPH Director of First Responder Education As Director for First Responder Education, Leslie’s responsibility involves identifying gaps in knowledge and training needs as they pertain to Law Enforcement, EMS, Emergency Management and Fire personnel within the state of Nebraska. Ms.
Scofield is Coordinator for a regional training center for National Disaster Life Support™ programs and is an active member of the NDLS® Educational Consortium. She has served as a proctor for the National Disaster Life Support Foundation and has become a mentor to organizations wishing to become NDLS® Training Centers. Leslie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Non-Profit Management from University of Nebraska Omaha and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
She is a member of the Metro Area Loss Team, Omaha Area Medical Reserve Corps and the Central Nebraska Medical Reserve Corps. [email protected] ǀ 402.552.3116 Barbara Dodge, B-Ed Director of Hospital Preparedness As Director of Hospital Preparedness programs, Barbara works closely with Nebraska hospitals to assist them in preparedness planning and education. She designs curriculum-specific hospital needs, trains instructors and coordinates mass trainings.
Barbara delivers the Hospital First Receiver Course and its Refresher course across the state. She also teaches position-specific Incident Command training for hospitals and develops disaster exercises. For the past 11 years Barbara has served on the National HICS Advisory Board and work groups which update the Hospital Incident Command System to better serve the needs of US hospitals. Barbara facilitated a group of Nebraska Critical Access hospitals in customizing the new HICS Job Actions Sheets to better fit the needs of small hospitals.
Those forms are now being used across the country. [email protected] ǀ 402.552.3101 Tonya Ngotel, BA Director of Exercise Programs As the Director of Exercise Programs, Tonya’s responsible for supporting the exercise and training mission with the Center. She serves as the lead facilitator in exercise development and outreach.
Tonya’s experience is in emergency management, project management, hazardous materials planning and group facilitation. She has served as immediate past president of her national association for 4 years and has taken the lead on several national projects including a National Academies of Science study titled “Safely Transporting Hazardous Liquids and Gases in a Changing U.S. Energy Landscape”. [email protected] ǀ 402.552.9724 Beckie McCaw Administrative Assistant Beckie provides administrative assistance for the Center staff.
She serves as an initial point of contact for those who work with the Center and those attending trainings provided through the Center
P.S. A few readers have asked which emergency kits we actually reach for — it's Ready America 72-Hour Emergency Kit; if you want the current details.
Start somewhere — a kit in the closet beats a plan in your head
A grab-and-go 72-hour kit for the person who wants to be prepared this weekend, not after a month of research.