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Dr. Ciottone, one of the world’s foremost experts in disaster medicine, is the director of the Disaster Medicine Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Selected credentials and awards:

• Fellow, American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP)
• President Emeritus, World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM)
• Editor-in-Chief of the leading disaster medicine textbook, Ciottone’s Disaster Medicine
• EMS Physician of the Year (2007)
• Emergency Management Consultant, White House Medical Unit (under three administrations: 2014-present)
• American College of Emergency Physicians Disaster Medical Sciences Award (2018)
• American Academy of Disaster Medicine Distinguished Service Award (2020)

Professor George Braitberg is an emergency physician, toxicologist, and medical administrator. He is the Deputy Director of the Department of Critical Care and Convenor of the Graduate Diploma in Disaster and Terror Medicine at the University of Melbourne. He also serves as Professor and Director of Emergency Medicine Research at Austin Health.

A Fellow of the American College of Medical Toxicology, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), and the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, he holds master’s degrees in Bioethics and Health Services Management.

Professor Braitberg serves on the boards of hospitals and community organisations and is actively involved in teaching emergency medicine, toxicology, governance, and disaster and terror medicine. With over 100 journal papers and book chapters to his name, he is committed to advancing knowledge in disaster and terror medicine through education and research.

His contributions have been recognised with numerous honours, including the Order of Australia (AM), the ACEM Service Award, and the title of Officer of the Order of St John (OStJ) for his work in emergency and disaster medicine, volunteerism, and community service. He remains dedicated to improving the equity and effectiveness of healthcare both locally and globally.

Dr. Donahue is a professor of global health, a Lieutenant Colonel, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Army (Retired), and affiliate faculty with the Disaster Medicine Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).

Selected credentials and awards:

• President, World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM)
• Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE)
• Fellow, Royal Society for Public Health
• Board of Governors, American Academy of Disaster Medicine (AADM)
• Co-Chair, Medical and Health Programming Board, World Humanitarian Forum
• Board of Directors, Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health
• Fast Company magazine “Fast 50” (2004)

Dr. Fares Al-Ali is the first Canadian and American board-certified emergency physician from the United Arab Emirates. He completed the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Emergency Medicine Residency Program at McGill University in Montreal, Canada (2002-2007). In 2008, he completed a fellowship in EMS at the University of Toronto in Canada, followed by a Disaster Medicine Fellowship at BIDMC in Boston, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, as Harvard’s first Disaster Medicine fellow and as co-founder of the program (2009). In May 2011, he obtained his MPH from Johns Hopkins University and later his DrPH in Health Care Management and Leadership from the same institution (May 2021).

Dr. Fares Al-Ali is the former Head of the Emergency Department and former Program Director at Zayed Military Hospital, with extensive military medicine experience, including operational and civil-military deployments. He is the founder and former chairman of the Trauma System Initiative of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the founder and past president of the Emirates Society of Emergency Medicine (ESEM). Dr. Fares Al-Ali spearheaded key initiatives, including the first official Trauma Registry in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi STEMI network involving various stakeholders, and the approval of the UAE “Good Samaritan Law,” the first of its kind in an Arab country. He led the ESEM Conference to become the largest Emergency Medicine Conference in the MENA region and successfully hosted ICEM 2021 in the region, with over 2,500 delegates. He also served as Executive Director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, since COVID 19 pandemic until July 2024, where he developed a new integrated model of health emergency care (the Abu Dhabi Health Emergency Management – HEM Model). He is currently serving as the President of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine until June 2026. Dr. Fares Al-Ali has contributed to several international textbooks and peer-reviewed articles in the fields of Emergency Medicine, EMS, and Disaster Medicine and has presented at numerous conferences both regionally and internationally.

Dr Alison Hutton is a Professor of Nursing with extensive expertise in disaster nursing, public health preparedness, and the wellbeing of vulnerable populations, particularly children and adolescents. With a strong commitment to improving outcomes in disaster contexts, Alison’s work bridges research, policy, and practice to support communities before, during, and after disasters.

Her scholarship focuses on integrating disaster risk reduction and climate resilience into nursing education and healthcare systems. She has contributed to national and international initiatives, such as competencies for nurses aimed at building the capacity of nurses to respond effectively to disasters.

As a leader in nursing and a passionate advocate for health equity in disaster response, Alison continues to mentor emerging nurse leaders and collaborates across disciplines to shape sustainable and inclusive approaches to disaster preparedness and recovery.

Selected credentials and awards:

• Fellow, Disaster Medicine, BIDMC (2017-2020)
• European Master of Disaster Medicine (2015)
• Emergency Medicine Specialist, Armed Forces Hospitals Southern Region, AFHSR
• Jordanian Board of Emergency Medicine since 2008
• Instructor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Prof. Roberto Mugavero is the President of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine – CEMEC – a specialized centre of the Council of Europe’s EUR-OPA Agreement. With a degree in Environmental Engineering, he is also the Director and a Professor at the CUFS – Center for Security Studies at the University of San Marino Republic. He holds prominent roles at multiple institutions, including the University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” the University of Rome “Sapienza,” and the University of Padua in Italy; BIDMC Fellowship in Disaster Medicine, USA; the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany; and the NATO JCBRN CoE in Vyskov, Czech Republic.

Prof. Mugavero oversees numerous master’s and advanced programs, specializing in international security studies, environmental and CBRNe risk management. As a renowned expert in security and defense, he chairs the Italian research institute “Observatory on Security and CBRNe Defence – OSDIFE.” Additionally, he significantly impacts global discourse through his lectures, publications, and leadership at various conferences. Beyond academia, Prof. Mugavero is deeply involved as a volunteer Officer in the Italian National Fire and Rescue Service at the Ministry of Interior and actively engages in EU and international security and defense research programs. His commitment is further demonstrated through direct participation in emergency activities and exercises.

Dr. Travis Kaufman is an internationally recognized leader in global health, disaster response, and tactical emergency care. A retired U.S. Army Officer, Dr. Kaufman brings over 25 years of experience in emergency and operational medicine, having worked in more than 70 countries across five continents. His work has centered on strengthening healthcare systems, improving outcomes in austere environments, and building global partnerships through strategic medical planning.

As Chief Medical Operations Officer for the White House Medical Unit, Dr. Kaufman directed medical contingency operations in 48 countries, supporting the President, Vice President, and senior U.S. government leaders across three administrations. He has served in combat zones, responded to natural disasters, and coordinated joint missions alongside the U.S. Secret Service, CIA, State Department, and international agencies. In 2017, he completed the prestigious White House Tactical Medical Officer Fellowship in Dignitary and Protective Medicine.

Since 2022, Dr. Kaufman has been actively engaged in Ukraine, where he has trained over 1,500 NATO and Partner Nation personnel in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), MEDEVAC, and CBRNE response, contributing to Ukraine’s frontline medical resilience and NATO readiness. His recent humanitarian and training missions include deployments to Panama, Mexico, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Kaufman currently serves as Assistant Professor and Program Director for the Emergency Management and Global Health (EMGH) concentration at the University of Lynchburg’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program. He is also adjunct faculty with the Harvard Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), contributing to the Disaster Medicine Fellowship. In addition, he is a Wilderness Medicine instructor with AdventureMed, a Fellow of the International Board of Disaster Medicine, and a Fellowship of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) candidate.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kaufman has supported U.S. and allied forces in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and European Assure, Deter, and Reinforce. He served as a Senior Physician Assistant and White House Medical Officer, leading over 482 domestic missions and 42 international deployments during Presidential and Vice-Presidential travel.
In 2020, he earned his Doctor of Medical Science in Emergency Medicine from the University of Lynchburg. His distinguished service has been recognized with the Presidential Service Badge, the Order of Military Medical Merit, the Colorado Academy of Physician Associates Leader of the Year Award, and the 2025 AMSUS Andrew Craige Allied Health Professional Award.

Outside of his professional work, Dr. Kaufman is an accomplished endurance athlete, having competed in the Ironman Triathlon World Championships and earned USA Triathlon All-American honors. He mentors youth through Boy Scout Troop 62, supports veteran memorial efforts with Wreaths Across America, and leads the Colorado Rotary Club Flags of Honor Program.

Dr. Kaufman resides in Colorado with his wife, Jamie, and their two children, Gabriella and Gage.