News Release 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:HRSA Press Office
Friday, Sept. 12, 2003(301) 443-3376

HHS AWARDS $26.6 MILLION IN NEW PROGRAM TO PROVIDE BIOTERRORISM TRAINING AND CURRICULUM


HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced $26.6 million in new grants to strengthen bioterrorism training and education for the nation's health professions workforce. The grants are the first in HHS' Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development Program. Today's grantees are in 23 states.

"Our health care professionals need to be prepared for the special demands that a bioterrorism attack could make on them and on our health care system," Secretary Thompson said. "This new program is an important part of our broader efforts to prepare our public health system, develop effective medical countermeasures and stand ready to respond if bioterrorism should strike."

The program includes two components: continuing education for health professionals, funded at $22,344,500, and curriculum development in health professions schools, funded at $4,221,541. It is designed to provide bioterrorism-related continuing education and training opportunities for practicing health care providers and support new emergency preparedness curricula in health professions schools. The program will provide for training of at least 38,000 health professionals to better respond to an emergency.

The new program is part of a total federal investment of $4.4 billion in fiscal year 2003 for bioterrorism preparedness. It is administered by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which also funds other health professions programs.

"We view these grants as a vital extension of our mission to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality health care," said Elizabeth M. Duke, Ph.D., HRSA administrator. "In the case of bioterrorism, it is even more urgent that our health professions workforce be prepared to treat all of our citizens, wherever they reside."

The Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development Program was created with the passage of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002.

More information is available at http://www.hrsa.gov/bioterrorism.htm.

Lists of grant recipients follows:

Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development Program FY 2003 Continuing Education Grants

OrganizationCityStateAmount
Univ. of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences
Little RockArk.$1,494,401
University of CaliforniaSan
Francisco
Calif.$1,496,794
Denver Health & Hospital
Authority
DenverColo.$987,323
Yale New Haven Health SystemBridgeportConn.$1,282,801
MCHC - Chicago Hospital CouncilChicagoIll.$1,046,160
University of Kansas Medical
Center
Kansas CityKan.$1,218,549
Univ. of Louisville Research
Foundation
LouisvilleKy.$1,363,969
Saint Vincent FoundationBillingsMont.$917,596
University of Medicine and
Dentistry of N.J. - NJMS
NewarkN.J.$1,570,090
University of New MexicoAlbuquerqueN.M.$1,140,565
Columbia University in the City
of New York
New YorkN.Y.$399,597
University of North DakotaGrand ForksN.D.$820,761
Oklahoma Area Health Education
Center
TulsaOkla.$785,733
Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital
PhiladelphiaPa.$968,102
Medical University of South
Carolina
CharlestonS.C.$1,235,721
U. of Tennessee Health Sciences
Center
MemphisTenn.$1,363,747
Univ. of Texas Health Sciences
Center
HoustonTexas$1,838,693
Virginia Commonwealth
University
RichmondVa.$1,535,597
West Virginia UniversityMorgantownW.Va.$878,301
   TOTAL:
$22,344,500

Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development Program FY 2003 Curriculum Development Grants

OrganizationCityStateAmount
Univ. of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences
Little
Rock
Ark.$216,375
University of CaliforniaLos
Angeles
Calif.$313,430
University of HawaiiHonoluluHawaii$377,125
University of IllinoisChicagoIll.$392,027
University of MontanaMissoulaMont.$201,454
Univ. of Nebraska Med. Ctr.OmahaNeb.$363,777
Columbia UniversityNew YorkN.Y.$348,360
Ohio State University
Research Fdn.
ColumbusOhio$429,474
Vanderbilt University
Medical Center
NashvilleTenn.$384,866
Univ. of Texas Health
Sciences Center
San
Antonio
Texas$459,222
Shenandoah UniversityWinchesterVa.$309,579
University of WashingtonSeattleWash.$425,853
   TOTAL: $4,221,541
   GRAND TOTAL:
$26,566,041

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Last Revised: September 12, 2003

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