Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Health
The Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Health (RCEDH) was founded in 2008 by Professor Hamidreza Khankeh at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR). The first, unique and multidisciplinary center in Iran and also Middle East has been active in conducting studies in the field of emergencies and disasters (road traffic injuries, natural and man-made disasters, civil defense). This center aims to produce evidences and train efficient experts in the field of emergencies and disasters health. RCEDH is collaborating with many international universities and organizations such as Department of Rehabilitation Psychology of University of Leipzig (Germany), Department of Clinical Science and Education in Karolinska Institute (Sweden), Gedansk University (Poland) and WHO. It has published valuable reference books as national guidelines including “Hospital Disaster Risk Management” (CHDRM) and “National Health Assessment Tools in Emergencies & Disasters” (NHATED).
Our mission
Following increasing unpredictability, severity and frequency of natural disasters in the past decade due to climate change caused by global warming, highlights the urgent need for better preparedness for major events. The Research Center tries to focus on disaster risk reduction, while enhancing response capacity and investing in related researches which may lead to high quality decision making in disaster management and rehabilitation.
Main areas of research
- Rehabilitation in Emergency & Disaster
- Social and psychological approach in Emergency & disaster management
- Hospital & Pre-Hospital preparedness
- Ageing and Emergency & disaster
- Qualitative Research
- Tool development
Education
The Research Center members primarily engage students interested in emergency and disaster research through participation in graduate and Upper-graduate levels. The Research Center members oversee theses and dissertations, teach classes, and advise students in the interdisciplinary Emergency and Disaster Science and Management Degree program. There are several options available at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences for those students interested in studies with a focus on emergency and disasters.