# CBRNE Fundamentals for Humanitarian Response ## Overview This course is an awareness-level preparation for medical and humanitarian personnel to recognize chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive (CBRNE) hazards, protect themselves and their teams, understand exposure and triage implications, and respond appropriately within humanitarian field constraints. The sequence moves from foundational hazard awareness into recognition, safety, medical implications, coordination, and applied decision-making in simulated scenarios. ### **CBRNE Mailing List** Sign up to receive course updates, registration details, and invitations to exclusive faculty webinars. [ ![Join the CBRNE mailing list](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Join%20the%20List_1.png?itok=ri8A91DH) ](https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/usBt1V8)--- ## Course Highlights This course builds awareness of CBRNE hazards and their implications for medical and humanitarian field operations. It prepares learners to protect themselves and others while recognizing and managing exposure and triage risks in CBRNE environments. It is designed to strengthen your ability to interpret guidance and make field-appropriate response decisions in humanitarian settings. **Learning Outcomes** After completing this course, you will be able to: - Identify the characteristics and indicators of CBRNE hazards. - Understand the principles of personal and team safety in CBRNE environments. - Recognize and manage exposure risks for individuals and populations. - Develop response strategies to minimize harm and maintain operational capabilities. - Apply international guidelines and best practices for CBRNE response in humanitarian settings. --- ## Instructors ##### Timothy B. Erickson, MD, FACEP, FACMT, FAACT Dr. Timothy B. Erickson has expertise in the areas of humanitarian health, environmental toxicology, crisis in climate change, wastewater epidemiology, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) and acute injuries in global conflict and disaster settings. He has active humanitarian health projects in conflict regions of Ukraine and Syria. Dr. Erickson is an emergency medicine physician at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA where he serves as the Vice Chair for Academic Affairs and Division Chief of Medical Toxicology in the Mass General Brigham (MGB) Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Erickson earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from The University of Health Sciences / Chicago Medical School. He completed emergency medicine residency training at the University of Illinois and his medical toxicology fellowship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Erickson is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, and the National Geographic Explorers Club. Previously, Dr. Erickson served as the Director for the UIC Center for Global Health and Professor of Emergency Medicine and Toxicology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Erickson was also the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Graduate Medical Education, and Continuing Medical Education at the UIC College of Medicine. He was Acting Head in the Department of Emergency Medicine and has held other multifaceted appointments ranging from Residency Program Director to the Chief of Medical Toxicology. Dr. Erickson has been a member of multiple editorial boards. He has published 150 peer-reviewed articles, authored over 100 textbook chapters, and edited 5 major textbooks. He has presented over 400 national and 200 international invited lectures related to emergency medicine, toxicology, substance use disorders, global health, climate change, wilderness, and expedition medicine. His grant funding includes HRSA, and NATO-sponsored grants related to global preparedness, CBRNE terrorism, environmental health, and security. Other federal grants include NIH/NIDA and the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Response (Mass/CPR) studying wastewater-based epidemiology to rapidly diagnose and map the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic. He has extensive international experience in Africa (Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya), Asia (India, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan), South America (Brazil, Peru, Argentina), Europe (Kosovo, Ukraine, Poland, France) and Antarctica. ##### Donell Harvin, DrPH, MPH, MPA Donell Harvin is a public health and weapons of mass destruction expert from Washington, DC who oversees the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative’s (HHI) Chemical, Biological, Nuclear and Radiological (CBRNE) training program. He has deployed on several mission to Ukraine in 2022 with HHI to engage in capacity-building activities related to CRBNE. He serves as faculty at Georgetown University teaching graduate courses in disaster management, countering weapons of mass destruction, (CWMD) and homeland security. Often called upon to provide expert analysis tor MSNBC/NBC News, CNN news, and members of Congress, he also serves as a subject-matter expert for several organizations including the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), INTERPOL’s CBRNE Directorate, and the RAND Corporation. His public safety background spans over 30 years and includes both operational and executive roles in emergency planning and response, EMS, law enforcement and forensics, homeland security and domestic intelligence. --- ![CBRNE GRAPHIC](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2026-04/CBRNE.png?itok=QCctkMTo) ## Intended Audience The target audience for this course is individuals working in medical, humanitarian, and conflict settings, including: - international medical and humanitarian workers deployed in high-risk areas; - emergency response personnel such as fire and EMS teams operating in global disaster or humanitarian contexts; - public health professionals involved in CBRNE preparedness and response; - NGO staff working in regions vulnerable to CBRNE threats; field coordinators and logistics personnel supporting humanitarian missions; - students and volunteers serving in these environments; - journalists; - and medical or emergency workers who may be called on to treat victims exposed to a CBRNE agent. --- ## Course Logistics **Dates:** To be announced. **Times:** To be announced. **Tuition:** To be announced. **Early Registration Discounted Tuition:** To be announced. **Discounts available for humanitarian workers in NGOs, international NGOs, and UN agencies as well as for those from Lease Developed Countries (LDCs)**