Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine
Empowering the next generation of humanitarian medics
About the course
The diploma course in Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine (CCM) provides postgraduate medics, nurses and allied health professionals with the relevant knowledge and practical skills to work effectively in the disaster environment.
Topics range from aspects of medical and clinical care, public and environmental health to wider contextual issues such as bridging humanitarian health and health development, and the changing direction of humanitarian aid.
- 45+ unique sessions delivered by 30+ lecturers, military and humanitarian leaders in their field
- 2 years access to lectures, recordings, slides and online learning resources
- 50+ hours of teaching, including 20+ delivered remotely via Zoom
- Exclusive access to a networking community of key contacts in the field of Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine
Taught at postgraduate level, the course aims to equip students with the knowledge to work effectively in disaster environments and humanitarian emergencies.
The course is open to postgraduate medics, nurses, pharmacists or allied health professionals looking to take the next step in their career, whether it be towards deployment work in humanitarian emergencies or in response to domestic disasters or acts of terrorism.
The course is designed to augment your qualifications and expertise with the relevant core skills required to support interventions such as a needs assessment, surveillance and reporting systems, and common health and disease issues.
From the point of enrolment, students are engaged in an active community of likeminded health professionals to foster social and intellectual connections with peers and recent alumni, committed to your professional development, to access mentorship opportunities and career advice.
What our students and lecturers say
"We are passionate about training the next generation of humanitarian medical responders. The course offers the foundational knowledge to prepare you before embarking on a career in humanitarian response, and provides the opportunity to engage with experts in the field of humanitarian medicine"
"In my view, this course is essential for anyone who is thinking of working in the humanitarian sector in order to mitigate against the risk
of moral injury to themself."
"The first-hand accounts from
practitioners in the field across a wide range of issues, topics and themes. It is most invaluable."
Course timetable
The course takes place on 11 Saturdays from January to December 2025, delivered online and in-person at Apothecaries’ Hall in London.
January
- Welcome to the Course and the Faculty
- Key Stakeholders and Definitions
- Needs Assessments
February
- Refugee and humanitarian law and ethics: implications for humanitarian health personnel
- The ‘Flowerland’ Scenario: Part 1
- Nutrition in Conflict and Catastrophe
March
- Epidemiology of Disasters
- Factors affecting Humanitarian Aid and its Effectiveness
- Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Waste Management in Crises Contexts
- The ‘Flowerland’ Scenario: Part 2
April
- Communicable Disease risks
- Control and Surveillance
- Child Health
- Key Issues about Non-communicable Diseases
May
- Panel Discussion: Working with NGOs in Conflicts and Catastrophes
- Mass Casualties – triage in a resource poor setting
- Principles of pain management in a resource poor setting
- Mid-course Appraisal
June
- Maternal and Neonatal Health: Opportunities and Challenges
- The ‘Flowerland’ Scenario: Part 3
- Challenges to Vaccination Programmes: Opportunities and Solutions
- Reflections on the Experiences of Humanitarian Response
July
- Medical Concerns during the Mass Evacuation of Kabul Airport
- Supply of Medicines: What quantities? From where? And why?
- Mass gatherings: Implications for Public Health and Planning
- The Effects of War on Health Systems and how these are changing over time
September
- Preparing for the DMCC – SAQ Paper and OSCPHE Exams
- Protecting responders in conflict and crisis zones
- STI
- Hazardous chemicals, biological warfare agents, nuclear radiation and their clinical effects
- Distress and Disorders: People’s Psychosocial Needs after Emergencies, Major Incidents, High Consequence Infectious Diseases and Terrorism
October
- The future threat of cyber warfare and the challenge of new weapons: what role can medical and humanitarian assistance play?
- Psychosocial care for professionals working in conflicts and catastrophes
- Climate Change and Humanitarianism
- Rwanda: 30 Years On
- Syria
November
- Gender and Sexual-based Violence
- Clinical Session on Providing care for GSBV victims
- Disability as part of an inclusive humanitarian response: crucial factors
- Safeguarding in Conflict
- Rescue, triage and onward care of boat people in the RNLI
December
- Ukraine & Turkey
- Leadership and Resilience
- Dealing with the Media
- Final Quiz
How to apply
Applications for 2025 are now open and are rolling until 30 April 2025, providing 2 years of access to course materials from your date of enrolment.
Payment is made online via our website. You will then gain access to our online learning platform to complete your application form and view your learning materials.
Book your place now to take advantage of a price freeze during our early bird window until midnight 31 December.
Email us for more details. Terms and Conditions apply.
- Full price: £1,075
- Drop-in price: £100
Contact Matthew Scudder at AcademicTraining@apothecaries.org or on 020 7236 1180 (x-212) for more details.
Diploma in Medicine in Conflict & Catastrophe (DMCC)
If you want to continue your journey into conflict & catastrophe medicine after completing this course, you may wish to consider the Diploma in Medicine in Conflict & Catastrophe (DMCC).
The DMCC is intended to prepare personnel to deploy on humanitarian operations in difficult conditions as independent practitioners.
A postgraduate professional award, the DMCC is given after following the Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine Course and passing a written and an oral examination.
Contact
Academic Department
Centre for Health Studies, Apothecaries' Hall, Black Friars Lane, London EC4V 6EJ
e: AcademicTraining@apothecaries.org
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