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 2026/27 Course will take place on 11 Saturdays from October 2026 to July 2027, delivered online and in-person at Apothecaries’ Hall in London. All sessions are recorded for catch up and consolidation so students can learn at their own pace. None of these course days are mandatory to attend as we have students based all over the world with competing professional and personal commitments, we understand the importance of flexible learning. Sessions are subject to change
Day 1 - 10 October
- Welcome to the Course and the Faculty
- Key Stakeholders and Definitions
- The Impact of War on Health
- Hantavirus Response in Tristan da Cunha
- War Surgery
- The Flowerland Scenario Introduction
- Case Study: Rwanda 1994
Day 2 - 31 October
- Communicable Diseases
- Tropical Medicine Case study: Tigray
- Factors Affecting International Aid
- Diseases Surveillance
- Disasters in Urban Environments
Day 3 - 21 November
- Needs Assessments
- Syria: Needs Assessment Case Study
- Syria: Attacks on Healthcare
- Humanitarian Standards
- Epidemiology of Disasters
- Protecting the Health of Responders
Day 4 - 12 December
- Nutrition
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Mass Casualties
- The Saviour Complex
- Dealing with the Media
Day 5- 9 January
- Mass Gatherings
- Challenges to Vaccinations
- Safeguarding Children in Conflict
- Poisonous and Venomous Plants and Animals
- Medicines Supply
- Dealing with the Dead
Day 6 - 6 February
- Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
- Ebola in West Africa
- Climate Change and Humnaitarianism
- The DMCC Examination
- Mid-Course Evaluation
- Disability in Conflict and Catastrophe
Day 7 - 6 March
- Child Health
- Non-Communicable Diseases
- Flowerland Parts I, II and III
Day 8 - 17 April
- Psychosocial Needs in Response to Disasters
- Moral Injury
- CBRNE
- Humanitarian Development Nexus
Day 9 - 15 May
- Maternal and Neonatal Health
- Gender and Sexual Based Violence
- Clinical Elements of GBV
- Rescue and Care of Boat People
Day 10 - 5 June
- International Humanitarian Law
- Ethics in Conflict and Catastrophe
- Civ Mil Cooperation
- Principles of Pain Management
- Refugee Medicine and Health
Day 11 - 17 July
- Panel Discussion/Practical Scenario
- Moral Injury Practical
- Alumni Reflections
- End of Year Recap
How to apply
Applications for 2026/27 are now open.
The course started on 10 October, but you can easily catch up with recordings on Brightspace and join us anytime before 16 April 2027.
Entry provides 2 academic years of access to course materials from your date of enrolment. You can start any time that suits you.
The 2027-28 course will go on sale on Friday 29 January at 9:00.
You can purchase a 'drop in' place to attend a selected day from the programme for the standalone fee of £105 (maximum 3 days per year). Email us for more details. Terms and conditions apply.
Payment is made online via our website. You will then gain access to our online learning platform to complete your registration form and view your learning materials.
Email us for more details. Terms and Conditions apply.
- Full price: £1,125
- Drop-in price: £105 per day
Please note: Between now and January 2027, we can accept the fee in two interest free instalments. You would be invoiced for half the fee upfront to be paid via BACS , with the second instalment due by 22 January 2027.
Contact Matthew Scudder at AcademicTraining@apothecaries.org or on 020 7236 1180 (x-212) for more details.
The Lionel Penrose Foundation Grant 2026/27
The Faculty of Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine was delighted to partner with the Lionel Penrose Foundation to offer 5 x fully funded places to prospective students who wish to enrol on the 2026-27 Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine course starting this October and additionally to cover the cost of their 2027 Diploma Examination taking place in June.
Recipients of this Grant were asked to produce a reflective piece, poster, or short paper on completion of the course. Strong outputs could be presented at an event or developed for publication in the foundation's journal Medicine, Conflict and Survival (in collaboration with Taylor and Francis).
Applicants do not need to meet all criteria to be eligible to apply. The foundation looked to sponsor individuals who:
- Are of Medical Student status OR a registered Allied Health Professional
- Can articulate a financial barrier to accessing the Course and Examination, or an inability to self-fund
- Clearly demonstrates a keen interest in Conflict & Catastrophe settings, Public Health, Peace, or related fields
- Outlines their potential to contribute to the field after completing the Course and obtaining the Diploma
Applications will closed at midnight, Friday 18 September.
We hope to offer this opportunity once again in 2027-28, with applications opening in early 2027.
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-mail: AcademicTraining@apothecaries.org
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