Implementation of an emergency and disaster medical response training network in the Commonwealth of Independent States

A standardized curriculum in emergency and disaster medical response for use in the former Soviet Union was implemented under an American International Health Alliance partnership program involving over 60 healthcare and educational institutions in the United States and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The core curriculum was based on U.S. standards and developed in collaboration with local faculty to address emergency and disaster medical needs specific to the region. Local faculty members were trained by U.S. partners using a train-the-trainers methodology at U.S. partner institutions. This partnership program led to the development of 16 regional training centers in 11 countries over an 8-year period. Over 39,000 healthcare workers and first responders have now been trained throughout this network of regional training centers. Wide dissemination of standardized training encourages uniform delivery of medical care within regions and may facilitate provision of mutual aid between regional jurisdictions.