Ever wonder what would happen if a bioterrorism incident happened here in SoCal?  Or what we are doing to plan for it?  And what response might look like?  Us too.  So, we’ve invited the gurus to come and talk to us about it.  

Our speakers & facilitators include:

Shruti Dhapodkar, MD
Health Emergency Preparedness Manager
San Mateo County Health System-EMS Agency

Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar is an Emergency Management Professional who works with San Mateo County, California as the Health Emergency Preparedness Manager. Dr. Dhapodkar believes in strengthening the collaboration and integration of medical health emergency preparedness into all stages of disaster planning. In her time as the Emergency Manager for San Mateo County Health, Dr. Dhapodkar has responded to a variety of incidents notably including the 2017 Napa and Sonoma County Fires, the 2018 YouTube Shooting, and the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire. Highlights of her work also include expanding the San Mateo County Healthcare Coalition from nine members to over sixty active participants. Dr. Dhapodkar’ s innovative approach to emergency management has earned her recognition from California Department of Public Health with Promising Practice Award in 2018. In addition, Dr. Dhapodkar also currently serves as the Bay Area Biodetection Co-Chair, Association of Bay Area Health Officials Public Health Preparedness Subcommittee Co-Chair, and Association of Bay Area Health Officials Liaison. Prior to her current role, Dr. Dhapodkar had a thriving burns and wound care practice in Chicago.

Moon J. Kim, MD, MPH
Medical Epidemiologist
Hospital Outbreaks and Biothreat Response Unit
Acute Communicable Disease Control Program
Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County

Dr. Kim brings over 20 years of experience as a physician, epidemiologist, and bioterrorism expert. In her role with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, she has worked on readiness endeavors for Ebola, Smallpox, Zika, and others.  Dr. Kim has contributed to several publications and books, such as: Responding to Potential Emergencies - The Threat Assessment Unit. Public Health Practice: What Works, and A Public Health Model for WMD Threat Assessment: Connecting the bioterrorism dots on the local level. Global Biosecurity: Threats and Responses.  Her licensure and certifications include: Infectious Diseases, Subspecialty Medical Board Certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties/American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine Board Certified, and licensure with the Medical Board of California.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College, cum laude, a Masters of Public Health from UCLA, and a Doctor of Medicine from Albany Medical College. Dr. Kim earned the 2016 Employee Recognition Award, Zika Virus Response Team by the County of Los Angeles.  

Larissa Chiari-Keith, MPH
Senior Associate
HWC 

Larissa Chiari-Keith is a Senior Associate at HWC, a consulting company based in Washington, D.C.  She has over twenty years of experience in public health and emergency management specializing in health security preparedness and response. Ms. Chiari-Keith coordinates stakeholder outreach, emergency preparedness, exercise, and response in California as a contractor to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. Prior to her current role, she was the Bioterrorism and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the City of Pasadena Public Health Department. Ms. Chiari-Keith began her public health career as a children’s policy advocate and community liaison for The Children’s Partnership. She is a proud member of Women in Homeland Security-Southern California serving as a member of the Planning Committee. Ms. Chiari-Keith is active in the community taking on a variety of leadership positions. She is a Girl Scout Troop Leader, School Liaison, and Service Unit Delegate for Girl Scouts of Orange County. She is also a facilitator and organizer for Walking Together, an Orange County interfaith program. Ms. Chiari-Keith has written about her multicultural family experience for Orange Coast Magazine and serves as the Parent Liaison and Board Member of the Multiracial Americans of Southern California. During school breaks she hosts a children’s music program with her daughters called Two Kids, a Turntable, and a Microphone on KSPC, 88.7 FM, Claremont, CA.

Register here

Gourmet Eats

Organic Baby Greens with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Chicken Chardonnay or Vegetarian Pasta Primavera
Carrot Cake