Page 77 Cite

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Enhancing BioWatch Capabilities Through Technology and Collaboration: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23687.

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Appendix A

Workshop Agenda

ENHANCING BIOWATCH CAPABILITIES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND COLLABORATION: A WORKSHOP

July 27–28, 2016

Keck Center of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine – Room 100
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Workshop Objectives:

Review the findings and recommendations of the October 2015 Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of BioWatch system enhancements.
Provide a broad overview of current efforts under way at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance the technology and practices of BioWatch as a federally managed, locally operated system to detect the intentional release of select aerosolized biological agents.
Review DHS’s assessment of gaps in current BioWatch detection, early warning, and decision support capabilities and discuss any gaps DHS has not considered.
Review available technological and non-technological (non-materiel) capabilities for biosurveillance and reporting, including autonomous systems, as well as the assessment and testing of such systems.
Review DHS’s current collaboration activities across all levels of government and explore opportunities for additional collaboration and coordination between BioWatch and relevant federal, state, and local public health partners to support effective and efficient capability development.

Page 78 Cite

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Enhancing BioWatch Capabilities Through Technology and Collaboration: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23687.

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Explore opportunities to further advance national preparedness by examining federal, state, and local planning and response activities in the event of a biological incident.

Day 1 – July 27, 2016

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

8:30 a.m.	LISA GORDON-HAGERTY, Planning Committee Chair
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	LEG Inc.
	KATHRYN BRINSFIELD
	Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs
	Office of Health Affairs
	Department of Homeland Security

SESSION I: SETTING THE STAGE: BIOWATCH PLANS AND CAPABILITIES

Session Objectives:

Provide a broad overview of current efforts under way at DHS to enhance the technology and practices of BioWatch as a federally managed, locally operated system to detect the intentional release(s) of select aerosolized biological agents.
Establish a working definition of a successful BioWatch incident to facilitate workshop discussions.

8:45 a.m.	Overview: BioWatch Strategic Priorities
	MIKE WALTER
	BioWatch Program Manager
	Office of Health Affairs
	Department of Homeland Security
9:15 a.m.	Q/A

Page 79 Cite

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Enhancing BioWatch Capabilities Through Technology and Collaboration: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23687.

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SESSION II: RECOMMENDATIONS FROM GAO REPORT 16-99 AND DHS RESPONSE AND PROGRESS TO DATE

Session Objectives:

Review the findings and recommendations of the October 2015 GAO review of BioWatch system enhancements.
Review DHS’s response to the GAO recommendations and assessment of gaps in current BioWatch detection, early warning, and decision support capabilities and discuss any possible gaps DHS has not considered.
Review available technological and non-technological (non-materiel) capabilities for biosurveillance and reporting, including autonomous systems as well as the assessment and testing of such systems, with a focus on the BioWatch Program.

9:30 a.m.	Review of the GAO Report Recommendations
	TIMOTHY PERSONS
	Chief Scientist
	Government Accountability Office
10:30 a.m.	Q/A
11:00 a.m.	BREAK
11:15 a.m.	Review of DHS Response to GAO Recommendations and Assessment of Gaps in Current BioWatch Capabilities
	MIKE WALTER
	BioWatch Program Manager
	Office of Health Affairs
	Department of Homeland Security
12:00 p.m.	Q/A
12:45 p.m.	LUNCH

Page 80 Cite

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Enhancing BioWatch Capabilities Through Technology and Collaboration: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23687.

×

1:45 p.m.	Panel I: Alignment of DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Focus Areas and Biosurveillance
	Facilitator: John Vitko, Jr., Former Director, Chemical and Biological Countermeasures, DHS S&T, Currently Rector, St. Luke Orthodox Church
	Panelists:
	Mark Buttner, Associate Director, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Branch, and School of Community Health Sciences, UNLV Matt Davenport, DHS S&T John Fischer, DHS S&T Julia Gunn, Director, Communicable Disease Division, Boston Public Health Commission Michelle Hohensee, DHS Jurisdictional Coordinator Lead Roger Pollok, Interim Assistant Director, Environmental Safety Division, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District Wendy Smith, Epidemiology Preparedness Director, Georgia Department of Public Health
2:45 p.m.	BREAK

SESSION III: NEXT STEPS FOR BUILDING CAPACITY AND ENHANCING COLLABORATION

Session Objective:

Recap discussion from Day 1 and prepare for discussions on Day 2, with a focus on collaboration.

3:00 p.m.	KATHRYN BRINSFIELD
	Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs
	Office of Health Affairs
	Department of Homeland Security
3:15 p.m.	LISA GORDON-HAGERTY, Planning Committee Chair
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	LEG Inc.

Page 81 Cite

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Enhancing BioWatch Capabilities Through Technology and Collaboration: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23687.

×

Day 2 – July 28, 2016

WELCOME

8:30 a.m.	LISA GORDON-HAGERTY, Planning Committee Chair
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	LEG Inc.

SESSION IV: BIOWATCH COLLABORATIVE PLANNING

Session Objectives:

Review DHS’s current collaboration activities across all levels of government and explore opportunities for additional collaboration and coordination between BioWatch and relevant federal, state, and local public health partners to support effective and efficient capability development.
Discuss opportunities to strengthen the biodefense layer by identifying capabilities and partnerships that could be developed to respond in the event of a biological terrorism incident.
Review ways that BioWatch activities can contribute to requirements placed on state and local public health departments for preparedness planning.

8:45 a.m.	Overview of BioWatch Collaborative Planning
	EMILY GABRIEL
	BioWatch Public Health and Preparedness Director
	Office of Health Affairs
	Department of Homeland Security
9:15 a.m.	Q/A
9:45 a.m.	Panel II: Current Local, State, and Federal Collaborations
	Facilitator: Terry Mullins, Chief, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma System, Arizona Department of Health
	Panelists:
	Mark Buttner, Associate Director, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, UNLV Branch, and School of Community Health Sciences, UNLV

Page 82 Cite

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Enhancing BioWatch Capabilities Through Technology and Collaboration: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23687.

×

	Kathy Forzley, Health Officer, Oakland County (Michigan) Health Division Julia Gunn, Director, Communicable Disease Division, Boston Public Health Commission Roger Pollok, Interim Assistant Director, Environmental Safety Division, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District Al Romanosky, Medical Director/State Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Wendy Smith, Epidemiology Preparedness Director, Georgia Department of Public Health Sandy Wedgeworth, Coordinator, Public Health Emergency Management, City of Long Beach (California) Department of Health and Human Services Jody Wireman, Director, Force Health Protection Division, U.S. Northern Command
10:45 a.m.	BREAK
11:00 a.m.	Q/A
12:00 p.m.	LUNCH

SESSION V: OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS

Session Objective:

Explore opportunities to expand BioWatch collaboration efforts, strengthen collaborations with existing partners, and develop new collaborations to meet interagency objectives.

1:00 p.m.	Panel III: State and Local Collaboration: Future Opportunities
	Facilitator: Terry Mullins, Chief, Bureau of EMS and Trauma System, Arizona Department of Health
	Panelists:
	Mark Buttner, Associate Director, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, UNLV Branch, and School of Community Health Sciences, UNLV

Page 83 Cite

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Enhancing BioWatch Capabilities Through Technology and Collaboration: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23687.

×

	Kathy Forzley, Health Officer, Oakland County (Michigan) Health Division Julia Gunn, Director, Communicable Disease Division, Boston Public Health Commission Roger Pollok, Interim Assistant Director, Environmental Safety Division, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District Al Romanosky, Medical Director/State Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Wendy Smith, Epidemiology Preparedness Director, Georgia Department of Public Health Sandy Wedgeworth, Coordinator, Public Health Emergency Management, City of Long Beach (California) Department of Health and Human Services
2:00 p.m.	Q/A
2:15 p.m.	BREAK
2:30 p.m.	Facilitated Discussion: Federal, State, and Local Collaboration Opportunities
	Facilitator: Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, President and Chief Executive Officer, LEG, Inc.
	Discussants:
	All panelists and members of the Standing Committee on Health Threats and Workforce Resilience
3:30 p.m.	Wrap-Up and Closing Comments
	LISA GORDON-HAGERTY, Planning Committee Chair
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	LEG Inc.

Page 84 Cite

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Workshop Agenda." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Enhancing BioWatch Capabilities Through Technology and Collaboration: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23687.

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