Cindy Martinez writes about the growing field of public health disaster management that demands analytical, critical, and problem-solving skills in its practitioners. According to data from a 2020 FEMA report, there is an increase in diverse emergency management programs, including non-traditional, military, and first-generation groups. This independent study conducts a quantitative study that collects responses from 6 NYU alumni graduates working in positions within the public health disaster preparedness and management field. The majority of respondents reported that project management is the most important skillset in the field of practice, followed by time management and financial management. Since there is an abundance of disaster events globally, including the concurrent pandemic, Cindy recommends that students interested in the field should hone their skillsets to make them competitive and competent candidates after graduation.
Read the independent study here, and download the presentation here.