Penn College Conference to Address Biological, Chemical Terrorism

Health-care professionals will gather at Pennsylvania College of Technology on April 12 to learn more about detecting biological and chemical terrorism and treating its victims.

The featured presentation at the conference will be "Biological and Chemical Terrorism: What Health Professionals Should Know," offered by Dr. Gregory R. Frailey, medical director, prehospital services for Susquehanna Health System and associate medical director for the Physician Assistant and Paramedic Technology programs at Penn College.

Dr. Frailey chairs the Medical Advisory Committee of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council and serves as the medical command facility director for Susquehanna Health System. He has earned numerous awards and honors, including "Emergency Physician of the Year" from the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council and "Operational Flight Surgeon of the Year" from the U.S. Naval Reserve.

The conference, which is by invitation only, is for graduates of the School of Health Sciences at Penn College and the Williamsport Paramedic Training Institute. The program is being sponsored by the School of Health Sciences and the Alumni Relations Office at Penn College.

The participants will be welcomed by Penn College President Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour and have lunch at Le Jeune Chef Restaurant before hearing Dr. Frailey's presentation at 1:30 p.m. in the Thompson Professional Development Center.

In his presentation, Dr. Frailey will provide information on biological and chemical agents used as weapons of terrorism. He'll address specific agents, detection, symptomology and modes of action. He will also discuss preventive measures and the treatments and methods used for decontamination.

Following Dr. Frailey's presentation, the participants will attend breakout sessions on various programs at Penn College, including occupational therapy, dental hygiene, emergency medical services, radiography and physician assistant. Participants will be updated on curricula and will have the opportunity to offer suggestions about how the School of Health Sciences can respond to expected changes in the next decade.

Dr. Deborah A. Wilson, dean of the School of Health Sciences, said Penn College wants to do its part in helping to provide the best protection against biological and chemical threats to the nation's security.

"We think one of the best places to start is with our own School of Health Sciences graduates, who will be called upon to provide care in the event of a crisis situation in this area," Wilson said. "A thorough understanding of the health-care issues faced and the procedures needed to treat victims of such an attack will be needed. We believe this program can provide some key information for the health-care provider, and we are very pleased that the College has chosen to support this initiative."