The Third Military Medical University (MMU) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) declared on November 25 that it had taken the lead in making “disaster medicine” a compulsory course in the university. The course was open to undergraduate students recently.

　　It is introduced that as a new subject, the “disaster medicine” emerged in the world in the 1980’s. Although the study of disaster medicine in China started in 1990’s, the gap still exists in such aspects as teaching and talent cultivation in domestic medical colleges and universities.

　　Having the need of medical service and support for accomplishing diversified military tasks in mind, the Third MMU decided to include the “disaster medicine” in the teaching plan for the undergraduates and designated the Teaching and Research Office of the Surgery and the Field Surgery of Daping Hospital affiliated to the university to plan the implementation scheme and undertake the teaching task.

　　Over the past year, the Daping Hospital organized experts groups twice to go to the earthquake-hit areas to carry out investigations on the contents related to disaster medicine. According to the order of medical prevention, early warning, first aid, treatment, psychology, rehabilitation and basic study, the hospital made in-depth study on various disasters, accidents, emergency preplans for war and treatment schemes.

　　By Liu Yuanqiao and Fan Juwei