Joe Suyama, MD, is a Professor with the University of Pittsburgh Department of Emergency Medicine. He currently serves as the Chief of Emergency Services at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC Emergency Department. Dr. Suyama performs research on the health and safety of first responders, and also upon obstetrical and medical conditions affecting women with high risk psychosocial, behavioral and medical profiles. Within the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Suyama has encouraged the growth and implementation of disaster training and education for medical students by coordinating and establishing courses dealing with emerging infectious diseases, the medical consequences of complex emergencies, hospital pandemic response, Basic Disaster Life Support, and advanced clinical skills for disaster response. Dr. Suyama recently served as co-chair of the UPMC Pandemic Flu Task Force, and assisted in its preparedness and response efforts to confront the medical consequences of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Dr. Suyama also serves as the medical branch director for the Corporate Emergency Coordination Center of UPMC.