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San Antonio (March 20, 2003) — Bioterrorism . . . homeland defense . . . personal preparedness. Experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) have the experience and expertise to comment on many issues relevant to the start of the war in Iraq. Health Science Center experts include Maj. Gen. Harold L. Timboe, M.D., M.P.H., associate vice president for administration, who was commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center at the time of the September 11 attacks. Injury victims at the Pentagon were sent to Walter Reed for treatment.

Other Health Science Center experts are able to discuss the nation's psyche at the start of the war, anthrax and other weapons used in bioterrorism, San Antonio's response preparedness for such a disaster, and other topics. Please see the attached speakers list and contact the Office of External Affairs, (210) 567-2570, for further assistance.

Emergency Preparedness
Maj. Gen. Harold L. Timboe, M.D., M.P.H., is associate vice president for administration overseeing the Health Science Center's involvement in issues relating to homeland defense, bioterrorism research and partnership with the military medical community. He is the former commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which received patients after the September 11 attack on the Pentagon.

Ronald Stewart, M.D., is associate professor of surgery and leads the Health Science Center's emergency preparedness committee, which coordinates with the city's emergency preparedness committee. Charles Bauer, M.D., is co-chair of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma and professor of emergency medicine and surgery; Donald Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., is professor and chairman of emergency medical technology and director of the city's emergency medical services; Jan Patterson, M.D., is professor of infectious diseases in the departments of medicine and pathology and medical director of infection control at University Hospital; George Crawford, M.D., is chief of infectious diseases in the department of medicine.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
John Casada, M.D., Ph.D., is assistant professor of psychiatry and director of the emotional trauma program at the Health Science Center. He also is a member of the post-traumatic stress disorder clinical team within the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Large-Scale Emergency Rescue
Victoria Smith, rescue training coordinator in the department of emergency medical technology, is a member of the elite urban search and rescue team, Texas Task Force One. Smith is a medical specialist on the task force's reconnaissance team, the team first on the scene, and she is trained in weapons of mass destruction. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can deploy the nearly 70-member task force to any site in the world. Texas Task Force One contributed to rescue efforts after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Oklahoma City bombing. Members also were at the 2002 Winter Olympics in case of a large-scale emergency.

Anthrax Vaccine
Karl Klose, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology, has received $1.5 million from the National Institutes of Health to pursue new vaccines for anthrax and tularemia, two potential biological weapons that could wipe out military and civilian populations. Dr. Klose's research could lead to oral vaccines for the dangerous infections within five years.

South Texas Poison Center
Miguel Fernández, M.D., is medical director of the South Texas Poison Center and associate professor of surgery in emergency medicine and medical toxicology.

Forensic Dentistry
David Senn, D.D.S., is a forensic dentist in dental diagnostic science and a member of the Region VI Disaster Mortuary Team (DMORT). Dr. Senn was called to duty at the World Trade Center after the September 11 attacks and served on the team seeking to recover the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Contact: Aileen Salinas or Will Sansom