Forum for Medical & Public Health Preparedness for Disaster & Emergencies and Action Collaborative. Policy Context There are many governmental agencies and private organizations charged with ensuring the Nation’s capacity to prevent and respond to the health effects that arise from disasters, both man-made and natural. While each of these stakeholders is critical in guaranteeing adequate prevention and response, their efforts must be coordinated to ensure optimal outcomes. However, the challenge arises from the diverse set of responsibilities of the primary stakeholders, the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and coordinating the efforts among the many other governmental agencies (federal, state, and local), industry, professional societies, foundations, academia, and other interested parties. Unfortunately, venues that bring all of these stakeholders together are limited. The NAS Forum for Medical and Public Health Preparedness began to address these issues in 2008. Aligning the responsibilities and focus of each stakeholder will greatly assist in ensuring adequate protection and response. Each stakeholder offers unique assets that must be linked in to an overall strategy. It is here where the appropriate federal agencies, including the HHS, DHS, Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, play a vital role in developing a National strategy and logistical support and coordinating with the private sector. The Forum for Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies (the Forum) provides a venue where the major stakeholders may sit down together and discuss the primary issues, afford organizations the opportunity to make assessments, discuss policies, and review outcomes. These areas will focus not only on the immediate responses to disasters and public health emergencies, but also the intermediate and long term needs that arise (e.g. providing adequate shelter, food and water safety, primary care, mental health) during the recovery phase and efforts to enhance preparedness, cooperation and information sharing. The activities of the federal government, volunteer organizations, the private sector, and others in the medical preparedness, resilience, and health sciences are of increasing complexity, both in terms of technology and policy. Currently, it is difficult for the nation's medical emergency response and public and mental health systems to meet the physical and psychological needs that result from all types of disasters including terrorism and natural disasters. Unfortunately, gaps continue to exist in the following areas: (1 Global Health Security, (2) Communication and Coordination, (3) Personal and Community Resilience, and (4) Critical Infrastructure Protection. Addressing the physical, psychological, and social needs that result from various acts of terrorist events or natural disasters will therefore require universal prepar...