Critical Event Preparedness and Response

The Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) serves as the center for Emory enterprise-wide planning for and coordinated response to catastrophic events affecting Emory and the broader community. Emory CEPAR will be recognized locally, nationally, and globally as a leader in sustainable community disaster resilience.

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Alexander Isakov

Executive Director

Alexander P. Isakov is the founding executive director of the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) and a professor of emergency medicine at Emory University. He has led the development of the CEPAR office, providing oversight and leadership for numerous initiatives aimed at improving the disaster resilience of Emory and the broader community. His professional experience includes service as an officer in the United States Navy, consulting for the CDC, deploying with the National Disaster Medical System, and providing leadership in EMS and disaster preparedness. He is also the director for Emory’s Section of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, whose faculty and staff provide medical oversight for 911 communications centers, first responders, and air and ground ambulance services in the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Isakov has been active in programs to improve EMS and community disaster resilience locally, regionally, and nationally. He led the Academic-Community Partnership for Sustainable Preparedness and Response Systems project of the Emory Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center, which explored the relationship between academic institutions and the public health preparedness, and emergency management communities. He previously served the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Strengthening the Disaster Resilience of Academic Research Communities and the Ad Hoc Committee on the Certification of Personal Protective Technologies. He is currently the Emergency Medical Services lead for the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center. He is a member of the Epidemic Expert Panel of the American College of Emergency Physicians and a subject matter expert for the assistant secretary for preparedness and response, technical resources, assistance center, and information exchange. Isakov was recently funded and tapped to lead a consortium to implement the latest Regional Disaster Health Response System by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the assistant secretary for preparedness and response.

Isakov is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine in both emergency medicine and emergency medical services. He practices clinically in the emergency department of Emory University Hospital and is also the medical director for Emory EMS.