The Military Medical Humanitarian Assistance Course (MMHAC)

The Military Medical Humanitarian Assistance Course (MMHAC) was created by the Department of Pediatrics at USU in 1998 with the explicit goal of providing training for military primary care providers in preparing for and executing appropriate medical care to civilian populations in the austere health emergency setting. This two-day course focuses on understanding the unique health environment and recognizing and managing those conditions consistently associated with high mortality among the most vulnerable populations (primarily children) in these settings: diarrhea and dehydration, malnutrition, epidemic measles, malaria, and respiratory infections. Course scenarios focus on the role that US military medical assets would likely play as early responders to a humanitarian emergency with limited medical resources.

This course was developed by a multidisciplinary faculty assembled from individuals with experience in humanitarian operations and expertise in infectious disease, management of dehydration, malnutrition, preventive medicine and health education. The instructional strategy relies heavily on interactive processes (scenario exercises and case management based skill stations) derived from the real operational experiences of instructors and allows students to problem solve and face ethical dilemmas in triage and develop creative logistical and clinical solutions.

In class, instruction parallels a provided manual which contains complete diagnostic and treatment algorithms for the targeted clinical conditions and has been derived from publications of international public health authorities. The course culminates in a round robin of “skill stations,” in which students must demonstrate their ability to manage a field clinical scenario in each major category: Dehydration, Malnutrition, and Infections. In addition, students must complete a comprehensive written exam.

COURSE LOCATIONS

  • USU-Walter Reed
  • San Antonio Military Medical Center
  • San Diego Naval Medical Center
  • Tripler Army Medical Center
  • Madigan Army Medical Center
  • Portsmouth Naval Medical Center
  • Wright-Patterson Medical Center
  • Virtual - hosted approximately twice a year

See below for list of upcoming courses and how to register. 

COURSE GOAL

Provide training for military primary care providers in preparing for and executing appropriate medical care to civilian populations in the austere health emergency setting.

DESCRIPTION

This two-day course focuses on understanding the unique health environment and recognizing and managing those conditions consistently associated with high mortality among the most vulnerable populations (primarily children) in these settings: diarrhea and dehydration, malnutrition, epidemic measles, malaria and respiratory infections. Course scenarios focus on the role that US military medical assets would likely play as early responders to a humanitarian emergency with limited medical resources.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Military primary care providers expected to encounter civilian populations through Global Health Engagement activities (e.g. General Medical Officers, Family Practitioners, Pediatricians, Emergency Medicine Providers, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians Assistants, and Trainees entering these fields)

APPROACH

The instructional strategy relies heavily on interactive processes (scenario exercises and case management based skill stations). The scenarios and cases are all derived from real operational experiences of instructors and allow students to problem solve and face ethical dilemmas in triage and develop creative logistical and clinical solutions. In class, instruction parallels this manual which contains complete diagnostic and treatment algorithms for the targeted clinical conditions and has been derived from publications of international public health authorities. The course culminates in a round robin of “skill stations”, in which students must demonstrate their ability to manage a field clinical scenario in each major category: Dehydration, Malnutrition, and Infections. In addition, students must complete a comprehensive written exam.

Since the first MMHAC was given in May 1998, military health educators and civilian experts in international health emergencies have critiqued the course. The content and instructional strategy have been uniformly praised. The faculty is committed to the quality and credibility of this educational experience. Thus, all clinical instructors have not only mastered the written material but have had personal experience practicing medicine in an austere health environment.

The MMHAC is sponsored by the USU Department of Pediatrics.

lIST OF UPCOMING COURSES 

If you are located in one of the following areas and can attend an in-person course, please contact the respective director directly via the email listed.  Be advised that in some cases seats may be very limited, so the director may need to place you on a waitlist or a future course.

25-26 NOV, 2024 at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH - Wright-Patterson Medical Center

MDG Education & Training Rooms
IN PERSON

POC: kara.j.knickerbocker.mil@health.mil

20 Seats Available

 

***** 2025 Courses *****

9-10 JAN, 2025 at Tacoma, WA - Madigan AMC
IN PERSON
POC: melissa.a.kelley31.civ@health.mil
20 Seats Available

10-11 APR, 2025 at Tacoma, WA - Madigan AMC
IN PERSON
POC: melissa.a.kelley31.civ@health.mil
20 Seats Available

Next Virtual Course anticipated in MAR/APR, 2025. Check back here for online seat application. 

More iterations are anticipated in 2024 and 2025. We will be posting these courses here as they are announced, so please check back frequently.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information, please email us at mmhac@usuhs.edu. Please contact the individual course director in the calendar listing for enrollment.  There is no course fee.  Any travel/attendance costs are the responsibility of the participant or their sponsoring command.