Joseph Vargas, MPH E-mail

The California Disaster Medical Services Association, in conjunction with the Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba (MEDICC), provided an opportunity for 17 health care professionals to be part of an exciting research team to examine Cuba's acclaimed public health system, including its renowned disaster preparedness and medical response systems. The research group traveled to Havana, Cuba, in December 2010 for nine full days of lectures, educational presentations and interchange with Cuban medical professionals and public health response teams. Although the United States has not had diplomatic relations with Cuba and travel is restricted, the group was allowed permission under the U.S. Treasury's general license for professional research that includes full-time health and emergency response professionals doing research in Cuba.