Summary: The increasing frequency and intensity of disasters demand a shift in disaster medicine from reactive response to proactive prevention. As we start to think beyond the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the principles of Planetary Health offer an opportunity to expand the role of disaster emergency medicine. This submission highlights the work of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health in integrating environmental sustainability and resilience into disaster medicine through innovative, preventative strategies. Key initiatives at the Institute include embedding biodiversity conservation into disaster planning and incorporating nature-based solutions to mitigate risks and protect vulnerable populations. Additionally, the Institute’s recovery strategies emphasize rebuilding in ways that align with environmental sustainability and long-term resilience. These initiatives underscore the role of Planetary Health in addressing the root causes of disaster vulnerability, such as unsustainable development and environmental degradation. This approach not only enhances the capacity of disaster medicine programs but also aligns them with global sustainability and equity goals. This case study from the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health provides a replicable model for other institutions seeking to strengthen their disaster medicine programs through transdisciplinary synergy. By shifting the focus from reaction to prevention and integrating environmental determinants of health, disaster medicine can become a leading force in building resilient, sustainable systems that safeguard communities against future crises.
Christopher Lemon (Sun,) studied this question.