Cyber Disaster

Cyberattacks on healthcare systems can disrupt clinical operations, delay care, and create risks that extend far beyond IT downtime. CHC’s work in cyber disaster preparedness focuses on understanding these impacts and developing practical strategies that help healthcare organizations maintain critical functions during large-scale cyber incidents.

Why Cyber Disaster Preparedness Matters

• Operational disruption: Cyber incidents can interrupt communications, diagnostics, scheduling, and other core hospital functions, affecting care delivery across departments.
• Patient safety: When clinical systems, devices, or workflows are disrupted, the risk to patients can increase quickly.
• Regional effects: Major incidents can also place strain on surrounding healthcare facilities as patients, services, and emergency response demands shift across a region.

Research Areas

• Preparedness and response planning: Studying how healthcare organizations can strengthen emergency operations planning for cyber incidents and build more effective response protocols.
• Impact on emergency and clinical services: Examining how cyberattacks affect emergency departments, trauma systems, and hospital operations in real-world care environments.
• Training and simulation: Developing exercises and simulation-based training that help clinicians, administrators, and operational teams prepare for cyber-related disruption.
• Continuity strategies: Identifying practical approaches for maintaining communication, care coordination, and essential services when primary systems are unavailable.

Through this work, CHC is helping healthcare organizations improve preparedness, reduce operational disruption, and protect continuity of care during and after cyber incidents.

Faculty - Healthcare Core

• Christian Dameff, MD
• Jeff Tully, MD
• Nathan Yung, MD
• Laura Stephens, MD
• Isabel Straw, BMBS, MD

Students/Fellows

• Eileen Kim, MD
• Nico Kahl, MD
• Zach Pope, MD
• Marshall Frieden, MD