Conceived and organised by WADEM’s Student and Young Professional Special Interest Group (SYP-SIG), Disaster Medicine Summer School brought subject matter experts, academics, and participants from more than 25 countries for three intensive and inspiring days exploring the breadth and depth of disaster and emergency medicine.

From 3 to 5 July, participants representing human and veterinary medicine, nursing, prehospital care, paramedicine, and public health engaged with expert-led lectures on topics including operations, leadership, tactical and counter-terrorism medicine, One Health, and CBRNe. These activities were reinforced with multidisciplinary discussions, tabletop exercises, and live emergency training sessions designed to strengthen preparedness for the complex emergencies of today and tomorrow. Students were taught methods of engaging in scholarly work and beyond the curriculum; the event fostered meaningful international connections, mentorship, and a shared commitment to evidence-based practice and global collaboration.

Disaster Medicine is an emerging and evolving discipline. Together, we have taken an important step toward developing the next generation of leaders. The inaugural Disaster Medicine Summer School will be followed up by the 25th Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine, taking place in Paris in April 2027.