The Government Services Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (GSACEP) has released a new podcast episode examining the expanding role of homeland security within emergency medicine, featuring disaster and tactical medicine expert Dr. Dominique Wong.
Hosted by GSACEP and interviewed by Homeland Security Today Editorial Board member Capt. Matthew Turner, the episode explores how emergency medicine, hospital preparedness, public health, and homeland security increasingly overlap as healthcare systems face evolving threats.
Dr. Wong serves as chair of her hospital’s Medical Readiness Committee and has extensive experience in disaster preparedness, mass casualty planning, tactical medicine, and law enforcement training. She also contributes to biodefense initiatives through wastewater surveillance for biothreat detection and serves as a co-facilitator and speaker for the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
During the conversation, Dr. Wong discusses how her experience in emergency medicine led her to homeland security, noting that disasters, biological threats, and other security challenges ultimately place demands on healthcare systems.
“All those human casualties end up in a hospital somewhere,” Wong said, explaining why she believes closer collaboration between the medical and homeland security communities is essential.
The discussion also covers tactical medicine, leadership during emergencies, preventable deaths, and the growing role of wastewater surveillance as an early warning tool for infectious diseases and potential biological threats. Dr. Wong highlights the need for stronger collaboration across government, healthcare, and public safety to better prepare for future emergencies.
The GSACEP podcast series features lectures and conversations with leaders in federal emergency medicine and is intended to advance emergency care for military personnel, veterans, and other federal populations.
Listen to the episode on Spotify below and learn more about it here.