NYC Preparedness & Recovery Institute

Launched in 2022 by the City of New York, the NYC Preparedness & Recovery Institute (PRI) is a resource that engages diverse organizations, institutions, and communities to build a cohesive and comprehensive preparedness and recovery network. Led by ICAP at Columbia University with key partner, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy (CUNY SPH), PRI was created to strengthen NYC’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from major health emergencies.

PRI is always active, always ready—even between emergencies, we work to build resilience, promote preparedness and ensure an equitable response to these threats. Our whole-of-society approach brings together government agencies, health institutions, businesses, community groups and academic centers to drive impactful change.

Over the past three years, PRI has strengthened crisis coordination across NYC, influenced public health policies on COVID-19 risk assessments and mpox diagnostics, and advanced epidemiological modeling to better predict and respond to infectious diseases and climate-related threats. We have also developed innovative data-sharing projects to amplify community voices in emergencies, funded new tools and technologies to enhance emergency preparedness, and established the CDC-supported Region 2 Center for Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR), while also coordinating the national network of regional centers across the country.

From 2022-2025, PRI stood for Pandemic Response Institute, Why the Name Change?

This change reflects our broad role in public health preparedness and recovery:

Broader Scope: Preparedness and Recovery reflects the focus of PRI on the wide range of public health challenges, such as climate-related disasters, environmental hazards, infectious agents, gun violence, and terrorism.

Long-Term Relevance: Public health threats are constantly evolving. Our new name ensures that we remain future-proof and adaptable to emerging and unforeseen challenges. The new name makes it clear that we are here to help before, during, and after emergencies.

Sustainability: Supporters and funders increasingly focus on broader public health priorities beyond pandemics. Our new name positions us to secure the resources needed to continue supporting NYC.

For more information about the NYC PRI, our structure, faculty and partners involved, and ongoing research and other projects, visit NYC PRI

PRI News

Announcing the 2025 McGovern Award Recipient: Dr Scott Ratzan

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) announced this year’s John P. McGovern Award recipient, Scott Ratzan MD, MPA. The McGovern Award recognizes preeminent contribution to any of the various modes of medical communication and is presented during AMWA’s Medical Writing & Communication Conference.

Dr Ratzan has had a profound impact on the field of medical communication, with a career spanning over three decades. He has spearheaded efforts to advance health communication, health literacy, and strategic diplomacy on a global scale. Dr Ratzan is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Communication: International Perspectives and co-chair of the Nature Medicine Commission on Quality Health Information for All.

He has extensive experience in academia, beginning in the 1990s as a professor and Founding Director of the Emerson-Tufts Masters Program in Health Communication. Dr. Ratzan currently co-directs the Masters Program in Health Communication for Social Change at CUNY SPH and was recently recognized as a Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School.

Dr Ratzan will deliver the McGovern Award address at the 2025 Medical Writing & Communication Conference this November in Pheonix, AZ.

To read more about Dr Ratzan and the award, visit the link.

Recent PRI Events

Communication Training Series for Community Leaders: Part One

Featuring Scott Ratzan

Start Date and Time:  Wed, July 23, 2025, 1 pm ET
Virtual: Register here

Over the next three months, the Health Equity Community Collaborative (HECC) will deliver three communication trainings to support community-based and public health organizations in addressing health issues in their local areas – especially for those with limited communication support and resources.

The first interactive session will be Wednesday July 23rd, offering tools, resources and approaches to both respond to a rapidly shifting landscape and proactively build and share powerful stories. Attendees will have opportunities to connect with each other, practice and apply skills in small group activities, and engage in Q&A with communications experts. By registering for this event you are agreeing to receive future communications from Health Equity Community Collaborative.

National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media

Session Title: Rebuilding Trust, Restoring Confidence – Strategies for Impactful Health Communication
Featuring Scott Ratzan, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Health Communication
and Rebecca Ivic, Senior Editor, Journal of Health Communication

Start Date and Time:  Tues July 29, 2025, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM EST
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA 30303
Register here

Session Title: Advancing Health Communication: Innovations from the Nature Medicine Quality Health Information for All Commission
Featuring Scott Ratzan, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Health Communication
and Rebecca Ivic, Senior Editor, Journal of Health Communication

Start Date and Time:  Wed, July 30, 2025, 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM EST
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA 30303
Register here

PRI Innovation Showcase: Defining the Future of Public Health Preparedness

Start Date and Time: Tue, May 13, 2025, 8:30 am ET
End Date and Time: Tue, May 13, 2025, 4:30 pm ET
Location: The Forum at Columbia University,  605 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027

The PRI Innovation Showcase is a full-day event that brings together researchers, government officials, corporate partners, social entrepreneurs, and community leaders to explore innovative and cutting-edge technology-based solutions for public health preparedness and response. This event is an opportunity to experience world-class innovations, share insights, and connect with key stakeholders shaping the future of public health resilience.  More information is available here.

Unveiling Trace: A COVID-19 Memorial

Start Date and Time:  Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:00 pm ET
End Date and Time:  Wed, May 28, 2025, 7:30 pm ET
Location: CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, 55 W 125th Street, New York, NY 10027

Trace, a piece by artist Nyssa Chow, features a deeply symbolic installation that honors essential workers who tragically lost their lives during the early months of the pandemic. The installation includes 100 names and messages of remembrance, painted with heat-sensitive ink that remains invisible until revealed by human touch. This poignant tribute symbolizes the often-unseen sacrifices made by those on the frontlines. As we observe the 5th anniversary of the pandemic, Trace serves not only as a memorial but also as a call for continued advocacy, reform, and recognition of the essential workforce.

Join us for an evening of reflection and remembrance as we unveil this powerful art piece, in honor of essential workers who lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy. We will be recognizing individuals from the community who provided invaluable support during the pandemic and whose contributions deserve formal acknowledgment for their dedication and efforts. Refreshments will be served.

Recent PRI Publications by CUNY SPH Authors

Fostering Community-Led Climate Action

Author Julian Watkins is a member of the Community Convening and Learning Team (CCLT) and is key speaker in PRI’s new series on Resilient Futures: Climate & Health Justice in NYC.

Climate change affects all of us. As the natural world endures rising temperatures and the fallout from extreme weather events, so do our bodies. Though our individual and collective vulnerabilities may differ, no one is immune. Climate change is a problem every nation, industry, and institution must face…

New York City occupations at-risk of heat stress: integrating O*NET and BLS data for occupational insights

Extreme heat poses a growing threat to occupational health and safety in the New York City (NYC) metropolitan region with projections indicating substantial increases in heat wave events and heat-related mortality in the coming decades. We, therefore, aimed to identify NYC occupations at greatest heat stress risk using publicly available data…

Long COVID could be costing U.S. $2.0-$6.5 billion annually

The current number of long COVID-19 cases may already be costing the U.S. $2.01-6.56 billion dollars per year, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The study also showed that each long COVID case tended to cost society between $5,084 and $11,646…

Health care providers face new challenges in COVID-19 vaccine communication

Health care providers across the U.S. are grappling with significant challenges in communicating about COVID-19 vaccines, according to a study by CUNY SPH doctoral students Amanda Pierz and Dima Masoud, CUNY SPH Foundation Director of Programs Lauren Rauh, and faculty members Chris Palmedo and Scott…

Study reveals stubborn mistrust in COVID-19 vaccine science

A study conducted by researchers from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) sheds light on public trust in COVID-19 vaccine science and its impact on vaccine acceptance in the United States from 2021 to 2023…

Study highlights the relationship between governance and vaccine coverage

Communicating a slow-motion health catastrophe

Climate change, accelerating for several decades, is producing major threats to human health around the world. Despite urgent warnings from the scientific community about the dire consequences of climate change – and what people can do to mitigate it…

The CUNY Recovery Corps: Reducing care barriers in NYC during COVID

A new publication authored by CUNY SPH senior leadership and staff portrays the challenges and successes of the CUNY Recovery Corps (CRC), a virtual call center, established to help New Yorkers navigate social and medical service needs during the height of the COVID pandemic. From March to May 2020…

PRI CCLT Community Representative Compensation Guidelines

PRI’s Community Convening and Learning Team (CCLT) is co-led by Deborah Levine, Director of CUNY SPH’s Harlem Health Initiative, and Sean Haley, Associate Professor.

PRI’s Community Convening and Learning Team (CCLT) developed compensation guidelines to establish a fair and transparent system for compensating community representatives for their contributions to PRI’s research, programming, and community engagement activities. These guidelines are designed to recognize and value the time, expertise, and lived experiences of community members, and to ensure that compensation is determined collaboratively and equitably to support the long-term sustainability of PRI’s community partnerships.

PRI CCLT Community Partner Engagement Principles

PRI’s Community Convening and Learning Team (CCLT) is co-led by Deborah Levine, Director of CUNY SPH’s Harlem Health Initiative, and Sean Haley, Associate Professor.

PRI’s Community Convening and Learning Team (CCLT) developed operational guidance and engagement principles to assist PRI Management in building sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships that inform and enhance PRI operations, projects, and programming, and expand community representation and leadership in public health emergency preparedness and response efforts. The guidance draws on select guidelines and recommendations to promote collaborative approaches and describes core functions for PRI Management and CCLT in carrying out community engagement and partnership activities.