Dr. Danielle Eiseman, associate director of the Cornell Health Impacts Core within the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health at the College of Veterinary Medicine, led a 3.5-day disaster response simulation at Cornell University that gives participants hands-on experience with the realities and complexities of humanitarian and disaster response. Called "Atlantic Hope," the immersive exercise places participants in the fictional post-conflict nation of “Atlantica,” where they respond to the aftermath of a major natural disaster. 

Teams navigate realistic challenges involving search and rescue, aid delivery, public and animal health, cultural competency, negotiation, logistics, communication and decision-making under pressure.

Participants remain on-site and in their roles throughout the exercise, creating an intensive environment that brings classroom learning into a complex, real-world simulation. The training brings together students, faculty, professionals, volunteers and experts with experience in local, state, federal and international disaster response. 

This video offers a look inside Atlantic Hope and how Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine is using immersive, experiential learning to prepare students to collaborate, adapt, and respond when it matters most.