University of California Television (UCTV) is now offering video podcasts ("vodcasts") of programs for healthcare professionals in need of timely disaster preparedness information when and where they want it.

Video podcasting has emerged as a fast growing form of mobile media since Apple introduced its iPod video player in Fall 2005. However, a vast majority of the current video podcast content is geared towards entertainment or technology, with minimal focus on important educational and informational content such as public health preparedness. UCTV selected the "Disaster Preparedness for the Healthcare Provider" series as its first foray into this new medium because of its timeliness and the importance of having this kind of content accessible to healthcare professionals at any time or place. UCTV debuted its new vodcasting service at the American Public Health Association (APHA) conference in Philadelphia last month.

Vodcasts of "Disaster Preparedness for the Healthcare Provider" are available for free downloading onto iPod video players or other video capable personal digital assistants. Viewers can subscribe to UCTV's vodcast and podcast feeds or download individual programs at no cost by visiting www.uctv.tv/podcasts.

"Technology is moving so quickly and constantly pushing us to apply it in innovative and ultimately useful ways," stated UCTV's director Lynn Burnstan. "By providing this important series through mobile television, UCTV is meeting the ever increasing demand for public health information from reliable sources like the University of California."

The six-part series is sponsored by the California Preparedness Education Network (Cal-PEN) and UC Davis Office of Continuing Medical Education and includes the following programs: Disaster Preparedness, Bioterrorist Threats, Chemical and Radiation Threats, Emerging Infections, Infectious Disease After Natural Disasters, and Avian Influenza: From Wildlife to Poultry to Humans. Each program is certified for one hour of free Category One CME credit by UC Davis and four of the programs are also available in Spanish. Broadcast schedules, links to view programs via vodcast or streaming "on-demand" video, and details about registering for credit can be found at www.uctv.tv/calpen.

UCTV is a 24-hour satellite channel that broadcasts the best in educational and enrichment programming from the campuses, national laboratories, and affiliated institutions of the University of California. UCTV's "Med Ed Hour" (www.uctv.tv/meded) features medical programs aimed at physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals and airs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 1:00pm (Pacific). UCTV is available in over 15 millions households nationwide and can be viewed via:
*Direct Broadcast Satellite: Nationwide 24 hours a day, Dish Network Channel 9412
* Internet: Live webcast, video-on-demand archives, audio and video podcasts at http://www.uctv.tv
* Cable TV: Community cable channels in California and across the country (visit http://www.uctv.tv/cable for details)