CORE
Community Outreach & Readiness Through Education
Connecting healthcare professionals with the communities they serve
UTHealth Houston’s CORE (Community Outreach & Readiness Through Education) is a community-focused initiative led by UTHealth Houston Emergency Medicine aimed at improving public awareness, preparedness, and confidence in responding to medical emergencies through hands-on education and outreach.
The program focuses on expanding access to CPR and AED training within underserved communities while fostering meaningful engagement between healthcare professionals and the populations they serve.
Building Stronger Community Emergency Response
UT CORE was developed to help address disparities in bystander CPR and AED utilization across communities in the Greater Houston area. Through partnerships with local organizations, schools, community centers, and neighborhood programs, the initiative brings emergency preparedness education directly into the community.
Several outreach locations were intentionally selected based on identified areas with lower rates of bystander CPR and AED use, helping ensure that lifesaving education reaches populations where increased access and awareness may have the greatest impact.
CPR & AED Education
The program provides interactive, community-based training sessions focused on:
- Hands-Only CPR
- AED awareness and operation
- Emergency response readiness
- Building confidence during medical emergencies
These sessions are designed to create approachable, practical learning environments for participants of all backgrounds and experience levels. Training events are conducted throughout the year at community centers, YMCAs, neighborhood organizations, and other local partner sites across Houston.
Community Partnerships, Outreach & Research
UT CORE collaborates with local organizations and community partners across Houston to expand access to CPR, AED, and emergency preparedness education. Through outreach events hosted at community centers, YMCAs, neighborhood organizations, and public service initiatives, the program brings hands-on training directly into the communities it serves.
In addition to education and outreach, UT CORE incorporates an ongoing research component aimed at better understanding community perspectives surrounding emergency response, CPR, and AED use. Participants may complete surveys during training events that help identify barriers to bystander intervention, confidence levels in responding to emergencies, and opportunities to strengthen future education efforts.
Together, these partnerships and community insights help guide evidence-based outreach initiatives while strengthening the connection between academic emergency medicine and the broader Houston community.
Upcoming Dates & Locations
- TBD
Volunteer Sign-up Section
We are looking for volunteers to assist with the educational instruction portion of the sessions.
- Each session is approximately 1.5 hours in length
- Volunteers must be BLS certified to participate
Questions?
