To respond to the events of September 11, BWH’s Nursing Professional Development Department united hospital staff, members of the armed forces and local civil service leaders to organize a Homeland Security Conference with a very important, two-part goal. The conference provided an educational forum for clinicians to learn more about bioterrorism preparedness. Speakers representing a variety of organizations and backgrounds spoke about homeland security from a military, medical and community perspective. While bringing together a diverse audience to exchange ideas and share their unique institutional knowledge, it also presented BWH with the opportunity to give back to the community – all funds raised through registration fees were donated to the local Fire Department.