2024 Health Heroes Awards
2024 Chapter Health Heroes
Our second annual Health Heroes Awards celebrates the people who make exemplary efforts in advancing nuclear weapons abolition and/or addressing environmental risks to human health, including the catastrophic consequences caused by climate change through collaborations and work that strengthens PSR’s mission.
Greater Boston PSR Health Heroes
Brita E. Lundberg, MD and Sydney Engel, FNP
BRITA E. LUNDBERG, MD One of Brita's core beliefs is that advocating for public health issues is part of being a physician. When she joined PSR as a medical student, she spoke up about the public health threat of nuclear weapons; more recently, when she re-engaged with the Greater Boston chapter of PSR she has spoken up about the public health threats of climate change. As Chair of the GBPSR chapter and Chair of the Environmental and Occupational Health Committee at the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), she offered testimony before countless boards of health, the Massachusetts Departments of Environmental Protection and Public Health, and state legislators. In articles both in medical journals and the lay press, she has drawn attention to the health harms posed by the petrochemical industry–not just polluting infrastructure like the Weymouth compressor station and Peabody Peaker plant and Eversource substation, but also the climate and health impacts of plastics, PFAS and pesticide manufacture, use and waste. She has centered equity in her work by drawing attention to how these threats disproportionately impact the health of environmental justice communities already overburdened with air, water and soil pollution. With seemingly boundless energy, she has helped educate and increase awareness among policymakers, the medical community, and the public of the interconnection between climate change, nuclear weapons and health, spearheading a collaboration between GBPSR and the MMS on three annual webinar series highlighting these topics. Brita has made heroic efforts to raise public and policymaker awareness of the health harms of radioactive air and water pollution created in the decommissioning of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, MA. She has successfully helped pass resolutions at the Massachusetts Medical Society and the AMA calling for research into prevention of radioactive pollution during the decommissioning process; and reached out to Harvard School of Public health to launch a much needed public health study of the health harms of decommissioning nuclear power plants. She has supported Senators Markey and Warren's office in that effort, applied for research funding and facilitated the creation of a consortium of groups to engage an expert panel to review the data on this public health issue. In addition to her nonprofit work that focuses on upstream public health concerns, Brita also cares deeply about the downstream medical issues confronting the individual patient: her full time work as a medical consultant and CEO of Lundberg Health Advocates and founder of the Health Equity Institute of Massachusetts centers on patient advocacy.
SYDNEY ENGEL, FNP Sydney is a family nurse practitioner at Atrius Health Braintree. She is passionate about preventative medicine, community health, and the intersections of human health and the environment. Prior to entering the field of nursing, she spent two years advocating for extended producer responsibility and waste reduction legislation at the Product Stewardship Institute in Boston. Sydney is not only an all-star volunteer for Greater Boston PSR, but she has been a leader in working on our chapter’s legislative priorities at the state level. She has been actively involved with our allies in the Mass Power Forward coalition to promote climate bills that prioritize environmental justice. She has included her family in her efforts by attending climate rallies at the state house with her 1-year-old son. She has helped to design posters that highlight the adverse health effects caused by fossil fuels for an upcoming campaign to counter the propaganda from oil and gas companies, and is particularly astute and knowledgeable about both climate and legislative issues more generally. Sydney attends coalition meetings on our chapter's behalf, shows up to the statehouse to advocate for climate and health priorities when it's most needed, and has useful skills to lend to our chapter such as graphic designing and editing. Most impressively, she has done all of this while juggling new motherhood with working as a nurse practitioner.
PSR Florida Health Heroes
Professor Donald Axelrad and Dr. Ronald Saff, of Tallahassee
DONALD M. AXELRAD, PHD worked for environmental health governmental agencies in Australia and the U.S. before becoming a professor of environmental health in the Institute of Public Health at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee. His research focused on children’s exposure to the toxic metal lead via consumption of drinking water, and women’s exposure to mercury via fish consumption. He is an CTIVE board member of PSR Florida and continues assessing contaminant levels in the State's Capitol including PFAS in drinking water and PM 2.5 in the atmosphere. This year alone Don has presented lectures to the public on multiple environmental health topics including toxic chemicals, climate change, and biodiversity decline as it affects human wellbeing. Recently he presented to FSU med school students and College of William and Mary grad students on PFAS - “forever chemicals”.
RON SAFF, MD is an allergist in Tallahassee and long-standing member of PSR FL, has been a devoted activist and protector of the environment. Dr. Saff has dedicated himself to keeping our air and water unpolluted. In Tallahassee he fought dirty fuel plants and in these last years, Dr Saff has led a team of scientists and doctors who tested public and school drinking fountains for lead. Over the last two years his group has tested public and private drinking water for PFAS. He has been instrumental in initiating a program to provide free water filters for daycare centers in around the Tallahassee area. A tireless advocate, Dr. Saff presented a resolution dealing with PFAS in our drinking water and public safety at the Florida Medical Society Annual meeting this August which was adopted.
PSR Maine Health Heroes
Daniel Oppenheim, PhD, MD, and Kathryn Bourgoin, MD
DANIEL OPPENHEIM, PHD, MD, AND KATHRYN BOURGOIN, MD This past year, PSR Maine established a coalition called Maine Health Professionals for Climate Action (MHPCA). This coalition comprises nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physicians, students, and public health practitioners dedicated to addressing the impacts of climate change on everyone living, working, and visiting Maine. As the state affiliate of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, MHPCA is actively involved in efforts to reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions in Maine. This includes advocating for building electrification and contributing to the Maine Climate Action Plan. PSR Maine recognizes members Daniel Oppenheim, PhD, MD, and Kathryn Bourgoin, MD, as our Health Heroes. Drs. Oppenheim and Bourgoin were instrumental in establishing MHPCA and are serving as its first co-chairs.
Western North Carolina PSR Health Hero
Leslie Poplawski
LESLIE POPLAWSKI Leslie has been a member of WNCPSR for a number of years and has contributed to our chapter's work through her committed opposition to nuclear power. She arranged to bring the Uranium Film Festival to Asheville, and because of her determination we now have a Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace cherry tree with a WNC/PSR plaque next to the county courthouse.
Oregon PSR Health Heroes
Melanie Plaut, MD and Ann Turner, MD
MELANIE PLAUT, MD (SHE/ HER) Melanie Plaut has been a member of Oregon PSR for decades and has been one of our most vocal and active members. Her dedication to creating a healthy and just world for all is awe inspiring. Her contributions are varied and grand. Melanie has been featured on panels about the health impacts of gas stoves, the dangers of the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub and oil by rail transport along the Willamette River, and Risk Bonds to hold polluters accountable. She has played a pivotal role in organizing actions across the region including a 60-hour vigil on the site of the prominent oil by rail corporation Zenith Oil. Melanie is a critical player in our state's progression to a healthier, more just and equitable home for all.
ANN TURNER, MD (SHE/ HER) Ann Turner recently joined the Oregon PSR board as co-president after being a key volunteer in Oregon PSR’s Healthy Climate Action Team for over a decade. During her time as a volunteer Ann has worked on numerous reports including Methane Gas: Health, Safety, Economic and Climate Impacts, advocated against new fossil fuel infrastructure projects in the PNW and continues to represent Oregon PSR in the national coalition FossilFree4Health. In everything she does Ann centers climate, health and environmental justice. We feel so grateful to have Ann as our new board co-president and know she will guide our organization and movement towards a bright future.
PSR Pennsylvania Health Hero
Jodi Borello
JODI BORELLO is an advocate and grassroots organizer for CCJ. She and her family have been negatively impacted by the fossil fuel industry through multiple substantiated environmental crimes. Jodi testified in front of the 43rd Statewide Grand Jury investigating industry conduct and the failures of government agencies to provide sufficient oversight of the fracking industry. Her testimony and the grand jury’s work led to recommendations to better protect Pennsylvanians from oil and gas operations. As a result, CNX Resources was charged and pleaded guilty to violating the Air Pollution Control Act and was forced to pay substantial fines and penalties. The nondisclosure agreement related to the grand jury was recently lifted and she is now free to speak about the insidious conduct that has harmed her community. Jodi’s unique personal experience helps her serve impacted residents who are struggling to cope with the realities of fossil fuel development in the region. Because of the considerable number of cancer cases in the region, she helped to create a volunteer group at CCJ called MAD-FACTS (Moms and Dads-Family Awareness of Cancer Threat Spike). This volunteer group is helping to share their knowledge of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Study regarding childhood cancer risks related to living in close proximity to oil and gas facilities.
SF Bay PSR Health Heroes
Dr. Mary Williams and Dr. Bret Andrews
DR. MARY WILLIAMS AND DR. BRET ANDREWS SF Bay PSR’s Building Electrification Speakers Bureau members give presentations to community groups, testimony to state legislators, air regulators, and city planners about the environmental and health harms of gas appliances and benefits of all electric buildings. We are fortunate this year to have two dedicated leaders, Dr. Mary Williams and Dr. Bret Andrews, who have been tirelessly refining our education materials and slide sets, giving community talks, writing public comments and op-eds, ensuring that our air regulatory agencies are using the most up-to-date research, and inspiring our entire building electrification team. Our hats off and glasses raised to Mary and Bret!
Texas PSR Health Heroes
William (Brett) Perkison, MD, MPH and Rebecca Bernhardt, JD
BRETT PERKISON, MD, MPH AND REBECCA BERNHARDT, JD This year, we honor William (Brett) Perkison, MD, MPH and Rebecca Bernhardt, JD for their leadership roles in a recent health advocacy tour, “Bridging Communities for Environmental Justice” in Port Arthur, Texas. Texas PSR, along with Port Arthur Community Action Network and the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, brought together health professionals and medical/public health students from across the state to get an up-close tour of pollution sites near neighborhoods in Port Arthur. The medical students deeply appreciated seeing the oil and gas infrastructure up close, then learning about the health impacts. Brett and Becky played a crucial role in organizing a community health clinic, distributing hurricane emergency kits, and collaborating with health professionals and students to offer health screening services.
