Next Generation Climate & Health Ambassador (NextGen) Program

Jeffrey, a medical student, and Alex, a family medicine physician based in Baltimore, hosted a Climate Action Party through the CAN app. They hosted two featured guests, Dr. Amy Collins and Dr. Shil DasSarma, and a moderator, Zach Williams. One of the people from Climate Action Now, Matthew Vollrath, also attended to help with logistics. There were over 25 people in attendance and reached their goal of 500 actions!

Maral, who is a physical therapist based in San Francisco, successfully created  an “Environmental PT” section within the American Physical Therapy Association” This project raises the awareness of physical therapists on environmental issues and gives the American PT community the tools to do climate and health advocacy. It empowers PTs, PTAs and students to integrate sustainable practices into their professional lives. It serves as an information and networking hub promoting environmentally responsible practice, research, education, innovation and policy across healthcare settings and population.

Marisa, an MPH student at NYU, worked NRDC’s New York Regional team, under the supervision of the New York Legislative and Policy Director, on a campaign advocating for the Stop Climate Polluter Handouts Act — a bill that has been introduced in the New York State legislature that would eliminate many of the handouts (in the form of tax breaks, credits, and exemptions) that New York currently offers to the fossil fuel industry. This bill targets the most egregious handouts that prop up the highly fossil fuel industry and effectively incentivize their pollution and destruction (importantly, the bill does not touch the tax exemptions that benefit low- and middle-income earners). The bill is a critical action to protect the planet by transitioning off of fossil fuels, to stop wasting taxpayer money to support big industry, and to raise money for New York State.

Cameron and Myra produced an educational Youtube video using quality videography equipment to educate youth on climate anxiety and how to navigate climate anxiety. The video touches on what climate anxiety is, symptoms of it, how many people have it, ways to navigate it, and a guided meditation on the end with affirmations to help foster a sense of safety for kids.

Kelsey, a final year medical student at Vanderbilt University, led a group of students to complete a proposal for a climate health curriculum for Vanderbilt Medical School. They completed the proposal, which included session topics, suggested lecturers, learning objectives and a list of background readings/references for each lecture. They also have plans to meet with the relevant faculty members in the medical school and give them a short presentation on the importance of climate health and the proposal they have created. The group of students will be responsible for the implementation of the proposed sessions starting next academic year.

Four ambassadors based in Boston, Eliana, Wafaa, Tristan, and Efi organized a Climate & Health Day at the Massachusetts Statehouse. During this lobby day, health professionals and health professions students met with policymakers to advocate for bills that aim to address environmental justice and improve public health, including:

• An Act Establishing a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund (H.3232/S.2365)
• An Act Advancing Clean Energy, Equity, and Innovation within Municipal Utilities (H.3150/S.2117)
• An Act Incorporating Embodied Carbon into State Climate Policy (H.764/S.2090)
• An Act relative to energy facilities siting improvement to address environmental justice, climate, and public health (H.3187/S.2113)

Nisha, a medical student in Oregon, joined the climate education task force at her school recently who is supporting her in creating a class on pediatrics and climate change (specifically related to wildfires). There will be a lecture portion and a small group discussion. The lecture will provide background on air pollution exposure, its effect on pediatric health, preventative measures, and clinical skills students can use to discuss air pollution and climate change with parents. During the small group segment, there will be an opportunity for students to practice clinical skills discussed during the lecture.

Amanda, a family medicine resident based in LA, produced a Farm Bill 101 animated video for the Food Fix Campaign. This video will be released and sent to members of Congress. You can find other videos she produced for the Food Fix Campaign campaign here. 

Frank, a family and community medicine resident based in Harrisburg, PA, has finalized a project survey for C4, a project that aims to improve awareness and understanding of the health effects of climate change in both the medical and public space. The survey will be loaded into a platform (ie REDCap) in preparation for distribution and collection of results following IRB approval.