Creating climate-informed physician leaders: The evolution of a physician fellowship in climate and health science policy

Abstract

Climate change poses numerous near and long-term challenges for our society, and the human health consequences are increasingly recognized as unprecedented. Responding to these health hazards requires a healthcare workforce composed of climate-informed clinicians. As trusted messengers, physicians play a vital role in informing and preparing the public for health impacts of climate change. We describe an evolving graduate medical education fellowship for physicians from all specialties capable of training leaders in this field. Our program pairs fellows with federal and non-governmental partners to provide expertise in climate policy and empower them to be change agents. The accelerating response to climate change from the federal government coupled with an increased recognition of the impacts of climate hazards on health demands a climate-informed clinical workforce. The expansion of this fellowship to accommodate trainees from multiple specialties and its innovative structure leveraging local and national partnerships sets a standard for how similar programs can be developed in addressing the greatest public health threat and opportunity of the century.

“Am I going to have to run to get out of this place?” A qualitative study exploring HIV clinical and service provider experiences from California regions heavily impacted by climate disaster

“…Meanwhile, researchers and policymakers have acknowledged the unique importance of the workforce in maintaining continuity of care during times of catastrophe or disruption [37,38]. The World Health Organization, in their Operational Framework for Building Climate Resilient Health Systems, referred to individuals within the workforce as the keepers of "rich local information about risks, community capacity, and vulnerability that can help to guide the formulation of responses" [39].…”

Climate change and human health: a primer on what women's health physicians can do on behalf of their patients and communities

“…Younger generations of learners and teachers are more fully informed and committed to activism and are comfortable incorporating a social responsibility framework in their medical practice [38]. Despite curricula replete with traditional subjects and with no apparent place to add climate subjects either longitudinally or in carved out spaces in the schedule, young learners are pushing their teachers to develop new pedagogies [39] and policy education to prepare for their roles in a challenging new world [40].…”

Climate Change, Environment, and Health: The implementation and initial evaluation of a longitudinal, integrated curricular theme and novel competency framework at Harvard Medical School

“…In Canada, national surveys were used to understand medical students' experiences, attitudes, and interests in climate health education [16]. The importance of innovation in climate education in graduate medical education and post-residency fellowships has also been described [17][18][19]. These frameworks and curricular advances can further support students and practitioners' career development in climate related advocacy, policy, research, and education, among other opportunities.…”