Climate and Health Responder Course for Health Professionals

An 8-week free online certificate course to give health professionals the tools to effectively respond to the climate and health crisis in their local communities.

February 8 - April 5, 2022, Tuesdays 10-11am MT

(9-10am PT, 12-1pm ET, 4-5pm UTC)

NOTE: Session recordings will be available for asynchronous view after the live presentations for those unable to attend. Resources provided during each session are located at the bottom of the page.

Climate change is a health emergency, but also an opportunity to make positive changes that improve health equity and well-being for all. Health Professionals and allied partners play a central role in preparing and responding to health threats from climate change. Join us in this response!

This certificate-based online program, taught by world experts, is designed to equip health professionals, health educators and climate leaders with the knowledge needed for transformative action. Participants will receive up to 16, no-cost, continuing education hours through this program. The Climate and Health Responder Course was developed through a partnership between Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE), Project ECHO, Health Canada and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Program Begins February 8, 2022

Course Objectives:

• Develop a solid foundation of the current evidence on climate and health across eight main areas

• Become equipped to lead climate and health educational and programmatic development at your own institution or within your own community

• Improve communication and advocacy skills

• Gain a new professional network to help you lead the way in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change on health

Target Audience:

• Health Professionals

• Health Educators 

• Climate Leaders

• Students

Program Structure

The program consists of two parts:

1) Weekly 60-minute didactic sessions with expert presenters and moderated Q&A sessions:

• Feb. 8 - Climate Change for the Health Professional 

  • Kris Karnauskas, PhD: Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado

  • Video Recording

  • Slide Deck: Climate Change for the Health Professional 

  • Recommended Reading: Climate Modeling for Health Impacts - Chapter 13

  • Resources and References from the live Zoom session 

  • Zoom Chat Question and Answer responses from Dr. Karnauskas

• Feb.15 - Extreme Weather Hazards

  • Jesse Bell, PhD: Climate, and Health Program, University of Nebraska

  • Video Recording

  • Slide Deck - Extreme Weather Hazards

  • Recommended Reading: Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Population Health and Health System Implications

  • Resources and References from the live Zoom session

• Feb. 22 - Health Sector Mitigation/Adaptation

  • Peter Berry, PhD: Senior Policy Analyst and Science Advisor to the Director, Health Canada

  • Video Recording

  • Slide Deck: Health Sector Mitigation/Adaptation

  • Recommended Reading: WHO guidance for climate resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities

  • Resources and Referencesfrom the live Zoom session

• Mar. 1 - Degraded Air Quality

  • Anthony Gerber, MD: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, National Jewish Hospital

  • Video Recording

  • Slide Deck: Degraded Air Quality

  • Recommended Reading: Wildfires, Global Climate Change, and Human Health

  • Resources and References from the live Zoom session

• Mar. 8 - Vector-borne Disease

  • Angelle Desiree LaBeaud, MD: Professor of Pediatrics, Stanford University

  • Video Recording

  • Slide Deck: Vector-borne Disease

  • Recommended Reading: Climate change could shift disease burden from malaria to arboviruses in Africa

  • Resources and References from the live Zoom session

• Mar. 15 NO CLASS

• Mar. 22 - Water and Food Related Illness

  • George Luber, PhD: Adjunct Professor, Emory University

  • Video Recording

  • Slide Deck: Water and Food Related Illness 

  • Recommended Reading: Climate Change Impacts on Waterborne Diseases: Moving Toward Designing Interventions

  • Resources and References from the live Zoom session

• Mar. 29 - Mental Health 

  • Katie Hayes, PhD: Policy Analyst, Health Canada

  • Video Recording

  • Slide Deck: Mental Health in a Changing Climate

  • Recommended Reading: Health in a Changing Climate 2022: Mental Health and Well-Being

  • Resources and References from the live Zoom session

• Apr. 5 - Temperature Related Illness and Mortality

  • Jeremy Hess, MD, MPH: Professor of Global Health and Emergency Medicine, University of Washington

  • Video Recording

  • Slide Deck: Temperature Related Illness and Mortality

  • Recommended Reading: Hot weather and heat extremes: health risks

  • Resources and References from the live Zoom session

2) Eight optional skills/tool sessions on Wednesdays running Feb 16 - Apr 13, 2021 at 11:00am-12:00pm PT/ 2:00-3:00pm ET: REGISTER

• Feb. 16 - Extreme Weather Hazards (Excessive Precipitation) Case

• Feb. 23 - Climate Echo Library

• Mar. 2 - Degraded Air Quality Case

• Mar. 9 - NOAA Climate Tool Kits - Air Quality and Wildfires

• Mar. 23 - Temperature Related Illness and Mortality Case

• Mar. 30 - Mental Health Case 

• Apr. 6 - NOAA Climate Tool Kits - Drought, Flooding and Extreme Weather Events

• Apr. 13 - Teaching Climate and Health 

Weekly didactic sessions are structured around the GCCHE core competencies, and each have topical themes. Lectures will be delivered by local and regional practicing experts in the field and will have accompanying reading and learning resources.

Climate and Health Certificate

Participants who attend at least 6 out of the 8 live didactic sessions and complete a brief assessment will receive a certificate of participation from The Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, Project Echo and NOAA. 

Continuing Education Credits

In support of improving patient care, Project ECHO® is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE), and the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP)to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Students

Students are invited to participate in the entirety of the course!  In addition to main program, we will host 4 sessions for specifically dedicated to students from all backgrounds which will be moderated by expert faculty and modeled on case-based learning. Student sessions will take place at 7:00pm ET. Register below to connect with fellow students and new mentors!

All sessions are co-facilliatated by a Climate Medicine Fellow and a current health professional student. See below for details on the class details. 

February 9: Panel of wide-ranging experts and discussion of climate-health responsibilities in the healthcare team
Climate Medicine Fellow Facilitator: Dr. Emily Sbiroli
Student Facilitator: Aaron Rosenblum

• Video Recording

• Presentation Slide Deck

February 23: Extreme weather and building systems resilience and capacity
Climate Medicine Fellow Facilitator: Dr. Eric Balaban 
Student Facilitator: Ellen Townley

• Video Recording

• Case Study 

March 9: Poor air quality and vector borne disease
Climate Medicine Fellow Facilitator: Dr. Bhargavi Chekuri
Student Facilitator: Karly Hampshire 

March 22: Water and Food insecurity, mental health, extreme temperature
Climate Medicine Fellow Facilitator: Dr. Beth Gillespie
Student Facilitator: Donald DeAlwis, Emaline Laney, Ben Rabin

Link to Flyer