Planetary Health

Planetary Health recognizes that “human health and the health of the planet are inextricably linked.”¹ It is a concept that focuses our understanding on the interdependence of human health, animal health, and the health of the environment.² Awareness of how the escalation of human pressure on the global environment led to impairment in ecosystems, creating both direct and indirect harms on human health, can catalyze solutions-focused mitigation and adaptation strategies.

In June 2022, at the American Medical Association House of Delegates Annual Meeting, resolution 420 was adopted, declaring climate change a public health crisis.

Climate change is having profound and ongoing effects on our planet and human health. As such, it is critically important that physicians gain a deep understanding of the forces at play and how negative health effects can be recognized and mitigated to improve care of the individual patient, the community, and populations.

These sessions will provide you with a framework of understanding:

• The impacts of climate change on human health.
• The strain climate driven health impacts place on the healthcare system.
• The role of the healthcare system in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (affecting our environment).
• The potential mitigation and adaptation strategies to minimize the negative impacts on human health.

Students will attend in-person sessions and complete asynchronous sessions covering the following topics: