Last month, Brown’s Division of Biology and Medicine kicked off the Planetary Health Initiative. This program aims to explore how environmental changes caused by humans affect health.
As our climate continues to heat up, many communities face serious health risks. These threats include extreme weather and the spread of illnesses that move from animals to humans. Kyle Denison Martin, one of the initiative’s co-directors, emphasizes the urgency of this work.
The Planetary Health Initiative (PHI) plans to shield communities from these hazards and weave planetary health concepts into education at both undergraduate and graduate levels, Martin noted.
This project aligns with the division’s goals of enhancing education, conducting research, delivering clinical care, and engaging with the community. It will bring together clinicians, researchers, students, and scientists to tackle these challenges.
Emily Wang, a medical student, shared that the initiative grew from the desire of Warren Alpert students to view health more holistically. “We are learning that climate change is a significant factor affecting our patients’ health,” she said.
The PHI has four main goals. First, it aims to protect hospitals in flood-prone areas, particularly in Rhode Island, where rainfall is increasing.
Second, it seeks to promote sustainability in healthcare. Traditional medical practices often create a lot of plastic waste. For instance, Katie Wainwright, another medical student, led a pilot study using bulk-packaged scalpel blades instead of the usual individual plastic wraps.
Another focus is examining how vulnerable groups—like the homeless, elderly, and low-income people—are more susceptible to weather-related and heat-related illnesses due to their circumstances.
Finally, the PHI will address the rise of infectious diseases linked to higher temperatures. The multidrug-resistant fungus Candida auris is one concern, as warmer conditions may contribute to its spread, posing threats to immunocompromised patients.
Beyond community efforts, the initiative wants to enhance student learning. It will provide resources for those interested in planetary health at all levels. Undergraduates can join a planetary health track, or take courses like “Climate Change and Health: Infections and Inequalities” and “Planetary Health: Global Environmental Change and Emerging Infectious Disease.” Graduate students in the Pathobiology program can incorporate environmental health topics into their studies, while medical students can participate in a planetary health scholarly concentration.
The initiative also hopes to offer clinical research opportunities and community projects, as stated by senior associate dean Kate Smith.
A steering committee made up of clinicians and researchers will soon define a detailed mission for the PHI. Smith noted that student involvement is key and there will be a call for students to join in the planning.
Although the initiative is just beginning, plans are underway for its first Planetary Health Symposium on May 1. It will feature panels, a student poster event, and guest speakers, demonstrating the exciting work ahead.
