This news was first printed in Inside Climate News and is being shared as a part of global climate-changing activities.
Many more medical students are repeatedly urging their institutions to include more in their curriculums about how the climate operates to impact health.
A few years back, some students cared for the Earth at Harvard. They asked their friends if they wanted to learn about climate effects on health. Many said yes. Teachers helped the Students for Environmental Awareness in Medicine (SEAM) group. They made a “climate change curriculum” for first-year medical students in 2022.
“It was a grassroots effort,” said Dr. Julia Malits, an ex-student who led SEAM. She works in emergency medicine now. “It felt rewarding to work on something I cared about with students who understood climate change’s health impacts.”
A new study shows their work paid off. After the first year of climate education, most Harvard student participants agreed that the curriculum was helpful. They understood better how climate change affects health. Harvard isn’t alone. Many medical schools teach future doctors about climate-related health issues. It’s a growing movement around the world.
Climate change is not only hurting the environment, it is also a major public health issue. Sometimes, the health effects are clear, like heat stress or injuries from storms. But other times, the impacts are complex. For instance, rising seas can affect reproductive health. And warmer temperatures can change the spread of diseases like malaria. In medical school, climate health education varies by course. In immunology class, students learn how higher temperatures increase pollen and allergies. In a psychology course at Harvard, they study links between climate change and mental health issues like anxiety. Along with covering the many health impacts, the program teaches core skills. This helps students recognize climate-related conditions when treating patients.
“This is about good medicine,” said Dr. Gaurab Basu, who leads the initiative. He is a physician and teacher at Harvard’s public health school.
Medical training is key for all doctors. It helps surgeons, pediatricians, OB-GYNs, and more. This is true for every medical field. The program teaches about climate, health, and inequality. Students learn the causes of the climate crisis. They see how global warming impacts local areas.
Dr. Basu treats patients in Somerville, Massachusetts. Many come from Chelsea, an immigrant community. Chelsea has an urban heat island effect. This makes temperatures hotter than nearby areas. It increases heat stress risks for residents. Dr. Basu says, “We want students to care for patients. And, know where patients live. Understand the environmental exposures. Also, ask why. Advocate for change.” Research backs this view. Doctors are trusted voices on climate. They can shape public opinion on these issues.
Climate change is changing how doctors learn. In 2023, Harvard approved a new plan. It makes climate change part of all four years of medical school. Other schools teach climate health too. In recent years, schools like Stanford and Colorado added classes on health risks like heat, fires, and storms. An article by Mira Cheng explains this shift.
In 2019, students at UC San Francisco started rating climate education at medical schools. This Planetary Health Report Card grew across the country and the world. But climate education needs work. Basu says teaching must go beyond year one. He wants clinical teachers to learn too. That way, they can guide students during hands-on training.
“We can’t teach every clinic,” said Basu. “So those mentors need climate knowledge. When working one-on-one, they can cover it.” Malits could not join the climate lessons at HMS. She was busy with med school then. But after graduating, she often talks about climate change. Both with patients and family. Her mom is also a doctor. She did not learn about the climate’s health impacts. Malits explains these things to her mom. They have great talks where her mom learns new things. It is rewarding for both of them.
