Healthy Climate America

At the 2026 Our Planet, Our Health Convention, three incredible health professionals courageously told the story of how and why they became the climate advocates they are today. You can now hear their stories in this special epsiode. Our storytellers are Nisha Sridhar, a fourth-year medical student; Wendy Bernstein, a senior community psychiatrist at the Wellness Equity Alliance; and Sheetal Khedkar Rao, an assistant professor of c...

Our annual conventions bring health professionals and advocates from around the country together to learn and innovate. This year, three participants agreed to visit our new podcast studio to share what they're up to, their passion and commitment, their projects at home, and their particular approach to climate health. Dr. Amanda d'Almeida (California) is a newly minted family physician with a focus on community health and educatio...

Climate change is increasingly shaping why people are forced to leave their homes, the risks they face along the way, and their health and safety in new places.

Today's guest is Marysel Pagán Santana, DrPH, MS, the Director of Environmental and Occupational Health of Migrant Clinicians Network in Puerto Rico. She leads and coordinates MCN projects related to occupational health, disaster preparedness, and emergency response. She si...

 In this special mini episode, we're taking a moment to reflect on where we've been this year and to look ahead at what the path forward may hold in 2026.

Support our work and become a member of the Consortium here: https://medsocietiesforclimatehealth.org/donate-or-become-a-member/

 Healthy Climate America is produced by Savannah Martincic. Our podcast consultant is Julie Hantman. Our podcast intern is Isaias Segui. Our music was...

Cancer Alley is an 85-mile stretch of land from  New Orleans to Baton Rouge. With the largest density of petrochemical operations in the world, the area is ground zero for environmental injustice and human rights violations. Sharon Lavigne is a pioneering organizer who resides along Cancer Alley in St. James Parish, Louisiana. She's a former special education teacher who founded RISE St. James to push back against the ...

 As families start gathering this holiday season, this episode invites us to consider how nourishing ourselves with thoughtful food choices can also help care for the planet.

Our guest is Dr. Tamiko Katsumoto. Dr. Katsumoto is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University and is board-certified in lifestyle medicine. She is passionate about educating h...

From global walkouts and strikes to protests and boycotts, youth climate activists  are showing how collective action can drive real change by organizing and mobilizing thousands around bold campaigns.  At the same time, help professionals are bringing their expertise and trusted voices to the fight. So how do we bring these groups together to amplify their impact and tackle the complex challenges of climate change mor...

The climate crisis is calling on health professionals to organize in new ways. Around the world, they're turning that concern into collective action.

In the second episode of our fall organizing series, guest host Pedja Stojicic sits down with Shweta Narayan, a trained social worker with over two decades of environmental justice campaigning and advocacy experience. She discusses the scope of the problem, w...

As the effects of the climate crisis worsen, more and more health professionals are recognizing that healing their communities also means organizing for change. 

In the first episode of our new three-part miniseries, host Lisa Patel sits down with Drs. Gaurab Basu and Pedja Stojicic. They are showing what's possible in climate and health organizing, while helping others grow through training and mento...

Even in the face of exhausting headlines and deep division, communities are finding ways to care for one another, take bold local action, and imagine new possibilities. From installing solar panels at churches to advancing tribal energy sovereignty, these efforts show that freedom and hope can still be created.

Our guest today is Reverend Casey Martinez-Tinnin, a  queer pastor and justice advocate. He join...

For the last 15 years, the endangerment finding has been a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy. Now, it and many other crucial protections are under attack. The proposed rollback would undermine mountains of scientific evidence and harm our health.

Our guest today is the incomparable Gina McCarthy, who was serving as Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation when the endangerment finding...

Sustainability in healthcare is no longer a distant goal—it's happening now. Across hospitals, health professionals are rethinking long-standing practices to cut waste and make care safer, smarter, and more resilient.

On this week's episode, host Lisa Patel sits down with Drs. Preeti Jaggi and Shreya Doshi. Together, they have established "Sustainabil-ID," a collaborative dedicated to advancing susta...

Climate change has become one of the most polarizing issues in American politics. For decades, the conversation has often fallen along party lines, fueled by mistrust, disinformation, and entrenched beliefs.

On this week's episode, host Lisa Patel sits down with Bob Inglis, a former U.S. Representative and current executive director of republicEN. They discuss his journey from skeptic to advocate, the impo...