New course for clinicians on climate change and human health
A new clinician-focused webinar series, titled "Climate Change and Human Health" organized by Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) with contributions from several NIHHIS partners, is now open for registration. The purpose of this 7-week course, which runs from Feb. 17 - April 7, 2021, is to help clinicians and other medical professionals better understand the ways in which climate variability and change impact human health and health care facilities. Another goal is to help clinicians become more conversant in climate science and climate-related impacts so that they may integrate climate science information into their communications with patients as well as their long-term resilience planning for their facilities.
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ECHO is a peer-learning network launched in 2003 by clinicians for clinicians and other medical professionals who are seeking continuing education credits. A certificate of completion will be awarded to all participants who attend all 7 sessions. This course is the first time ECHO has addressed the subject of climate change.
The idea for this new course was initiated by Dr. Joanna Katzman, a clinician and professor at the University of New Mexico's School of Medicine. The course will feature following topics:
1. The Science of Climate Change
2. Connecting Climate and Human Health Outcomes
3. Global Warming, Extreme Heat & Vulnerable Populations
4. Climate Change, Air Quality, and Respiratory Illness
5. Climate-Driven Ecological Change and Water- and Vector-borne Diseases
6. Climate Change and Mental Health
7. Extreme Events, Impacts to Healthcare Facilities, and Disaster Preparedness
This course is free and anyone interested may register to attend here.
There will be a post-course formal evaluation to assess participants' views and feedback; and to consider whether we should re-run the course periodically in the future. There have already been expressions of interest in extending the scope of the course to clinicians and health care professionals internationally.