“The effects of climate change are accelerating and undermining human health and well-being in many different ways. There is no doubt that the health care sector will need to adapt, and although it has begun to develop more targeted strategies to address climate-related challenges, a broad knowledge gap persists. There is a critical need to develop and cultivate new knowledge and skill sets among health professionals, including those in public health, environmental science, policy, and communication roles.”1
This course will provide students:
- Overview of the driving forces and mechanics of climate change
- Implications on human health
- Mitigation and adaptation strategies with co-health benefits, including actions from public health interventions, community strategies, and health policy
This course will place a special emphasis on how climate change interacts with social determinants of health and increases racial health disparities.
By synthesizing concepts and knowledge from multiple disciplines, students will gain an understanding of the role of public health professionals, and will develop a hands-on, local, national or global climate change and public health intervention project proposal.
Classes will include guest speakers from community-based organizations as well as practice-based and research-focused academics.
Topics include:
- Heat Extremes and Occupational Health
- Storms, Flooding, and Water and Food Borne Diseases/Infections
- Vector Borne Diseases
- Air Quality and Pollution
- Food and Nutritional Insecurity
- Mental Health, Violence and Conflict
- Migration and Displacement
- Environmental Justice
- Frameworks, Tools and Vulnerability Indexes
- Climate Change and Health Policy
- Communication Strategies
Resources:
Figure 1: https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/default.htm
Figure 2: https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts
For more information contact:
Course Director: Rachel Hale, MA
Office Phone: 501-526-6626
Email: rbhale@uams.edu
Office Location: RAHN 2227
Office Hours: By appointment
Class location and times: Online, Asynchronous