Climate and Health
Equity Fellowship (CHEF)
We train doctors of color to become leaders in promoting equitable climate and health education, advocacy, and policy solutions.
The Climate and Health Equity Fellowship was launched in 2021 in partnership with the National Medical Association (NMA) recognizing that climate change is both a health emergency and a major health equity issue. Throughout the U.S. there is a need for more diversity in climate and health leadership and a sharper focus on equitable climate solutions. The goal of the Fellowship is to empower doctors of color from populations that face greater burdens from climate effects and are under-represented in medicine to become leaders in climate and health equity education, advocacy, and policy solutions.
May 10 - November 8, 2024
2023 Climate & Health Equity Fellowship Snapshot
Meet Our Fellows
Pediatrics | Miami, FL | National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)
Family Medicine | Flint, MI | National Medical Association (NMA)
Psychiatry | Los Angeles, CA | National Medical Association (NMA)
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | Milwaukee, WI | National Medical Association (NMA)
Otolaryngology | Atlanta, GA | National Medical Association (NMA)
Family Medicine | Los Angeles, CA | National Medical Association (NMA)
Anesthesiology | New York, NY | National Medical Association (NMA)
Internal Medicine and Pediatrics | Baltimore, MD | National Medical Association (NMA)
Obstetrics and Gynecology | Milwaukee, WI | National Medical Association (NMA)
Podiatry | Nashville, TN | National Medical Association (NMA)
Family Medicine | Honolulu, HI | National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP)
Pediatrics | Boston, MA | Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP)
Alfred Glover, DPM | Podiatry | Los Angeles, CA | National Medical Association (NMA)
Anna Lizama Clark, MD | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Orlando, FL | National Medical Association (NMA)
Brianna Clark, DO | Family Practice | Kingwood, TX | National Medical Association (NMA)
Cheryl Holder, MD | Internal Medicine | Pembroke Pine, FL National Medical Association (NMA)
Denise Powell, MD | Pediatrics | Bay St. Louis, MS | National Medical Association (NMA)
Earl Stewart, Jr., MD| Internal Medicine | Smyrna, GA American College of Physicians (ACP) & National Medical Association (NMA)
Esmeralda E. Morales, MD | Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine | Palo Alto, CA | National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)
George Crawford, MD | Surgery | Anniston, AL | National Medical Association (NMA)
Julian L. Watkins, MD | Internal Medicine | New York City, NY Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality (GLMA) & National Medical Association (NMA)
Marcos A. Moreno, MD | Psychiatry | New Haven, CT Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), American College of Physicians (ACP), & National Medical Association (NMA)
Marcus Kawika Iwane, MD | Internal Medicine | Kapolei, HI National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP) & American College of Physicians (ACP)
Valeria “Dee” Hairston, DPM | Podiatry | Germantown, WI | National Medical Association (NMA)
Francis Samonte, MD, PhD | he/him Pediatrics | Boston, MA | American Medical Association (AMA)
Gerri Cannon-Smith, MD, MPH | she/her/hers Pediatrics | Brandon, MS | National Medical Association (NMA)
Jessica Edwards, DO | she/her/hers Family Medicine | Austin, TX | National Medical Association (NMA)
Jessica Isom MD, MPH Psychiatry | Dorchester, MA | National Medical Association (NMA)
Nicole Mahealani Lum, DO Family Medicine | Honolulu, HI | National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP)
Nneoma Nwachuku Ojiaku, MD, MPH | she/her/hers Obstetrics & Gynecology | Sacramento, CA | National Medical Association (NMA)
Pragya Rai, MD | she/her/hers Pediatric Pulmonology | Spokane, WA | American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Rene Settle-Robinson, DPM | she/her/hers Podiatry | Milwaukee, WI | National Medical Association (NMA)
Ricardo Correa, MD, EdD | he/him/el Internal Medicine | Cleveland, OH | GLMA, ACP, & NHMA
Torrence Barry Nicholson, MD | he/him/his Family Medicine | Coy, AL | National Medical Association (NMA)
Tracey L. Henry, MD, MPH, MS | she/her/hers Internal Medicine | Atlanta, GA | American College of Physicians (ACP)
Yvonne Collins, MD | she/her/hers Gynecologic Oncology | Oak Park, IL | National Medical Association (NMA)
Dr. Armen Henderson, an internal medicine physician in Miami, Florida | Champion of the Month | VIEW VIDEO | Capstone Project
Dr. Bethany Carlos, a pediatrician in Charleston, South Carolina | VIEW VIDEO |
Dr. Linda Walden, a family physician in Cairo, Georgia | Champion of the Month | VIEW VIDEO
Dr. Nathan Scott, an ophthalmologist in Miami, Florida | VIEW VIDEO
Dr. Shaneeta Johnson, a surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia | Champion of the Month
Dr. Stephen Houser, an anesthesiologist in Greensboro, North Carolina
Fellows In Action
Articles, videos, policy resolutions, and additional publications by our current and former fellows.
Climate & Health Equity Fellowship – Partners & Sponsors
Our partners include the National Medical Association, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians, Association of American Indian Physicians, and the American Public Health Association.
Climate & Health Equity Fellowship – Our Funders
This program is made possible with the generous support of our funders: Johnson & Johnson, Energy Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Virginia Sea Grant, American Public Health Association, American Medical Association, and American College of Physicians.
