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.

Applications for the 2025 Climate & Health Equity Fellowship class are now open! Submit your application now through November 1, 2024.

 

Become a Fellow – Apply Here!

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Racial Equity Toolkit
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Our Fellows In Action

2023 Climate & Health Equity Fellowship Snapshot

Meet Our Fellows

2024
2023
2022
2021
Agustin Rivas, MD

Agustin Rivas, MD

Pediatrics | Miami, Florida | National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)

Aisha Harris, MD

Aisha Harris, MD

Family Medicine | Flint, Michigan | National Medical Association (NMA)

Carla Wright, MD

Carla Wright, MD

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | National Medical Association (NMA)

Charles Moore, MD

Charles Moore, MD

Otolaryngology | Atlanta, Georgia | National Medical Association (NMA)

Condessa Curley, MD

Condessa Curley, MD

Family Medicine | Los Angeles, California | National Medical Association (NMA)

Donna Kiel, MD

Donna Kiel, MD

Anesthesiology | New York, New York | National Medical Association (NMA)

Joniqua Ceasar, MD

Joniqua Ceasar, MD

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics | Baltimore, Maryland | National Medical Association (NMA)

LaKesha Lawrence, MD

LaKesha Lawrence, MD

Obstetrics and Gynecology | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | National Medical Association (NMA)

Brianna Clark, DO

Brianna Clark, DO

Family Practice | Kingwood, Texas | National Medical Association (NMA)

Cheryl Holder, MD

Cheryl Holder, MD

Internal Medicine | Pembroke Pine, Florida | National Medical Association (NMA)

Denise Powell, MD

Denise Powell, MD

Pediatrics | Bay St. Louis, Mississippi | National Medical Association (NMA)

Earl Stewart, Jr., MD

Earl Stewart, Jr., MD

Internal Medicine | Smyrna, Georgia | American College of Physicians (ACP) & National Medical Association (NMA)

Esmeralda E. Morales, MD

Esmeralda E. Morales, MD

Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine | Palo Alto, California | National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)

Julian L. Watkins, MD

Julian L. Watkins, MD

Internal Medicine | New York City, New York | Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality (GLMA) & National Medical Association (NMA)

Marcos A. Moreno, MD

Marcos A. Moreno, MD

Psychiatry | New Haven, Connecticut | Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), American College of Physicians (ACP), & National Medical Association (NMA)

Marcus Kawika Iwane, MD

Marcus Kawika Iwane, MD

Internal Medicine | Kapolei, Hawaii | National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP) & American College of Physicians (ACP)

Nicole Mahealani Lum, DO

Nicole Mahealani Lum, DO

Family Medicine | Honolulu, Hawaii | National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP)

Pragya Rai, MD

Pragya Rai, MD

Pediatric Pulmonology | Spokane, Washington | American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Yvonne Collins, MD

Yvonne Collins, MD

Gynecologic Oncology | Oak Park, Illinois | National Medical Association (NMA)

“

The program has been effective and instrumental in increasing my knowledge on climate change and health equity as well as my ability to advocate for marginalized communities.

– Steven Houser, MD

“

Phenomenal program. I recommend all physicians get climate certified.

– Linda Walden, MD

“

Growing up in Hawaii, climate change and environmental justice have always been important concerns to me and my family…..The CHEF program gave me the tools, mentorship, and medical community to help me develop my skills in education and advocacy on climate change and health equity.

– Nicole Mahealani Lum, DO

“

Excellent fellowship, I really enjoy networking and learning. It (the Fellowship) really cares about black and brown communities and how we can improve their health using climate justice.

– Ricardo Correa, MD, EdD

Fellows In Action

Articles, videos, policy resolutions, and additional publications by our current and former fellows.

Op-Eds
Publications
Videos
Policy Resolutions

Bothered by Brown Water Advisories? Fix Cesspools Now | Dr. Martina Kamaka (2024 Fellow)

Protect Florida’s children from mosquito-borne diseases | Dr. Agustin Rivas (2024 Fellow)

Opinion: Is Flint ready for a tornado or other extreme weather? | Dr. Aisha Harris (2024 Fellow)

Georgia should protect workers from extreme heat, just like it does high school athletes | Dr. Charles Moore (2024 Fellow)

To Better Connect Climate Change With Health, Focus on Patient Education | Dr. Earl Stewart (2023 Fellow)

A Just Recovery for Maui Must Center Native Hawaiians | Dr. Marcus Kawika Iwane (2023 Fellow) & Dr. Nicole Mahealani Lum (2022 Fellow)

How EHRs can impact climate change [PODCAST] | Dr. Earl Stewart (2023 Fellow)

How Climate Change, Heat & Air Pollution Affect Kids’ Health | Dr. Pragya Rai (2022 Fellow)

Opinion: Feds should make climate-friendly EVs more affordable

Climate Change and Health Boot Camp: Building Skills and Knowledge for Effective Engagement (Boot Camp Instructor)

Could Extreme Heat Make It Harder to Breastfeed? — We need more research on the impact of environmental factors 

EHRs must do more to help combat climate change

On climate change adaptation, consult the original experts: Indigenous people [Feature]

On climate change adaptation, consult the original experts: Indigenous people

Could Extreme Heat Make It Harder to Breastfeed?

Oil and Gas Production in our Los Angeles Communities (p. 17, C-2)

Guest Opinion: Alabama should get on the (electric) school bus

The Other Threat to our Water Supply

Children With Asthma Breathe Easier With Electric School Buses

Racism is #1 factor in preterm birth disparity

Opinion: I see double jeopardy in climate change, poor health

Climate Change Is Causing Premature Death— Healthcare professionals can help

Climate Health and People with Disabilities (PWD)

Rx for Heatwaves: Sacramento Needs a Comprehensive Plan for Extreme Heat

Opinion: Musk – Make Austin an Ecological Paradise

Protecting your eyes means protecting the climate

Wildfires through the health lens

SC schools, parents urged to commit to healthier, plant-based diets for children.

Georgia’s rural electric co-ops must commit to greater use of clean energy sources

We need a call to action on clean energy

Calling on co-ops to provide clean energy

Resilience Matters: Opportunities for Action to Strengthen Communities

Climate change and health equity: The imperative for community-based resilience

Empowered Hawaii: The Future of Energy

Advancing Environmental Health Equity – The Hub Live

Climate Change and Health Equity: The Problem and Steps Forward

Johnson & Johnson Environmental Sustainability: Dr. Armen Henderson

Johnson & Johnson Environmental Sustainability: Dr. Nathan Scott

Johnson & Johnson Environmental Sustainability: Dr. Linda Walden

Breastfeeding As a Climate Sustainability and Disaster Resilience Practice - Dr. Brianna Clark (2023 Fellow) | July 30, 2023
EHR System Creation and Expansion of Patient Education Handouts on Climate Change - Dr. Earl Stewart (2023 Fellow) | July 30, 2023
Electric School Buses - Dr. George Crawford (2023 Fellow) | July 30, 2023
Medical Specialty Climate Change Education - Dr. Valeria Dee Hairston (2023 Fellow) | July 30, 2023
Climate Change, Heat and Health - Dr. Yvonne Collins (2022 Fellow) | 2022
Declaring Climate Change A Public Health Crisis - Dr. Rene' Settles Robinson (2022 Fellow) | 2022
Commitment to Address Climate Change Impacts on Indigenous Health | 2022
Sustainability Education and Research in Anesthesia | July 20, 2021

Climate Change, Health and Equity | July 20, 2021

Climate & Health Equity Fellowship – Partners & Sponsors

Our partners include the American Public Health Association, the American Medical Association, the Association of American Indian Physicians, Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, the Meharry School of Global Health, the National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians, the National Hispanic Medical Association, the National Medical Association, and Virginia Sea Grant.

Climate & Health Equity Fellowship – Our Funders

This program is made possible with the generous support of our funders: the American Medical Association, Energy Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.