Climate and Health
Equity Fellowship (CHEF)

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Meet Our Fellows

2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
Vanessa Wong, MD, MS

Vanessa Wong, MD, MS

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

Ben Wibonele, MD

Ben Wibonele, MD

Otolaryngology | Avondale Estates, GA | National Medical Association (NMA)

Justin Chin, DO, MEd

Justin Chin, DO, MEd

Family Medicine | Richmond, CA | National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP)

Lala Forrest, MD

Lala Forrest, MD

Psychiatry | New Haven, CT | Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP)

Micah Nishigaki, MD

Micah Nishigaki, MD

Family Medicine | Dallas, TX | GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality (GLMA)

Sheree Poitier, MD

Sheree Poitier, MD

Internal Medicine | Los Angeles, CA | National Medical Association (NMA)

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)

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)

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)

Climate & Health Equity Fellowship Snapshot

Fellows In Action

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

Op-Eds
Publications
Videos
Policy Resolutions
When Profit Trumps People: The Administration’s Assault on Environmental Justice

When Profit Trumps People: The Administration’s Assault on Environmental Justice

January 15, 2026 | Medium | Kathi Earles, MD, MPH, DABOM
Read More
Opinion: Memphis, Mississippi, and Medicaid expansion: Growth, health, and the air we share

Opinion: Memphis, Mississippi, and Medicaid expansion: Growth, health, and the air we share

October 27, 2025 | Jackson Advocate | Dr. Selika Sweet
Read More
It Can Happen Here

It Can Happen Here

September 22, 2025 | Medpage Today | Janelle White, MD, MHCM
Read More
Climate resilience won’t save us — but Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty might

Climate resilience won’t save us — but Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty might

September 8, 2025 | ICT News | Lala Forrest, MD
Read More
Katrina Was Bigger Than a Hurricane

Katrina Was Bigger Than a Hurricane

August 25, 2025 | The Progressive Magazine | Audrey L. Tanksley
Read More
A Heated Discussion: Menopause Climate Change, and the Environment

A Heated Discussion: Menopause Climate Change, and the Environment

August 18, 2025 | Medium | Keisha Callins, MD, MPH
Read More
How extreme heat is endangering N.J. lives and what we can do about it | Opinion

How extreme heat is endangering N.J. lives and what we can do about it | Opinion

August 17, 2025 | NJ Advance Media | Khalil Savary
Read More
Mass Transit and Active Transport Are a Boon to Health — and Climate

Mass Transit and Active Transport Are a Boon to Health — and Climate

August 7, 2025 | Medpage Today | Micah Nishigaki, MD
Read More

Resilience Matters: Opportunities for Action to Strengthen Communities

Racism and Anti-Racism in Psychiatry: Addressing Mental Health Disparities | Dr. Jessica Isom (2022 Fellow)

Climate change and health equity: The imperative for community-based resilience | Dr. Julian Watkins (2023 Fellow) & Dr. Marcos Moreno (2023 Fellow)

Empowered Hawaii: The Future of Energy | Dr. Marcus Iwane (2023 Fellow)

Advancing Environmental Health Equity – The Hub Live | Dr. Bethany Carlos (2021 Fellow)

Climate Change and Health Equity: The Problem and Steps Forward | Dr. Tracey Henry (2022 Fellow)

Equitable and Healthful Climate Solutions | Dr. Mark Mitchell (CHEF Founding Director) & Dr. Armen Henderson (2021 Fellow)

Johnson & Johnson Environmental Sustainability: Dr. Armen Henderson

Johnson & Johnson Environmental Sustainability: Dr. Nathan Scott

Johnson & Johnson Environmental Sustainability: Dr. Linda Walden

Electric Co-ops: Clean Energy and Equity | Dr. Linda Walden (2021 Fellow)

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

“

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

Climate & Health Equity Fellowship – Our Partners

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, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.