Fellow

If you hope to pursue an academic emergency medicine (EM) career focused on climate change, you will benefit from the advanced training, networking, leadership, and research opportunities that come with completion of a fellowship or advanced degree, although these are not mandatory for entering the field.

University of Colorado

In 2017, a graduate medical education (GME) fellowship for EM physicians was created through the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the first of its kind. The one-year fellowship provides physicians with diverse leadership experiences and critical communication skills necessary to confront current and emerging environmental health threats with multiple stakeholders across academic departments, federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, professional societies, and private industries. Fellows partner with the University of Colorado Consortium for Climate Change and Health and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Fellows practice clinically ~six-eight shifts per month at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. There is no advanced degree at this time.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School

The fellowship in Climate and Human Health is now in its second year. Fellows practice clinically ~eight shifts per month and work with faculty at BIDMC; the Harvard Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment; and the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights. A two-year fellowship that includes an MPH from Harvard's School of Public Health is available.

University of Washington

The Section of Population Health in the Department of Emergency medicine at the University of Washington has conducted extensive research on the health implications of climate change. Dr. Jeremy Hess has contributed to the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, and a physician fellowship focused on climate and health may be available soon.

Columbia University

The Climate and Health Program, including a new Climate School, offers masters and doctoral degrees in climate and health and related disciplines. While this is not a physician fellowship, and clinical practice opportunities would have to be arranged separately, this may be a good option for those who want in-depth graduate-level research training in this field.

Johns Hopkins University

While a physician fellowship is not offered, graduate students enrolled at the Bloomberg School of Public Health have the opportunity to complete a Climate and Health Certificate Program.

Other Institutions

Yale University hosts a Center for Climate Change Communication that offers seminar courses in climate change communication, and the Center on Climate Change and Health pursues primary research. George Mason University's Program on Climate and Health hosts the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, and has an active research and education program. Stanford University also has an active climate and environmental health program. At the federal level, several agencies have programs focusing on various aspects of climate and health. While none of these institutions currently offer physician fellowships, collaborative opportunities may exist.