Through meaningful collaboration, innovation and education, the Center for Planetary and Human Health provides a hub for impactful discovery to address the interconnected challenges shaping human health and the planet.
Translating discovery into impact, we plan to advance healthier communities, greater resilience, and sustainable solutions for generations to come.
What is Planetary Health?
A transdisciplinary field focused on understanding and addressing the human health impacts of our degradation of Earth’s natural systems.
Interconnected Environmental Issues
- Planetary health highlights the links between climate change,
pollution, and biodiversity loss impacting human health globally.
Impact on Human Health
- Environmental degradation drives a significant global disease
burden, affecting communities worldwide.
Reducing Health Inequities
- Addressing planetary health challenges is vital for reducing health
disparities and protecting future generations.
Vision
Flourishing communities and ecosystems, advanced through equitable science and practice.
Mission
Drive bold and innovative action at the intersections of human and planetary health.
Goals
- Create and share knowledge on planetary and human health
- Translate evidence into health system integrated interventions
- Elevate WFUSM as a leader in planetary health research and innovation
To create future leaders who will safeguard the health of human civilization by actively addressing the interconnected impacts of human activity on Earth's natural systems through education, collaborative research, community service and direct action.
Strategic Goals:
- Equip learners with core concepts to understand the interconnected systems of the environment, climate, and health
- Integrate transdisciplinary teams to design actionable solutions for sustainable healthcare delivery
- Connect learners to planetary and human health-focused quality improvement and research opportunities that spur clinical transformation
To create a collaborative research hub within WFUSM, leveraging our institutional strengths to produce evidence that drives innovation and action in the field of planetary and human health.
Strategic Goals:
- Obtain extramural funding to support research and innovation
- Provide a “home” for interested faculty, staff, and students to converge, build synergy, and advance CPHH research
- Engage and energize students through education and research dissemination events; engage students in research activities
Research Scope
- Research or evaluation of activities focused on healthcare sustainability
- Research focused on translation of known evidence into healthcare delivery
- Research focused on describing or identifying impacts of climate or environment on human health outcomes
CPHH Faculty and Staff
David Calloway, MD, MPA, Interim Director
Research and Innovation Pillar
Elizabeth Jensen, MPH, PhD, Director of Research and Innovation
Alexandre Guevel, PhD, Community and Industry Stakeholder Lead
Emily McEwan Jones, MD, MS, Project Manager
Events supported through the Research and Innovation Unit
- Speaker Series
- Film Series
- Research in Progress
- Funding Announcements
Education Pillar
Michelle Birch, MD, Director of Research and Innovation
Aaron Levy, DO, Community and Industry Stakeholder Lead
David Mullins, PhD, Project Manager
Events supported through the Education Unit
- Integration of planetary and human health connections into medical school curriculum
- Medical student-driven education, scholarship, and service through Medical Students for a Sustainable Future
- Collaboration with community and industry partners to optimize a healthy environment and sustainable healthcare delivery