J.D. Polk, D.O., M.S., M.M.M., CPE, FACOEP, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Yogesh Shah, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean of global health, have been invited by the White House to a pair of events focused on climate change and health.
Polk and Shah will attend a symposium, Data & Innovation at the Climate-Health Nexus, on April 7. Hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the event brings together researchers, engineers, data scientists and technologists, program and policy developers, community leaders and other stakeholders to discuss how Federal data can be used to identify and address key climate and health questions. An expert panel will discuss innovative technologies and solutions to climate and health challenges and on data-driven research on the effects of climate change on infectious disease outbreaks.
On April 9, Polk and Shah will attend a roundtable on “Educating Tomorrow’s Health Leaders on the Impacts of Climate Change,” held as part of the Administration’s National Public Health Week activities.
“Climate change is a health issue given its impact on air quality, temperature, the weather, agriculture, national security and much more. Regardless of the causes, we need to prepare for and respond to these changes,” Polk recently told DMU Magazine.
Polk and Shah have been deeply involved with climate and health since early 2014 when they established the Heartland Climate and Health Consortium (HCHC). HCHC brings together a variety of individuals in education, government, health care and other nonprofit entities to learn about and discuss the impact of climate change and devise strategies to educate the public.
Learn more about Des Moines University’s efforts to educate and inform others about the effects of climate change at DMU’s Global Health website.
