Swati Vattem, a second-year student in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences from Roscoe, Illinois, was awarded a coveted placement in a highly competitive internship with the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Over the summer of 2024, Vattem participated in a critical Vibrio Indicators Case Study, a project within the USGCRP’s Climate Change, Food Systems and Nutrition Security workstream.
Under the guidance of experts at USGCRP, Vattem’s work centered on studying the implications of climate-related vibriosis — a non-cholera infection within the Vibrio genus — and its impact on clinicians and patients, applying a developing system of indicators. While most cases of vibriosis are self-resolving, the infection can cause severe digestive distress or wound infections that, in some instances, may require hospitalization or result in amputation.
Vattem’s research linked climate change-related measurements, such as sea surface temperature and salinity, to the incidence of vibriosis as warmer water creates more habitable environments for the bacteria to thrive and spread. This is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States.
“It’s not as public as it should be, and it is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States. You see all those public notices to not swim in a body of water because of sharks, but there aren’t any signs that say don’t swim here because of vibriosis,” Vattem says.
The project involved creating targeted educational materials for both health care providers and the public, aimed at raising awareness about vibriosis, its symptoms, preventative measures and the influence of climate change on its spread.
“What really stood out to me during the internship was the lack of awareness among both the public and clinicians about the connection between climate change and public health,” Vattem says. “Climate change causes disruptions to our well-being that go beyond our biology, affecting everything from water and air quality to the spread of infectious diseases like vibriosis.”
Throughout the internship, Vattem attended climate events across multiple agencies and non-governmental organizations, raised awareness of climate research activities within the U.S. government and deepened her knowledge of climate-sensitive infectious diseases.
“This internship underscores Swati’s dedication to integrating comprehensive academic training with real-world research, contributing to critical advancements in climate and public health,” says Pravin Mishra, Ph.D., M.B.A., executive director of research at DMU, who facilitated Vattem’s participation.
Vattem is also committed to bringing awareness to her peers at DMU and is exploring initiatives such as inviting guest speakers and organizing seminars on climate change and health within the Global Health Student Club, where she serves on the board. She intends to continue focusing on the intersection of climate change and public health.
