Code Green: The Climate-Smart Health Professional

Code Green Team
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Bimonthly

How does climate change affect health? And what can medical professionals do about it? Those are the very questions we hope to answer here on Code Green: The Climate-Smart Health Professional. In each episode of this series, we’ll highlight the intersections of climate change and health by exploring patient case studies that exemplify the climate-health nexus and by spotlighting planetary health curriculum initiatives at medical schools around the world. Hosted, produced, and edited by Isha Thapar and Dhivya Arasappan.

  1. Sep 28

    21. Disposability in Health Care (with Dr. Jeremy Greene)

    We are kicking off our new “Sustainability Series” with Jeremy Greene, MD PhD. Dr. Greene is physician-historian and the founding Director of the Center for Medical Humanities and Social Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. In this episode, we speak about the shift towards the increasing disposability of medical technology and solutions to reduce the global impact of medical waste. Resources mentioned: • Hypodermics on the Shore, The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/08/hypodermic-needles-disposable-syringes-washed-up-beaches/675167/ • Why are plastic syringes not being recycled?, The Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01333-9/abstract • After the Single Use Project: https://aftersingleuse.net/ • The PASS-UP model: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.7326/ANNALS-25-01264 Episode written and produced by Dhivya Arasappan and Isha Thapar, and edited by Isha Thapar.

  2. 12/01/2025

    20. Climate Work Amid Political Uncertainty (with Dr. John Balbus)

    In this episode we talk with Dr. John Balbus, a tireless climate advocate and the inaugural director of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within HHS. In the last year, the climate movement has faced many setbacks requiring more resilience, courage, and joy. In this conversation, we explore how to support this work and these feelings amid uncertainty, while charting through Dr. Balbus' illustrious career.  Episode Written by Phoebe Cunningham and Elizabeth Whidden, Produced by Natasha Sood, and Edited by Liana Haigis and Dhivya Arasappan.

  3. 09/09/2025

    19. MS4SF Climate Health Equity Day

    In this episode, we bring you “on the ground” interviews from Medical Students for a Sustainable Future’s 2025 Climate Health Equity Day conference. We spoke with medical students, organizers, and advocates about their experiences at the conference, the urgent need for climate-informed health policy, and how future physicians are mobilizing for planetary health justice. These conversations capture the energy and vision of the next generation of healthcare leaders working to center equity in climate and health. Episode written and hosted by Phoebe Cunningham and Elizabeth Whidden, produced by Natasha Sood, and edited by Liana Haigis.

  4. 07/14/2025

    18. Case Study: Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases of the Skin

    In this episode, we speak with Dr. Alia Badawi, author of a patient case exploring how particulate matter and air pollution exacerbate inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Check out the written case (adaptable for medical school curricula) at Climate Resources for Health Education: https://climatehealthed.org/course/pemphigus-and-atopic-dermatitis-due-to-pm-exposure/ . Rohan Arora, Cameron Nosrat, and Dr. Eva R Parker were also involved in the creation of this case. Episode written and hosted by Phoebe Cunningham and Elizabeth Whidden, produced by Natasha Sood, and edited by Liana Haigis

  5. 03/24/2025

    17. Case Study: Cardiac Health Confronts Rising Temperatures & Pollutants

    In this episode, we speak to medical students Vennela Avula, Alice Moon, and Ahmed Sayed, co-authors of a case emphasizing the connection between cardiovascular health and climate change with a preventative and primary care lens. Check out their written case (adaptable for medical school curriculum) at Climate Resources for Health Education: https://climatehealthed.org/course/primary-prevention-of-cardiac-disease/.  Episode written by Phoebe Cunningham and Elizabeth Whidden, produced by Natasha Sood, and edited by Liana Haigis.

  6. 01/28/2025

    16. Education and Advocacy in Climate Health

    In this episode, we’re joined by Zach Williams, MPH, and Dr. Gaurab Basu, MD, MPH, to explore the power of education and advocacy in addressing the climate-health nexus. Dr. Williams, Associate Director of the Environment & Health Program at Physicians for Social Responsibility, brings expertise in youth engagement and public health education. Dr. Basu, Director of Education and Policy at Harvard Chan C-CHANGE, integrates climate justice into medical education and policy advocacy. Tune in for actionable insights and inspiration to advance climate-health work in your career and community.

  7. 11/12/2024

    15. Case Study: Traumatic Injury and Changing Infectious Disease Risks

    In this episode, we speak with Dr. Melody Porlier and Dr. Arpana Jain, co-authors of a case exploring the interaction of traumatic injury and rising infectious disease risks. Check out their written case (adaptable for medical school curricula) at Climate Resources for health education: https://climatehealthed.org/course/vibrio-vulnificus-and-necrotizing-fasciitis/.  Dr. Annie Cherner was also involved in the creation of this case.  Episode written by Phoebe Cunningham and Elizabeth Whidden, Produced by Natasha Sood, and Edited by Liana Haigis.

  8. 09/03/2024

    14. Locating your Place in Climate Work (with Dr. Paul Devine Bottone)

    In this episode, we’re going to discuss reconnecting to your climate interests within your career and how to use those passions to advocate within your community. We’ll be talking with Dr. Paul Devine Bottone who is a pediatrician and adolescent health specialist at the CHOP and Penn Student Health. He has a particular interest in the interplays of climate justice and adolescent and young adult health, with focuses on climate anxiety and food sovereignty. Relevant comments and links for episode: Physicians for Social Responsibility https://psr.org/  Braiding Sweetgrass By Robin Wall Kimmerer Episode written by Phoebe Cunningham and Elizabeth Whidden, Produced by Natasha Sood, and Edited by Liana Haigis.

See All (22)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

How does climate change affect health? And what can medical professionals do about it? Those are the very questions we hope to answer here on Code Green: The Climate-Smart Health Professional. In each episode of this series, we’ll highlight the intersections of climate change and health by exploring patient case studies that exemplify the climate-health nexus and by spotlighting planetary health curriculum initiatives at medical schools around the world. Hosted, produced, and edited by Isha Thapar and Dhivya Arasappan.

Information

You Might Also Like