34. Young Leaders Take Action on Climate and Health

In our latest episode, we discuss the gaps that exist in today’s healthcare systems around climate change and health, and what young people in particular are doing to bridge those gaps.

Our guests today are Hazel Rogers and Ben Rabin. Hazel is the assistant director of patient experience and cultural transformation at Mt. Sinai Morningside in New York, where she advocates for patients and employees on issues of health, equity and inclusion. Ben is a fifth-year medical student at Atlanta’s Emory University, and has worked closely with faculty and other students to make climate change a formal part of the Emory Medical School curriculum.

For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations.

Key Takeaways:

[1:38] What prompted Ben to take action on the health impacts of climate change?

[2:51] When did Ben get involved in shortening the gap between medical training and the impact of climate change on health?

[3:57] What training would better prepare medical students for the health impacts of climate change?

[5:25] What factors enabled Ben and his peers succeed? 

[7:29] Hazel talks about her role at Mount Sinai.

[8:30] What is the biggest climate health threat facing the communities Hazel works with?

[9:49] Did the pandemic bring to light particular disparities in the community Mount Sinai serves?

[12:22] Hazel discusses getting involved with the community and knowing more about them to better serve their needs.

[13:31] How does Ben envision better aligning the public health and clinical care systems to tackle the health impacts of climate change together?

[15:26] Ben discusses reframing the climate change conversation from one of economics to one of health?

[17:22] How can we better bring community health into the current healthcare structure?

[18:51] What or who gives Hazel the most hope about effectively addressing climate change and the health issues that we face today?

[20:21] What or who gives Ben the most hope about effectively addressing climate change and the health issues that we face today?

Mentioned in This Episode:

Mount Sinai Morningside

Emory University School of Medicine