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 to participate in the White House Public Health & Climate Change Summit on June 23. The summit follows up on two events Shah and Polk attended in April. President Barack Obama committed to hosting the summit earlier this year to bring together the Surgeon General and the public health community to discuss climate and health issues.
The public health community plays an important role in communicating and preventing health-related climate impacts. The White House Public Health & Climate Change Summit will bring together senior White House officials, health professionals, academics and other important stakeholders to empower communities with the information and tools they need to protect public health in the face of climate change.
Polk and Shah have been active locally and nationally on the topic of climate and health. They established the Heartland Climate and Health Consortium (HCHC) in early 2014 to discuss the impact of climate change and devise strategies to educate the public. In April 2015, they joined leaders of 26 universities in a commitment to address the health impacts of climate change in medical education.
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.
