NOAA, health organizations launch fellowship to advance equity in health, climate policy
Through Virginia Sea Grant, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is supporting the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health at George Mason University, and Meharry School of Global Health, as it initiates the inaugural fellowship for Policy Experience in Equity Climate and Health (PEECH).
Officially launched on September 1, 2024, the fellowship is a full-time program designed to educate and train doctors to address climate and health inequities through policy. The fellowship enables physicians from underrepresented communities to gain policy experience by connecting them with federal agencies.
“We are pleased to partner with the Policy Experience in Equity, Climate and Health Fellowship to further equity solutions for all communities,” said Daniel Dawes, Founding Dean of Meharry School of Global Health, within Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. “The program will support our shared mission to improve access to the benefits of federal programs and protections, create healthier communities and give equal opportunities to achieve a healthy mind, body and environment to all U.S. residents.”
“NOAA and the Meharry School of Global Health are natural partners for this 18-month Policy Experience in Equity, Climate and Health fellowship,” said Dr. Shaneeta Johnson, fellowship director for the Climate and Equity Health Fellowship and the PEECH fellowship. “Together, we will have an even greater impact on frontline communities.”
The first PEECH fellow is Dr. Alfred Glover, a podiatric physician based in Los Angeles, who is also a 2023 Climate and Health Equity Fellow. His work in climate includes advocating for local and state governments to advance policies to achieve health equity.
Dr. Glover will expand NOAA’s One Health student network through affiliations with the healthcare student pathway program MiMentor and additional student organizations and universities. He will also engage in policy and health equity education with the Meharry School of Global Health. Additionally, Dr. Glover will address pressing climate and health issues in frontline communities using NOAA’s One Health information and strengthen NOAA’s One Health healthcare provider network on heat education through collaboration with the California Healthcare Foundation.
“It is clear that climate change is affecting human health in many ways,” said Jainey Bavishi, assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and deputy NOAA administrator. “NOAA is supporting this fellowship because it will help NOAA share our science, tools and information in a way that is actionable and accessible for physicians who are on the frontlines of protecting the health of their communities.”
The fellowship program is staffed by a dedicated team, including: Dr. Shaneeta Johnson, Fellowship Director; an associate professor of surgery; director of the Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Program; the residency associate program director at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia; Dr. Venise Curry, Associate Program Director who is also a consultant for community-based organizations; Dr. Kimberly Williams, a program manager who has extensive background in leadership development and consulting for the medical field; and Program Assistant Clarissa Peyton is a 2022 graduate of George Mason University, majoring in psychology and film and media studies.
Media contacts:
Monica Allen | NOAA
Dr. Kimberly Williams | Medical Society Consortium of Climate and Health Equity
