First Climate & Health
Science Policy Fellowship  

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The Climate & Health Science Policy Fellowship, sponsored by CHF, reinforces the increasing

need for medical professionals' adeptness regarding this crucial issue which has taken on

unprecedented urgency. Our goal is to foster highly credible, knowledgeable health leaders in all

facets of climate change and health in clinical, basic science, and policy settings to empower

health care professionals through education, policy, and communication skills. In response to

growing demand from health professionals across the world, the fellowship has been scaled up,

growing from one training position in 2019 to five annually, from 2021.

With CHF’s support, the University of Colorado has provided educational opportunities for its

Fellows that range from transdisciplinary collaboration with public health agencies,

non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions. In addition, CHF has been able to

provide vital support for health professionals as they engage in climate action through education

and advocacy. For example, prior fellows have presented at local, national, and international

conferences such as the Emergency Medicine Society of South Africa Conference, the 2021

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Meetings at COP 26, the APHA

Annual Meeting, CleanMed 2021 and CleanMed 2022, the National Academy of Medicine

meeting, the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, the Lancet Countdown Annual

Report, and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Annual Summit. Ensuring these subject

matter experts continue to have opportunities to influence change at future COP sessions fills a

critical gap in the current dialogue about global resilience and worldwide synergy necessary to

fight climate change as a health emergency.