Medical Schools Embrace Curriculum Adjustments Amid Escalating Climate Threats
Medical schools across the United States are increasingly incorporating information about climate change into their educational programs. According to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the percentage of medical schools including information about climate change in either required or elective courses has grown from 27% in 2019-2020 to 55% in 2021-2022.
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Medical schools
One notable example is Harvard Medical School, where a campaign led by Students for Environmental Awareness in Medicine has contributed to a greater emphasis on the health effects of climate change in the clinical curriculum. This effort involves integrating longitudinal content into basic science and medical science courses, providing students with a better understanding of the relationship between climate and health.
Similarly, Duke University School of Medicine launched a new topic thread within its coursework for first-year students, focusing on planetary health, environmental justice, and the impact of climate change on physical and mental health. This initiative is part of a broader effort to make the curriculum more patient-centric, incorporating real-world examples of the human toll of climate change.
While progress has been made, challenges remain in integrating climate-focused content without overwhelming faculty and students. Efforts include revising public health nursing offerings to incorporate required lessons on climate change, conducting patient environmental history assessments, and developing screening tools to identify patients at high risk of heat exposure.
The need for medical education to address the health effects of climate change has become increasingly apparent with the rise in extreme weather events, severe heat, hurricanes, and wildfires. Medical educators believe that regulatory bodies and accrediting organizations should include environmental health in their required standards to accelerate progress in preparing future clinicians to address environmental health issues.
