Bridges to Access 2022: The impact of an interdisciplinary, educational conference about climate-related health effects and climate disparities on pre-health and health professional student knowledge, beliefs, and confidence

• Published in: The journal of climate change and health Vol. 8; p. 100170
• Main Authors: Moon, Alice B., Xie, Willa, Suh, Joy H., Moritz, Brandon W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson SAS 01.10.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Climate change; Climate-related health effects; Conference; Health, medical education; Student-led; Health, medical education; Climate change; Climate-related health effects; Student-led; Conference
• ISSN: 2667-2782; 2667-2782
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joclim.2022.100170

Climate change is a public health crisis that exacerbates health issues and inequalities. Health professionals have the responsibility to understand climate-related health effects and advocate for public policies that positively impact the environment and the health of vulnerable communities. Though climate change poses one of the biggest threats to health, most health students have not received formalized education on its health effects. Student-led initiatives may be integral in addressing the present gaps in knowledge. Bridges to Access (B2A): Health and Climate was a student-led interdisciplinary conference at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) that educated students about the urgency of climate change, its negative impacts on human health, and how these health impacts disproportionately harm already-vulnerable populations. Survey results from the conference suggest that B2A is an effective model for educating students by impacting knowledge, confidence, and beliefs on topics related to health and climate.