St. Luke’s and ICCH Present:
2025 Lecture Series on Climate and Health
Health Hazards of Plastics: From Production to Disposal
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - Noon to 1PM MST
Join Dr. Phil Landrigan, a leading expert in environmental health, pediatrician and epidemiologist, for an eye-opening talk on the impacts of plastics on human health. Dr. Landrigan's groundbreaking research on Plastics and Human Health reveals the significant dangers plastics pose throughout their lifecycle—from production to disposal. Initially focused on children's health, his research has expanded to highlight planetary-scale threats, including climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Learn about the toxic exposures and environmental contamination caused by plastics and the need for sustainable solutions.
Youth Climate Action
Wednesday, Feruary 19, 2025 - Noon to 1PM MST
Join Dr. Lori Byron, Jenny Wolf and Olivia Vesovich for an enlightening lecture on youth climate action. The event will also showcase inspiring testimonies from young activists from the Boise Youth Climate Action Council who are making a difference in their communities. Learn how these passionate youths are tackling climate challenges locally and discover ways to support and amplify their efforts. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with experts and youth leaders dedicated to a sustainable future.
Achieving Energy Independence in a Health Care Setting
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 - Noon to 1PM MST
Join Alan Heber, Manager of Facilities, Engineering and Energy Management at Gundersen Health System, as he shares the remarkable journey of Gundersen becoming the first health system to achieve energy independence. On October 14, 2014, Gundersen produced more energy than it consumed, thanks to a comprehensive strategy that included efficiency improvements and clean energy projects such as dairy digesters, wind turbines, and geothermal energy. Alan, will discuss the strategies and innovations that led to Gundersen's energy milestone, offering valuable insights into energy management and sustainability.
Climate Change and Farming: Worker Protections and Community Resiliency
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - Noon to 1PM MST
Irene Ruiz, a dedicated activist, will share her experiences advocating for farmworker protections in extreme heat conditions. Amanda Blanchet, executive director of ICCH and Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant, will discuss the broader implications of climate change on agricultural workers' health. This event will provide valuable perspectives on the challenges faced by farmers and highlight the urgent need for adaptive measures to ensure their well-being in a changing climate.
Impacts of Heat on Vulnerable Populations
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Noon to 1PM MST
Dr. Caleb Dresser is a leading expert in climate and health at the Harvard C-CHANGE program. Dr. Dresser will explore how rising temperatures disproportionately affect young children and the elderly, highlighting the increased risks of heat-related illnesses and mortality. He will discuss strategies for community awareness, mitigation, and preparedness to protect these at-risk groups. This lecture highlights the critical intersection of climate change and public health, and how we can build more resilient communities.
Past Lecture Series
Watch previous lectures on
St. Luke’s Youtube Channel
Year End Celebration
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 - Noon to 1PM MST
Join Bill McKibben, author, educator, and activist, who has been a strong voice in the need for climate action. With his many acclaims from the Gandhi Peace Award to founding a global grassroots climate campaign, Bill McKibben is an influence on the way we perceive sustainability around us.
Saving Us with Katharine Hayhoe
September 13th, 2023 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist and studies climate change. She doesn’t accept global warming on faith: she crunches the data, she analyzes the models, she help engineers and city managers and ecologists quantify the impacts. Katherine also is an author and speaker. Hear from her on climate and what we can do to move the needle toward solutions and invite allies under the big tent.
HHS: Office of Climate Change and Health Equity
September 20th, 2023 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Hear directly from Joe McCannon, Health Care Sector Lead at the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity and Jenny Petrovic, Senior Policy Advisor on the importance of engagement in the U.S. Health Sectors efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and the HHS Pledge.
Hope, Health, and the Climate Crisis
November 1st, 2023 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Dr. Howard Frumkin is an internist, environmental and occupational medicine specialist and epidemiologist. His research interests include public health aspects of the built environment, climate change, energy policy and nature contact. Dr. Frumkin will discuss how hope has been viewed since ancient times as a bedrock of human thriving, and contemporary evidence suggests that hope is a determinant of health, and one we need in this time of climate crisis.
The Health Benefits of Climate Action
November 15th, 2023 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Dr. Gaurab Basu will discuss why health equity is important to everyone and the intersection and complexity between environmental and health impacts. He will discuss developing resources for clinicians and students. And he will share how and why he electrified his home and what he discovered on that journey. In 2021, Dr. Basu was named to the Grist 50 list of national climate leaders. This is one among many other awards he’s received.
The Joint Commission’s Sustainable Healthcare Certification Program
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 - Noon to 1PM MST
Hear directly from Dr. Jonathan Perlin, President and CEO of The Joint Commission, on the importance of engagement in the U.S. Health Sector’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and the HHS Pledge. Learn how The Joint Commission is launching the Sustainable Healthcare Certification program for U.S hospitals and critical access hospitals. As a steering committee member for the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) “Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the US Health Sector,” Dr. Perlin will also offer an update on the exciting work being done at NAM. Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Perlin, President and CEO of The Joint Commission.
Mental Health and Climate Change
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - Noon to 1PM MST
Hear from Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Associate Director for Advocacy at MGH Center for Environment and Health. Dr. Pinsky is a renowned speaker on the topic of climate change and its impacts on our mental health. She will share her insights about the impacts of extreme heat, wildfire smoke, floods, droughts and other climate-fueled natural disasters on levels of stress, anxiety and depression, and how this is particularly impacting children, teens and young adults.
Health Benefits of Trees
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - Noon to 1PM MST
Join national urban forestry & climate action experts from research & practice who are advancing nature based solutions by planning for planting and caring for trees in cities across the US. Lance Davisson, Executive Director of Treasure Valley Canopy Network (TVCN), will moderate a panel with Dr. Vivek Shandas from Portland State University and national expert in measuring and mitigating urban heat and Dr. Geoffrey Donovan, leading researcher with the USDA Forest Service who is advancing research links between trees and human health. Learn about the important connections between trees and human health and explore how these leaders and Idaho organizations are partnering to improve health and resilience in Idaho communities by investing in these important nature based solutions.
Hot, Hot, Hot
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - Noon to 1PM MST
Heat is just something we know we need to be really worried about,” Dr. Geoff Comp, an emergency medicine specialist at Valleywise Health Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. Emergency departments in places like Arizona and Texas have long experience in dealing with heat waves and adaptation and Dr. Comp will speak to the changing number and severity of heat related illness he sees in clinical practice, as well as some novel treatment strategies for extreme heat. As the planet warms, areas not used to extreme heat have the potential to become a “mass casualty event”. The greatest pressure on emergency care comes when temperatures stay high for several days, and brownouts or power outages occur. “There’s a domino effect." Dr. Comp will address how his community has begun to adapt and the City of Boise will discuss how they are planning for a climate resilient community in the face of extreme heat.
Burning Issues: The Health and Societal Impacts of Wildfires
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 - Noon to 1PM MST
With the recent increase in occurrence and intensity of wildfires, it is vital to understand their causes and implications. Join Dr. Sadegh from Boise State University’s Department of Civil Engineering who combines his passion of climatology and environmental engineering to explore mechanisms that drive climate extremes, including wildfires. Dr. Rabin from the University of Michigan: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine continues the conversation to understand the health impacts of wildfire smoke, with his expertise in climate change and air pollution, including wildfire smoke, and the consequential respiratory diseases.
Sustainable Hospital Designs and Green Bonds
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 - Noon to 1PM MST
Join Aparna Dial, Sustainability Leader at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, as she discusses her role in determining all strategic and operational aspects of Ohio State’s sustainability program and energy services. Discover the revolutionary initiatives Aparna and her team are driving forward. Also, hear from Sandee Gehrke, Senior Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer at St. Luke’s. Nationally recognized for quality, patient safety, and consumer preference, St. Luke’s is a vital part of a healthy community. Learn more about the work St. Luke’s is doing to further their mission: “To improve the health of people in the communities we serve,” through sustainability.
Boston Medical Center’s Power Prescription Program and Sustainable Journey
Wednesday, October 10, 2024 - Noon to 1PM MST
Access to reliable power isn’t always a guarantee and can have an impact on the physical and economic health of patients. Join Anna Goldman, a primary care physician, researcher, and Medical Director of Climate and Sustainability at Boston Medical Center Health System, as she walks through the Clean Power Prescription Program, which allows the hospital to “prescribe electricity” to patients, benefiting both patient care and the overall health of their community. As Boston Medical Center describes, “health extends beyond traditional medicine to include critical social and environmental factors, such as economic mobility, food access and security, clean air, and adequate housing.”
Plastics and Human Health: Impacts and Healthcare Solutions
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Noon to 1PM MST
Plastics have a presence in every aspect of human life, from the packaging of our foods, our toothbrushes, to the clothes we wear. Plastic is everywhere. In recent years, there have been studies indicating the implications of plastic use on our planet and human health. There are multiple industries and facets in which humans and the planet are exposed to plastic, a large contributor being the health sector. Join us and Dr. Hilary Ong, an assistant professor of pediatric and emergency medicine, at the University of California San Francisco, to learn about the health care sector’s dependency on plastics, what are the direct impacts, and some possible solutions. Then here from Dr. Matthew Campen, Professor at the University of New Mexico's College of Pharmacy, who explores the systemic and neurovascular impacts of environmental toxicants, including plastics.