THE OFFICE OF NURSING RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP |
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I am proud to introduce the Office of Nursing Research and Scholarship at MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing in our inaugural newsletter. We strive to inspire nurse researchers and scholars to advance practice and improve the health of people worldwide.
Our mission is to advance rigorous scientific inquiry and scholarly activities that improve practice and enhance the stature of clinical and translational research. We aim to cultivate research from faculty who are at the cutting edge of their fields, foster collaboration, promote interprofessional research, and develop students to be the next generation of nurse researchers and scholars.
Our new office is dedicated to upholding our pillars of excellence and equity with four centers: Translational Research and Clinical Practice; Nursing and Interprofessional Education; Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health; and Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data. Each edition of the newsletter will highlight one of the four key pillars of excellence. In this inaugural edition, we are elated to feature the Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health.
Ruth Palan Lopez, PhD, GNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN
Professor, Associate Dean of Research, Jacques Mohr Chair
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THE FOUR CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY |
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THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE,
CLIMATE JUSTICE, AND HEALTH
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Climate change is a growing health concern, a threat to the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations worldwide, that promises to worsen dramatically if left unchecked.
The Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health at MGH Institute of Health Professions is a first-of-its-kind, nurse-led initiative that focuses on addressing ways all health care professionals can respond to the impact of climate change, and help improve such things as ensuring access to safe drinking water, growing a sufficient amount of healthy food, and creating safe, clean environments that can improve ecosystems.
Several faculty members in the School of Nursing, having recognized very early the significance and impact on the communities we serve, have published books and articles on climate change, and presented at national and international conferences on the subject.
In creating the Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health, we have the opportunity to work together in our roles as teachers, clinicians, policy-makers, scientists, and environmentalists to address these pressing issues through education, practice, research, and service.
We invite you to join this mission that will address the world’s single largest issue of the 21st Century.
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Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion |
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The Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health is committed to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Consistent with the Institute’s overarching vision, mission, values, and commitment to these inclusive principles, the Center engages in a commitment to address the intersection of the social determinants of health in our climate-changing world. Moreover, we acknowledge systemic racism as a social determinant of health and actively seek to understand how racism is embedded in our institutions of health, education, and housing. We acknowledge that racism disproportionately impacts certain communities in their experience of health and well-being generally, and climate-related health specifically. We stand with underrepresented groups and vulnerable populations who experience deleterious health consequences of climate change and commit to addressing these injustices. We also recognize that those who are disproportionately affected by the health consequences of climate change are those who least contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Core Values
Our climate change efforts are guided and informed by our beliefs about and commitments to the health of global communities, an emphasis on climate change and health, and a commitment to climate justice.
These values include:
- Climate Justice
- Health advocacy on behalf of individuals, families, communities, and populations
- Safe drinking water and sufficient healthful food for all
- Safe, clean environments that support all ecosystems
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: TALYA BRIANA |
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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) is a national organization and network of nurses around the world. Their mission: to promote healthy environments and bring awareness to environmental health through educating nurses, advancing research, and influencing policy. In 2020, ANHE’s first national student subcommittee of nurses created the Mindless Composting Guide to address how people can make environmentally healthy choices through monitoring food waste, reusing food scraps, and implementing a “mindless” composting method at home. Talya Briana, a Master of Science in Nursing student in the Family Track in the Class of 2022, highlights what inspired the committee to design the composting guide and how her experience fortified her interests in environmental science: |
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“As a member of the student subcommittee of nurses, I felt empowered to take initiative on an environmental health issue that I am passionate about. The committee was encouraged to find a common topic of interest and collectively design and manage a year-long project. Four committee members, including myself, were passionate about finding ways to reduce the food waste in landfills that are contributing to climate change and resulting in health consequences. Personally, composting is one way I avidly take action to reduce my carbon footprint at home and it helps me nurture my relationship with food. For the other student nurses, this practice was something they either wanted to learn more about or wanted to start participating in. We decided to create a guide to help people find a way of composting that suits their lifestyle. Our vision soon expanded, and we worked towards inspiring people to reduce and reuse their own food scraps. The entire project was completed virtually.
My interest in environmental health began when I studied the toxin levels in bottled vs. tap water for my middle school science fair project. As an undergraduate student studying biology, my interest grew as I served on our sustainability committee, and moreover as a post-graduate student, adopting a greener lifestyle and volunteering for the Sierra Club in Massachusetts. These experiences, along with my role with the ANHE, solidified my niche in nursing, bridging my interests in environmental science and public health. I am grateful to have found a group of like-minded students and nurses to work with as my career progresses.”
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FEATURED MEDIA & PRESENTATIONS |
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Health Impacts of Climate Change
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Climate Change and Clinical Practice
Dr. Patrice Nicholas was the lone nurse panelist on the Climate Crisis and Clinical Practice Symposium, sponsored by Harvard Medical School, that was held in February. She spoke of how nurses and other health professionals can play a vital role by being educated and equipped to address the deleterious health consequences of climate change.
Hubspot Changemaker Media Online: Dr. Patrice Nicholas spotlights the Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice and Health for Manifest Boston.
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The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science and the American Academy of Nursing 2020 Presentations
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An Overview of the Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health; PK Nicholas DNSc, DHL (Hon.), MPH, RN, NP-C, FAAN; S. Breaky, PhD, RN; R. Starodub, PhD, RN; J. Hart, DSc
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An Agenda to Galvanize the Advancement of Research and Scholarship: Climate and Health Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health; RP Lopez, PhD, RN, FAGS, FAAN; N. Gavini, PhD; PK Nicholas, DNSc, DHL (Hon), MPH, MS, RN, NP-C, FAAN
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Additional 2019-2020 Presentations
Nicholas, P.K. & Breakey, S. Advancing a school of nursing center for climate 2019
change, climate justice, and health. Global Nursing Caucus, Boston MA.
Breakey, S. & Nicholas, P.K. Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change 2020
McLean Hospital, Belmont MA
Nicholas, P.K. & Breakey, S. Advancing a School of Nursing Center for 2019
Climate justice and health. Global Nursing Caucus Fall Summit. Boston MA
Nicholas, P.K. “Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Environmental Health: The Role
of the Nursing Profession," the Norman Knight Nursing Center’s Grand Rounds, 2020
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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
*Data-Based; +Peer-Reviewed
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*+McKinnon, S., Breakey, S., Zeman Eddy, E., Fanuele, J. Tarbet, A., Nicholas, P. K., & Viamonte-Ros, A. (Submitted for review, 2020). Roles of health professionals in addressing health consequences of climate change in interprofessional education. Journal of Interprofessional Care.
*+McLellan, A., McWhinnie, A. (MSN '20), Gordon, B., Fitzgerald, C., Sipe, M., Breakey, S., & Nicholas, P. K. (Submitted for review, 2020). Changing climate, changing curriculum: Preparing future healthcare providers to address climate-health vulnerabilities and improve population health. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Submitted for review.
+Nicholas, P. K., Breakey, S., Tagliareni, E., Tuck, I., Neal-Boylan, L., Ladd, E., Corless, I. B., Reynolds, R. Y., Simmonds, K., & Lussier-Duynstee, P. (2020). Advancing a school of nursing center for climate change, climate justice, and health. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 38, 1-13.
+Nicholas, P.K., Breakey, S., McKinnon, S., Zeman Eddy, E., Fanuele, J., & Starodub, R. (2020). A CLIMATE: A framework for assessment of climate-change related health consequences in the emergency department. Journal of Emergency Nursing. Epub ahead of print. https://www.intljourtranur.com/article/S0099-1767(20)30350-0/abstract
+Nicholas, P.K., Breakey, S., White, B., Brown, M.J., & Fanuele, J. (2020). Mental health impacts of climate change: Perspectives for the emergency department clinician. Journal of Emergency Nursing. 46(5), 590-599.
+Nicholas, P.K., Breakey, S., Tagliareni, E., Simmonds, K, & Sabo, K. (2020). Climate change and the health of populations: Incorporating stages of nursing’s political development. Nursing Outlook. Sep 24:S0029-6554(20)30615-1. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2020.08.001.
+Nicholas, P. K., Breakey, S., & Blank, P. (2020). Health consequences of climate change in older adults. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners,16, 433-437.
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+Nicholas, P.K., Breakey, S., Tagliareni, E., Simmonds, K, & Sabo, K. (2020). Climate change and the health of populations: Incorporating stages of nursing’s political development. Nursing Outlook. Epub ahead of print. https://www.nursingoutlook.org/article/S0029-6554(20)30615-1/fulltext
+Viamonte Ros, A., LaRocque, R., Fortinsky, R., & Nicholas, P. K. (2020). Addressing climate change communication: Effective engagement of populations for climate action in the US and globally. Annals of Global Health, 86 (1), 54. https://www.annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/10.5334/aogh.2900/
*+ White, B., Breakey, S., Brown, M. J., Fanuele, J., Tarbet, A., & Nicholas, P. K. (Submitted for review, 2020). Mental health impacts of climate change among vulnerable populations globally: An integrative review. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing.
*+Zang, S.M., Benjenk, I., Breakey, S., Pusey-Reid, E., Barone, L., Nicholas, P.K. (In press, 2020). The intersection of climate change with COVID-19. Public Health Nursing.
+Neal-Boylan, L., Breakey, S., & Nicholas, P. K. (2019). Integrating climate change topics into nursing curricula. Journal of Nursing Education, 58, 364-368.
+Nicholas, P. K., & Breakey, S. (2019). The economics of climate change and the intersection with conflict, violence, and migration. Nursing Economics 37(1). 23-34.
+Nicholas, P. K., Rosa, W. E., & Breakey, S. (2019). The imperative for climate action to protect health (Letter to the Editor). New England Journal of Medicine,380(17), e29. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1902963
+Rosa, W. E., Schenk, E., Travers, J. L., & Nicholas, P. K. (2019). Climate change and health consequences: Engaging public health nursing within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Public Health Nursing, 36(2), 107-108.
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VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM:
The Intersection of Climate Change, COVID-19,
and Structural Racism
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SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021
Join national experts and faculty in addressing the climate-related health consequences on vulnerable communities and systemic racism with a lens on how COVID-19 disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).
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WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
- Those who are interested in learning more about the impact that climate change has on health
- Health professionals aiming to identify and reduce the risks and consequences of climate change
- Those interested in engaging in policy and advocacy efforts related to climate change and health
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Renee Salas, MD, MS, MPH
Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE), Affiliated Faculty, Harvard Global Health Institute, Emergency Medical Physician Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School
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Additional Speakers:
- Pete Bouchard, BS
- Caleb Dresser, MD
- Jaime Hart, ScD
- Regina LaRocque, MD, MPH
- Keith L. Seitter
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Follow the link above to register for any of our upcoming webinars about climate change and health! We will send a recording of each webinar to all registrants.
Recordings of previous webinars are also available here.
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Thursday, March 25, 2021, 12-12:50pm
Curriculum Development in Health Professions Education
1. Explore opportunities for comprehensive curriculum development of climate and health in medical/health professions education.
2. Discuss opportunities, challenges, and gaps in medical/health professions education. Suellen Breakey PhD, RN
Presenters: Associate Professor and Steering Committee Member, Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health; Roksolana Starodub, PhD, APRN-BC, Assistant Professor and Steering Committee Member, Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health
Saturday, April 24, 2021, 9am-12pm
Climate Change and Health 2021
Future Directions for Climate Change and Addressing the Intersection with Health in the 21st Century
Keynote speaker: Renee Salas, MD, MS, MPH, Yerby Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE); Affiliated Faculty, Harvard Global Health Institute, Emergency Medical Physician Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
April 29, 2021, 12-12:50pm
Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change
1. Explore the impacts of deleterious mental health outcomes related to climate change.
2. Examine the concepts of solastalgia and eco-anxiety.
Bradley White, PhD (cand), MS, RN Instructor, MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing, Steering Committee, Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health
May 27, 2021, 12 noon – 12:45pm
Sustainability Efforts for Citizen Engagement in Climate Change
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FLASHBACK: INAUGURAL SYMPOSIUM |
Gina McCarthy is currently serving as the first White House National Climate Advisor for President Joe Biden. She served as the 13th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2013 to 2017.
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PARTNERSHIPS WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
AND NURSING ORGANIZATIONS
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The Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, & Health was announced as the first academic partner of the National Nursing Collaborative on Climate Change & Health, an effort composed of 10 nursing organizations and now one academic institution that encourages and empowers nurses to act on climate as a health imperative.
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Nurses Climate Challenge & Health Care Without Harm
The Nurses Climate Challenge (US) a national campaign led by Health Care Without Harm and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. The IHP is one of 26 Institutions in the United States that is committed to this initiative. School of nursing partners are asked to use and promote components of the Nurses Climate Challenge to educate health professionals on the impact of climate change on health. The campaign hopes to reach 50,000 health professionals by 2022.
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Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Global Consortium on Climate and Health
MGH Institute Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health
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Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments Podcasts and Media |
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STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS |
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"Our Center’s steering committee comprises scholars from the entire school of nursing and IHP who are inspired by their passion for the topic of Climate Change and Health and their engagement in teaching, scholarship/research, and clinical practice. Our efforts will address mitigation, adaptation, and resilience through education, practice, scholarship, and service related to the health effects of climate change."
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- Lisa Barone, MPH
- Carla Donati, MPA
- Jeanne Bernhardt, PhD, MHSA, NHA NEA-BC, FNP-BC, CNP
- Suellen Breakey,PhD, RN
- Inge Corless, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN
- Clara M. Gona, PhD, FNP-BC
- Debra Kelly, DNP, RN
- Elissa Ladd, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN
- Patrice K. Nicholas, DNSc, DHL (Hon.), MPH, RN, NP-C, FAAN
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- Eleonor Pusey-Reid, DNP, RN, MS, MEd, CCRN
- Lisa Quinn, PhD, AGACNP-BC, OCN
- Katherine Simmonds, PhD, MPH, RN, WHNP-BC
- Margaret Hamilton Sipe DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL
- Roksolana Starodub, PhD, ACNP-BC
- Elaine Tagliareni, EdD, RN, CNE, FAAN
- Bradley P. White, MSN, RN
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Other IHP Faculty and Staff |
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- Sarah McKinnon, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, MPA,
- Rachel Renaux
- Amanda Tarbet, MSLIS
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- Jessica Bell, (MLS)
- Michael Busnach
- Jenny Fanuele, MMSc, PA-C
- Shaina Dilalla
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