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July 31, 2024
Get to Know the SHE Center Team
Meet Joanne Bernstein, MD, MSE
Joanne is an associate professor within the Department of Medicine and a course director of the Early Clinical Learning courses within the MCWfusion medical curriculum. She serves as an internist and clinical educator at the Zablocki VA. Prior to becoming a physician, Joanne worked as an electrical engineer at GE Healthcare developing smart alarms.
As a physician and mother of two, Joanne is concerned about the current and future health impacts of climate change. She believes we all have a role to play in reducing our environmental impact and living responsibly and sustainably for the wellness and prosperity of future generations. Joanne has taken climate action by educating her patients and minimizing waste in her clinical practices and healthcare system, engaging with local and national advocacy groups and developing medical curriculum to prepare our future physicians to do the same. Joanne is currently supporting the SHE Center’s mission in education.
In her spare time, Joanne enjoys leisurely bike rides, new adventures with her family and spending time outdoors.
Meet Kellie LeGrave
Since taking on the role of Education Program Coordinator within the Institute for Health & Equity in 2019, Kellie has supported various graduate level programs and Institute initiatives. She currently supports the Public & Community Health PhD program, Precision Medicine MS degree and certificate program and the Center for Sustainability, Health, & the Environment (SHE Center). Kellie has over a decade of experience working in higher education in the areas of education management, student services, and admissions.
Kellie believes environmental conservation and the implementation of sustainability practices is imperative to improving the health of our planet. She looks forward to helping advance the curricular development of climate and health as a part of the SHE Center’s mission in the upcoming year.
In her free time, Kellie enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids as well as reading, gardening, and allergen friendly creative baking.
News & Updates
Excerpts from the National Academies' Climate Crossroads Summit
SHE Center Director Christa Wagner, PhD, participated in the 2nd annual Climate Crossroads Summit hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine from July 16-17 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of in-person attendees represented diverse disciplines in academia, healthcare, business, government, engineering, transportation and more to discuss opportunities to address climate change across sectors. Plenary and concurrent sessions touched on topics including the role of AI and climate change, community engagement strategies, human health and equity, educating a green workforce, and climate science in the courts. All sessions were recorded and are available for asynchronous viewing here.
Children's Receives Energy to Care Award for Sustainability Commitment
Children’s Wisconsin recently received the Energy to Care Award from the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE), a professional membership group of the American Hospital Association. Children’s was one of 200 facilities earning ASHE’s Energy to Care Award by demonstrating a 10% or greater reduction in energy use intensity over the previous year or 15% over two years. This recognition signifies Childrens’ dedication to reducing energy consumption and its carbon footprint while showing that health care can be both high-quality and environmentally conscious. More than 4,400 facilities have participated in the award since 2010, and in the entire life of the program, health care facilities have seen a combined savings of more than $550 million reallocated to patient care.
We're Hiring!
The MCW Center for Sustainability, Health, and the Environment is hiring a full-time Program Coordinator II to help grow our activities and programs. If you're passionate about creating positive change and driving impactful programs toward climate action across MCW's mission areas, apply today! Learn more and apply here.
The MCW Student Garden is growing!
Check out the progress, photos courtesy of our student volunteers and SHE Center team!
Upcoming Events
August 10: Join the MCW Team for Hank Aaron State Trail 5k Run/Walk. The 24th annual Hank Aaron State Trail 5k Run/Walk is planned for Saturday, August 10, and members of the MCW community are putting together a team of walkers and runners. Students, faculty, staff, friends, and family are welcome to register for the "Team Run/Walk" under the team name "Medical College of Wisconsin. Learn more about this event on Infoscope.
August 13 - 15: Space still available - Professional Development Opportunity with the Lac Du Flambeau Ojibwe Community
In partnership with the Waaswaganing Indigenous Institute Teaching Learning and Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Division of Epidemiology and Social Sciences and the Office of Global Health invite the MCW community to a professional development workshop on “What is Good Indian Mental Health.” Interested applicants from MCW are encouraged to apply here. Applications are due Friday, August 2. Read more on InfoScope.
August 20, 2pm CT: Webinar: Health Impact of Air Pollutants Beyond Cardiovascular or Respiratory Effects Air pollutants, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), have been well-established to impact cardiovascular and respiratory disease. This presentation will highlight research from EPA’s Office of Research and Development scientists that examines associations between air pollution and health impacts other than cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Some of these health impacts include reproductive, pregnancy, and birth outcomes; child and developmental health; nervous system, cognitive, and mental health; metabolic, liver, and kidney diseases; cancers; and interactions and modifiers of associations. Register Here.
August 21: MPS Green & Healthy Schools Conference
MCW is pleased to sponsor the annual Green & Healthy Schools Conference, a chance to connect with the Milwaukee area's greener, healthier schools movement. The conference is an opportunity to hear inspirational stories, connect with curricular and funding resources, and learn how schools in the Milwaukee area are removing asphalt and enhancing their schoolyards with outdoor classrooms, improved recreation, arts, green infrastructure, and project-based learning. Learn more and register here.
Funding Opportunities
Deadline August 12: Arbor Day Foundation Community Roots Program:
Your urban forestry project has the potential to improve the health and well-being of your community. The time to accomplish your project goals is now. Apply today for Community Roots Program funding that’s available for qualifying community-based nonprofit organizations. As a national passthrough partner, the Arbor Day Foundation program is made possible through the USDA Forest Service and Community Forestry program with Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding. You’ll receive support, guidance, and connection opportunities. Click here to learn more and apply.
Deadline
August 19: AHW Seed Grants:
The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment is offering seed grants up to $50,000 for projects that lay the groundwork for future, larger endeavors to address a health need or fill a gap in knowledge or practice affecting the health of people and communities in the state. Funding is available for Wisconsin-based community-led partnerships and MCW-led projects, including research conducted by MCW post-doctoral researchers. AHW has allocated $1 million for this funding opportunity for community-led partnerships with MCW researchers and $2 million for MCW-led projects, including post-doc awards. Funded projects must be completed during a 12-month period beginning on Jan. 1, 2025. Applications for AHW’s seed grants are due on Monday, August 19, 2024. Click here to learn more and apply.
Deadline November 21, 2024: Environmental Protection Agency Community Change Grant: Approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funds is available to support environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. Learn more.
Resources & More
MCW is a member of several consortia and membership organizations with different resources to support engagement in climate action in academic medicine. Contact us for any assistance in signing up!
Global Consortium for Climate and Health Education (GCCHE) aims to unite health professional training institutions, health societies, and regional health organizations to create a global climate-ready health sector, prepared to mobilize and lead health promotion and response in the era of climate change, while restoring the health of the planet. Learn more and join here.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Climate Action Virtual Community provides meaningful connection to the myriad people in academic medical centers working across mission areas to address the climate crisis and improve institutional resiliency. Request an account using your MCW email address here. Once your account has been approved, click here to join the Climate Action and Sustainability group.
Practice Greenhealth is the health care sector’s go-to source for information, tools, data, resources, and expert technical support on sustainability initiatives that help hospitals and health systems meet their health, financial, and community goals. Learn more.
Interested in learning more about the SHE Center at an upcoming MCW departmental, institute, or center faculty and/or staff meeting? Email Dr. Wagner to schedule.
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