Our Clinical Program
The core premise of the field of Planetary Health is that much of the disease, disability, and death over the next century will be driven by human degradation of our planet’s natural life support systems. As such, it is increasingly important that the world’s future leaders and providers of health care understand these threats, can communicate them to patients and the public, and are working within systems that act to reduce their ecological impacts.
Our Goal
To lead transformative innovation in clinical teaching, practice, and the greening of health care in recognition that anthropogenic environmental change is becoming a dominant force driving global burden of disease.
Clinical Activities
Planetary Health School of Nursing Curriculum
The School of Nursing has integrated Planetary Health in both its Masters and Doctoral program. Planetary Health is a core area in the revised Master of Science in Nursing: Entry into Nursing curriculum, launching in the fall of 2026. This builds on work over the past year during which faculty developed and piloted competency-based activities to encourage students to view their nursing practice through a Planetary Health lens. More than 300 nursing students have explored the evidence between the environment and health outcomes in diverse populations and developed skills to engage patients in mitigating their risks. In the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program, nurse practitioner students can pursue a Planetary Health concentration. Together, these programs will contribute to a generation of nurse leaders committed to advancing Planetary Health. They will also position JHU’s School of Nursing as a pioneer in integrating Planetary Health and a resource to other schools of nursing around the world.
Planetary Health Emergency Medicine Fellowship
JHIPH and the Department of Emergency Medicine launched the Leadership in Planetary Health Fellowship, an advanced specialty training program for emergency physicians. Fellows engage in clinical care, didactics, a capstone project, and a policy- and community-based externship. With structured mentorship and opportunities for national and international engagement, this training program prepares clinicians to lead transformative change in how health care responds to the Earth crisis by advancing sustainability, improving disaster preparedness, and strengthening the resilience of health systems.
Greening of Health Care Systems
JHIPH is supporting efforts to green health care delivery and operations within Hopkins’ clinical environments through its work with the Sustainability Leadership Council’s Healthcare Working Group and the Johns Hopkins Health System Sustainability Task Force. Through a Johns Hopkins Discovery Award, JHIPH is also working with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security to explore how health care systems can build resilience to climate driven disasters. These internal initiatives are strengthened by national partnerships—such as with the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector—and international collaborations through the Planetary Health Alliance.
View global Planetary Health resources on Health and Care Systems
Browse the Planetary Health Alliance’s collection of research articles, tools, videos, and other Planetary Health resources related to health and care systems.
VISIT PHAFaculty Directors
 Chris Lemon |  Nicole Warren |
Interested in learning more?
For more information about JHIPH’s Clinical Program or for any other questions, please contact Madhumitha Mathivanan.