As the world warms, disasters collide. That’s happening right now, as health experts warn that  exposure to wildfire smoke across North America increases the risks of catching COVID-19 and worsens the impacts for people who already have or are particularly susceptible to the virus.

Kristie Ebi, professor of global health and of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.

Every year, we take the time to recognize the outstanding staff and their dedication, service, and many contributions to our department. Criteria for selecting outstanding staff included job knowledge and performance, creativity, integrity, flexibility, a positive attitude, willingness to go beyond the limits of a job description to get things done, community service, outstanding interpersonal skills, and demonstration of grace under pressure. Congratulations to all nominees. 

Carole Green, a master’s student at the University of Washington (UW) School of Public Health, studies how prepared our cities and countries are to adapt to climate change’s impact on our health. Green works with faculty in the Department of Global Health, at the UW Center for Health and the Changing Environment (CHanGE), and at the Lancet Countdown — a global team of experts reporting climate change updates — to understand the health risks and vulnerabilities communities face. 

More severe and numerous floods, droughts, and heat waves impact a wide range of health outcomes, and shifting biomes may spread diseases to new places. How do scientists understand which portions of health effects are caused by climate change, and how can health organizations be prepared?

Kristie Ebi, professor of global health and of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.