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micca climate change library
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micca climate change library
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Listening Tour
A collection of health stories describing impacts of climate change on our community and health professionals.
The “Climate Health Stories Listening Tour” is an effort to hear the stories of community members and health professionals who are experiencing the effects of the climate crisis across Michigan.
Through pop-up events, one-on-one conversations, and written submissions, we hope to connect with community members from the frontlines and health professionals serving disproportionately impacted communities. With this understanding, we will use the power of the trusted clinical voice to educate others (lawmakers, medical students, and the public) and motivate action that tackles health disparities.
Our ultimate goal is to identify ways 'Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action' can become a trusted ally to patients, and especially underserved populations, in the fight against climate change induced health impacts.
Want to schedule an in-person event?
Interested in telling your story? Click the option that best applies to you:
Video Examples:
MiCCA's Climate Health Equity Coordinator, Jada Robinson, giving an her Community member Climate Health Story.
This is an example of what come out of a video interview.
MiCCA's Executive Director, Lisa DelBuono, giving an her Clinician Climate Health Story.
Please use the links above to submit your contact information and share your story!
Written Health Stories
Michelle, Highland Park Resident & Retired Mental Health Counselor
Michele told us that due to so many individuals having health complications, there seem to be more depressed individuals, which connects on a deeper level as some of these illnesses are climate-related. Warmer weather actively worsens her peers' asthma symptoms. This is apparent through frequent hospital visits, including during Michigan’s recent wildfire smoke in the summer. Power outages in her neighborhood cause numerous problems for everyone: her neighbor has an electric wheelchair and has no other choice but quickly finding somewhere to stay when their power goes out. Other residents in the area, including three children and some elderly neighbors, required electricity for their medical necessities. Michele pointed out the need for emergency preparedness kits her region .
Payge, MD/MPH
Student Ann Arbor
Payge revealed a human face of climate by discussing her experience serving marginalized communities including the unhoused population. In her role as a health professional, she noticed increases in cases of dehydration during extreme heat events. She highlighted that those experiencing homelessness are extremely vulnerable to exacerbated allergies and asthma rates since they are directly within these environments because of insufficient housing. During clinicals, she noticed how changing weather conditions have also led to many of her patients to suffer from expanded difficulties accessing food.
Nikoli, Medical Student
Kalamazoo
Nikoli highlighted that in his experience serving pediatric patients, he witnessed amplified rates of asthma, hospitalizations, and increased morbidity. Within adults, heat exhaustion and strokes are inclining in the midst of extreme heat. In Kalamazoo, they are additionally seeing more lyme disease cases than usual. He finds that patient education is vital as the need to inform his patients of about how to protect themselves and how respond grows more dire. Pediatricians he has worked with in the past have seen these issues progress for decades. He emphasized that as medical professionals, we have to align ourselves with needs and assist accordingly based on resources.