Our Story
The Florida Clinicians for Climate Action was formed in January of 2018 at the Florida Climate & Health Equity Symposium, which was a collaboration between the National Medical Association, the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute and the Florida state chapter of the National Medical Association and The Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health.
The 2018 Climate & Health Equity Symposium educated over 100 clinicians, primarily physicians of color, on addressing the health effects of climate change in low-income Floridians. At the conclusion of the symposium, there was a breakout session, where a group of about 30 physicians agreed to create Florida Clinicians for Climate Action and issued the Tampa Declaration on Climate & Health. The Tampa Declaration on Climate and Health is a call to action for Florida health professionals to protect public health from climate change impacts.
Our Goals And Vision
ADVOCATE LOCALLY AND STATEWIDE
Our organization always appreciates the generosity and involvement of people like you, with every contribution going towards making Florida Clinicians For Climate Action an even better Climate Change Non-Profit Organization than it already is. We want to provide you with the correct and appropriate information pertaining to your mode of support, so don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions.
ENGAGE AND INFORM
Inform our peers, policymakers, and patients about the health risks from climate change, and the health benefits of climate action. We will serve as messengers about the steps we can take to limit climate impacts and prevent the problem from worsening.
MITIGATE
We will lead by example and reduce the carbon footprint of our own institutions. We will strive to make our hospitals greener and healthier by reducing waste, investing in energy efficiency and clean energy while promoting sustainable transport and resource consumption.
ADAPT
We will strive to make our health systems more resilient and capable of withstanding and responding to the human toll of natural disasters and the shifting burden of disease.
PROVIDE LEADERSHIP
As representatives of our organizations, we will drive the agenda for climate and health, promoting this Call to Action throughout Florida.
PLEDGE
We establish Florida Clinicians for Climate Action and pledge to work with like-minded organizations to advocate to preserve and improve the health of all Floridians who are impacted by climate change, especially vulnerable populations and communities.
Meet the Team
The Faces of Our Organization
Dr. Cheryl Holder
Founding Co-Chair
Cheryl Holder, MD, FACP, is Co-Chair of Florida Clinicians for Climate Action. Dr. Holder is board-certified in Internal Medicine and has dedicated her medical career to serving underserved populations. As President of the Florida State Medical Association – which is the state affiliate of the National Medical Association – Dr. Holder works with nine local Florida Medical Societies to address health disparities and increase the viability of African American physicians. Since 2009, Dr. Holder has served as a faculty member at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Her focus is on teaching medical students about working in underserved communities and promoting diversity in the health professions through pipeline programs.
Florida Clinicians For Climate Action at a Glance
A Distinct Identity
Florida Clinicians For Climate Action knows that our strength lies not only in the words we stand by, but most importantly through the actions of our initiatives. Back in 2000, we realized that by working together we could overcome our challenges much more efficiently. For the last 19 years nurses have been listed as one of most trusted professionals in the United States. That is why we ultimately decided to launch Florida Clinicians For Climate Action.
