News

Series Name: Climate and Health Actionable Research and Translation Webinar Series  

Title: Environmental Health in Pediatric Practice: Tools, Challenges, and Opportunities 

Date and time: July 23, 2025, from 12-1 pm ET 

Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JWW9fLb1SqObF-joWE2PWQ#/registration  

Attendees will be eligible for 1 CNE credit

Description: Children are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change, particularly in under-resourced urban communities where exposure to extreme heat and environmental pollutants is more severe. In this webinar, we will explore the development of a pediatric environmental health toolkit designed to help clinicians educate children and their families about climate-related health risks. We will discuss how evidence-based resources were identified, the challenges of integrating these tools into clinical workflows, and the opportunities to build resilience through family education. Emphasis will be placed on the role of healthcare providers in supporting prevention and promoting long-term pediatric health in a changing climate. 

Objectives: By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: 

• Describe the process of developing and curating an environmental health education toolkit tailored for use in pediatric clinical settings. 

• Examine the challenges and practical considerations involved in integrating new educational tools into provider workflows. 

• Discuss the benefits of patient and family education in promoting resilience and reducing climate-related health risks among children. 

Bios:

Amanda Kuhn, MD  – Emory Pediatrics Chief Resident 

Dr. Kuhn was born and raised in Maryland, completed her undergraduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University, and completed medical school at Georgetown University. She is a pediatric chief resident at Emory University and is preparing to pursue a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology. She developed an early interest in climate health through her father’s work in energy policy and was further inspired by her mentor, Dr. Rebecca Philipsborn, to integrate environmental advocacy into her medical career. Dr. Kuhn is leading a narrative review on the effects of climate change on pediatric gastrointestinal health and volunteers with Trees Atlanta to support urban reforestation and promote community resilience. 

Sajani Patel, MD, MPH  – Emory Pediatrics Chief Resident 

Dr. Patel was born and raised in Texas. She completed college at Rice University in Houston, and medical school at UT Austin. Between college and medical school, she received her MPH at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory and returned to Atlanta to complete her Pediatrics residency training. She has been interested and involved in advocacy since college when she first learned about health disparities and social justice. Dr. Patel approaches each clinical encounter with a public health lens and has an interest in community-level interventions to improve the health of children and families. She will be one of the Emory Pediatrics Chief Residents for 2025-2026, after which she will pursue a Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship. 

Olivia K Beale, MD  – Pediatrician 

Dr. Beale was born and raised in South Florida. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida and went on to receive her medical degree from Florida Atlantic University. During her training, Dr. Beale developed a strong interest in global and environmental health, with a particular focus on how these intersecting issues impact underserved communities. She continued this commitment throughout Pediatric residency at Emory University, engaging in advocacy, medical work abroad, and community-based efforts to promote health equity. She will soon begin her career as a primary care pediatrician in South Florida, where she hopes to integrate global health principles into local community care and promote preventive health for children and families.