STEP SIX. Give your medical school/University a piece of your mind...
If you're a medical student or studying a related degree, this could be your first big action. Tell your medical school who you are and let them know that you’re serious. Your first task is to convince your medical school that your cause matters and that they should join you. You need to convince them - your dean, sub-deans and whoever else, to come out publically against the threat of climate change to health, to declare the importance of health professional mobilisation and action against climate change, and openly state that the government and health organisations should do the same.
Sounds pretty daunting, but it’s all there in the pledge and charter of the Climate and Health Council. What's more, LOADS of other health organisations have signed it, from the British Medical Association to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to the Faculty of Public Health to the Royal College of Nursing to the Royal College of Physicians to the Royal College of Psychiatrists to the Royal Society of Medicine.... ok you probably get the picture. Anyway, point is that it should be possible to convince them! See this pagefor a suggested text for an opening letter to your dean.
They may decide to sign it straight away; they may call you in for a more detailed discussion and meeting. But whatever they decide, do try to meet someone from your medical school at this point. If right now you couldn’t imagine yourself arguing your case in front of the heads of your medical school, don’t worry – by this time you’ll have read, talked and thought enough about the campaign to be able to have a serious, convincing discussion with whoever you meet.
Afterwards, remember to celebrate: this is a significant step whatever the outcome.
There are many other ways to work on getting your medical school or University on board, including in particular if you'd like to focus on education - persuading lecturers, the head of medical education and/or your dean to incorporate more teaching on these subjects in the syllabus, both through SSCs and through incorporation into other (core) lectures across the course. Depending where you are, there may already be quite a lot or there may be close to nothing. Have a look at for more on why this is important. There are loads of resources at http://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/sustainable-healthcare-education/about - a network of which we're a part - too. This is a longer, more time-intensive process, but can have a major and long-term impact.
Sounds pretty daunting, but it’s all there in the pledge and charter of the Climate and Health Council. What's more, LOADS of other health organisations have signed it, from the British Medical Association to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to the Faculty of Public Health to the Royal College of Nursing to the Royal College of Physicians to the Royal College of Psychiatrists to the Royal Society of Medicine.... ok you probably get the picture. Anyway, point is that it should be possible to convince them! See this pagefor a suggested text for an opening letter to your dean.
They may decide to sign it straight away; they may call you in for a more detailed discussion and meeting. But whatever they decide, do try to meet someone from your medical school at this point. If right now you couldn’t imagine yourself arguing your case in front of the heads of your medical school, don’t worry – by this time you’ll have read, talked and thought enough about the campaign to be able to have a serious, convincing discussion with whoever you meet.
Afterwards, remember to celebrate: this is a significant step whatever the outcome.
There are many other ways to work on getting your medical school or University on board, including in particular if you'd like to focus on education - persuading lecturers, the head of medical education and/or your dean to incorporate more teaching on these subjects in the syllabus, both through SSCs and through incorporation into other (core) lectures across the course. Depending where you are, there may already be quite a lot or there may be close to nothing. Have a look at for more on why this is important. There are loads of resources at http://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/sustainable-healthcare-education/about - a network of which we're a part - too. This is a longer, more time-intensive process, but can have a major and long-term impact.
