program introduces Philadelphia high school students to the diverse careers available in the healthcare and medical fields. Our students also participate in projects designed to develop professional skills and help them make contributions to the medical and scientific fields. Past projects have included a and .
This semester, the students in our seventh cohort decided to tackle the relationship between climate change and health. Early in the semester, they learned about the ways climate change affects personal and community health, using that knowledge to plan a panel on a specific topic related to climate change. They ultimately chose climate change and its effects on mental health, and for the remainder of the semester they conducted research and coordinated a panel of climate change experts, with whom they discussed the topic.
On May 18, the Junior Fellows hosted the panel for the students in The College’s other youth programs--, , and --along with an older cohort of the Junior Fellows program.
Our guest speakers represented mental health professionals, climate change experts, and youth advocates who shared their insights into the psychological strain of climate change-related events, such as natural disasters; coping mechanisms for addressing the mental health effects of climate change, including trauma and feelings of hopelessness; personal and societal ways we can address climate change; and ways young people can get involved.
If you’d like to learn more, check out . There will also be a video of the panel available soon on the .