Oct. 6-7 events to address implications of climate change on human health

The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources are sponsoring a lecture on Oct. 6 and a roundtable discussion on Oct. 7 as part of a fall series on climate change and its implications.

The events are free and open to the public.

Ali S. Khan, M.D., M.P.H., dean of the UNMC College of Public Health, will present "Climate Disruption in Nebraska – Global Public Health Implications and Local Impact" at 4 p.m., Oct. 6 at the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education, Room 1005. The Sorrell Center is located on the northeast corner of 42nd and Emile Streets in Omaha. The lecture is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is required via http://go.unl.edu/climatechange.

Dr. Khan is a former U.S., assistant surgeon general with the United States Public Health Service whose early professional career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focused on emerging infectious diseases, bioterrorism and global health security. His current efforts are on broader public health issues, innovations in health system transformation, health promotion and climate change.

"Climate change will intensify the well-known effects of weather on lung and heart diseases, food and water borne diseases, infections associated with ticks, mosquitoes and other animals, and injuries from heat stroke and other extreme weather events," Dr. Khan said. "We need to develop Nebraska-specific solutions to understand, mitigate and adapt to the health effects of climate change being observed in our state."

In addition, a roundtable discussion on the implications of climate change on human health in Nebraska will take place at 9 a.m., Oct. 7 at the Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center for Public Health, Room 3013. It is located on 40th St. between Dewey Ave. and Emile St. Advanced registration is required by emailing kmorrow2@unl.edu.

The roundtable agenda includes: presentations by Dr. Khan and Don Wilhite, Ph.D., professor of applied climate science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Q&A; lunch; and breakout sessions in the afternoon. 

For more information, visit http://go.unl.edu/climatechange.

We are Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. Our mission is to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities through premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.

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