Dr. Jennifer McWhirter receives federal funding to study the role of public health in climate change action

Dr. Jennifer McWhirter, associate professor in the Department of Population Medicine at Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) has received a federal Catalyst Grant for $125,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to understand the role of public health in climate change adaptation and mitigation and their ability to respond and take action.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Climate change is one of the biggest threats to human health today. Public health agencies have a key role to play in providing information about the risks a changing climate will have on human health, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Public health emergencies tied to climate change are already emerging with increased heat events, wildfires and flooding. It’s important that public health professionals can respond and take action, including in emergency contexts.

McWhirter’s research will explore and describe the role public health agencies play in climate change and will help guide public health education, professional development and practice related to climate change emergencies.

“We’re hopeful that this work will provide a foundation for building competencies that are consistent across the public health sector, ultimately enhancing climate-resilience, especially for those who are most vulnerable,” Dr. McWhirter shares.

About Dr. McWhirter

Dr. McWhirter’s research focuses on the design and assessment of both health information and built environments, and the systems that shape them, to promote health and well-being at the population level, including in the context of climate change. Her research areas have covered health and risk communication, the role of AI in health misinformation and shade as an environmental design tool for climate adaptation in cities. 

Her research has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).