Want to Get Involved?
Want to Get Involved?
Want to Get Involved?
Want to Get Involved?
Want to Get Involved?
2023 General Assembly Advocacy Day
VCCA’s sixth annual Advocacy Day was held in person in Richmond Feb 8-9, 2023.
68 clinicians and health trainees from across the Commonwealth took part in programming that included the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Southern Environmental Law Center. During the advocacy day meetings were held with 21 State Senators and 25 Delegates from across Virginia.
VCCA participants shared the importance of protecting legislation like RGGI, VCEA, and the Clean Car Standards, which are all vital to improving the health of Virginians. In addition to defending legislation, VCCA attendees advocated for new bills that promote constructing renewable energy in schools, extreme heat preparedness and healthy communities. WUSA9 covered the event and the importance of the legislation in the news article here.
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Dr. Kimberly Reese was presented with our annual Climate and Health Teaching Award and Dr. Robert Kitchen was presented with VCCA's Climate and Health Leadership Award.
2022 General Assembly Advocacy Day
VCCA's fifth annual Advocacy Day was held virtually Feb 2-3, 2022.
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74 clinicians and health trainees from across the Commonwealth participated in programming that featured legislative training and guest speakers from Advanced Energy Economy and the Southern Environmental Law Center.
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Meetings were held with State Delegates and Senators urging them to defend Virginia's climate progress and support bills that promoted rooftop solar, environmental justice and energy efficiency standards.
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Drs. Homan Wai and Nick Snow were presented with our annual Climate and Health Teaching Award and Dr. Mona Sarfaty was presented with VCCA's Climate and Health Leadership Award.
2021 VIRGINIA STATE ADVOCACY DAY
Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action held its fourth annual Advocacy Day virtually on January 19th, 2021.
Forty-five clinicians from across the Commonwealth gathered virtually and met with their state legislators to advocate for climate solutions that protect the health and future of all Virginians.
VCCA announced the winner of our 2020 Climate and Health Teaching award, Dr. Julia Gohlke. Associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Virginia Tech, Dr. Gohlke is author of over 60 peer-reviewed publications. She is currently researching heat illness in Alabama, birth outcomes associated with surface mining in central Appalachia and ED visits associated with flooding after Hurricane Harvey. Dr. Gohlke has been educating VCCA members about her work since 2019.
We were also very fortunate to be inspired by Dr. Cameron Webb, recent candidate for U.S. Congress in Virginia's 5th District, who delivered an outstanding keynote address. Dr. Webb was just appointed to the Biden Administration as the Senior Policy Advisor for COVID-19 Equity.
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2020 VIRGINIA STATE ADVOCACY DAY
Virginians Clinicians for Climate Action's third annual Advocacy Day on January 23rd was a great success!
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Twenty-five VCCA members wearing their white coats met with their elected officials to discuss why climate change solutions are vital to protecting the health of Virginians.
Specific areas addressed included:
-increasing access to solar energy generation
-protecting workers from extreme heat
-joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
-health benefits of the Virginia Clean Economy Act
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VCCA received a high level of recognition this year, when Del. Kathy Tran introduced five members representing our group to the chamber of the House of Delegates! VCCA was acknowledged for our vital work to protect the health and safety of Virginians from climate change.
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During the lunchtime meeting, VCCA was honored to be joined by Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Daniel Carey. Dr. Carey addressed how various state government agencies are responding to the health impacts posed by our changing climate and how clinicians can engage in this process.
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Additionally, we were delighted to present VCCA’s Annual Climate and Teaching Award to Jeremy Hoffman, PhD, Chief Scientist at Virginia Science Museum.
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We will continue to monitor climate and health legislation this session so clinicians can speak out for clean energy solutions!
Sara Wohlford and Christine Sheffield at the Pocahontas Building
Sara Wohlford and Christine Sheffield at the Pocahontas Building
2019 VIRGINIA STATE ADVOCACY DAY
Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action held its second annual State Advocacy Day in Richmond on January 24th, 2019.
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More than 30 clinicians from across the Commonwealth attended meetings with state legislators calling for action that combats climate change and improves the health of Virginians.
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VCCA was also honored to host Dr. Parham Jaberi, Chief Deputy Commissioner at Virginia Department of Health, who is leading the formation of a newly-established VDH working group on climate and health.
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VCCA representatives also attended afternoon committee hearings to testify on the health benefits of bills related to coal ash storage solutions and investing in a clean energy economy by expanding access to solar power and joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
2018 VIRGINIA STATE ADVOCACY DAY
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Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action held its first annual State Advocacy Day in Richmond on Thursday, January 25, 2018 in partnership with the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Physician (ACP).
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VCCA’s clinician coalition educated lawmakers on the health and economic benefits of clean energy, clean water, and environmental justice policy. Additionally, clinician advocates testified before various legislative committees. Never before had clinicians in their white coats walked the halls of the General Assembly to discuss climate change solutions.
Clinicians from across the Commonwealth have engaged and educated their legislators, colleagues, and communities on the adverse health impacts of climate change.​
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VCCA was also honored to host Dr. Melissa Levine, Virginia Health Commissioner.
