Want to Get Involved?
Want to Get Involved?
Want to Get Involved?
Want to Get Involved?
Want to Get Involved?
2024 General Assembly Advocacy Day
VCCA’s seventh annual Advocacy Day was held in Richmond from January 31 – February 1.
The event was our largest to date, with more than 70 clinician participants who engaged with over 60 legislators. They shared their personal stories and expertise on the effects of climate change on health. We discussed key legislation, including our ideas about parking lot solar, data centers, comprehensive health planning, and tree canopies.
WUSA-TV covered the event and interviewed VCCA Vice-Chair of Advocacy Dr. Bob Kitchen.
We announced the winners of our three annual VCCA awards. Dr. Scott Doney, the Joe D. and Helen J. Kington Professor in Environmental Change at the University of Virginia, was presented with the Climate and Health Teaching Award. Dr. Susan Miller was presented with the Climate and Health Advocacy Award. Dr. Jerry Paulson was presented with our Climate and Health Leadership Award.
2023 General Assembly Advocacy Day
VCCA’s sixth annual Advocacy Day was held in person in Richmond February 8–9.
Sixty-eight 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. Meetings were held with 21 state senators and 25 delegates. 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 and 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.
Dr. Kimberly Reese was presented with VCCA’s 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 February 2–3.
Seventy-four 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. Meetings with state delegates and senators urged them to defend Virginia's climate progress and support bills that promoted rooftop solar, environmental justice, and energy efficiency standards.
Drs. Homan Wai and Nick Snow were presented with VCCA’s annual Climate and Health Teaching Award and Dr. Mona Sarfaty was presented with VCCA's Climate and Health Leadership Award.
2021 General Assembly Advocacy Day
VCCA’s fourth annual Advocacy Day was held virtually on January 19.
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. Dr. Cameron Webb, recent candidate for U.S. Congress in Virginia's 5th District, delivered an outstanding keynote address. He was just appointed to the Biden administration as the senior policy advisor for COVID-19 equity.
Dr. Julia Gohlke was presented with VCCA’s Climate and Health Teaching award. Associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Virginia Tech, Dr. Gohlke is author of over 60 peer-reviewed publications and 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.
2020 General Assembly Advocacy Day
VCCA’s third annual Advocacy Day was held on January 23.
Twenty-five VCCA members in white coats met with their elected officials to discuss why climate change solutions are vital to protecting the health of Virginians. They focused on four issues: increasing access to solar energy generation, protecting workers from extreme heat, joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and reviewing the health benefits of the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Del. Kathy Tran introduced five VCCA members to the chamber of the House of Delegates and acknowledged our vital work to protect the health and safety of Virginians. During the lunch, we were joined by Dr. Daniel Carey, Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Services, who talked about how various state government agencies are responding to the health impacts posed by our changing climate and how clinicians can engage in this process.
Jeremy Hoffman, PhD, chief scientist at Virginia Science Museum, was awarded VCCA’s Annual Climate and Teaching Award.
Sara Wohlford and Christine Sheffield at the Pocahontas Building
Sara Wohlford and Christine Sheffield at the Pocahontas Building
2019 General Assembly Advocacy Day
VCCA’s second annual State Advocacy Day was held in Richmond on January 24.
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. VCCA was 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. VCCA representatives attended afternoon committee hearings to testify on the health benefits of bills related to coal ash storage solutions and the benefits of investing in a clean energy economy by expanding access to solar power and joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
2018 General Assembly Advocacy Day
VCCA’s first State Advocacy Day was held in Richmond on Thursday, January 25, in partnership with the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP).
Never before had clinicians in their white coats walked the halls of the General Assembly to discuss climate change solutions. VCCA’s coalition discussed the health and economic benefits of clean energy, clean water, and environmental justice policy with lawmakers. Clinician advocates from across the Commonwealth testified before various legislative committees, engaging and helping educate their legislators, colleagues, and communities on the adverse health impacts of climate change. VCCA was honored to host Virginia Health Commissioner Dr. Melissa Levine.
