Previous Fellows

About Alia: Alia Badawi is a third year medical student at GW SHMS who previously worked in education. She is interested in improving environmental stewardship in the healthcare industry by optimizing supply chains, promoting healthier building standards, and increasing climate health education in the medical community. She serves on the e-board of Medical Students for a Sustainable Future, a national interest group working to centralize climate health efforts at different training institutions where she co-chairs the Climate-Smart Healthcare subcommittee. Related projects include contributing to monthly newsletters from UCSF highlighting climate change’s impact on human health, collaborating on developing national medical school modules on the effects of health care on inflammatory dermatologic conditions (Climate Resources for Health Education), and served as a Climate Health Ambassador for Physicians for Social Responsibility. 

About Alia's Project: Our two selected CHI Research Fellows are still currently supporting the GW Hospital Sustainability Committee on sustainability efforts at the GW hospital. Possible project avenues include conducting a payback analysis on replacing the current fluid management system in operating rooms (ORs), and the development of a second project for similar analysis as directed by the Committee. A project overview will be updated here as work progresses through the semester.

The GW Hospital Sustainability Committee envisions a healthier, more sustainable environment for patients, colleagues and future generations, with an overall objective to coordinate efforts at GW Hospital around minimizing unnecessary waste and improving energy efficiency. The committee includes representation from across the hospital, including EVS, Facilities, Food Service, Supply Chain, Operational Excellence, Perioperative Care, Inpatient Care, Nursing, and Marketing, whose overall goals are to:

1. Assess current energy usage and waste management to identify potential areas for improvement,
2. Expand use of sustainable practices that decrease unnecessary healthcare waste and lower the carbon footprint of the hospital; and
3. Measure and monitor progress toward established sustainability goals.

About Silvana: Silvana is a second year graduate student at GW's Milken Institute School of Public Health and has focused her coursework on the intersection of climate and health policy. Silvana is a congressional and political affairs professional and has extensive experience working alongside physicians to advance various health policy initiatives, including sustainability efforts. Silvana strives to utilize her legislative and mobilization skills to push for instrumental changes in climate action efforts, with a special focus on environmental justice and equity. 

About Silvana's Project: Our two selected CHI Research Fellows are still currently supporting the GW Hospital Sustainability Committee on sustainability efforts at the GW hospital. Possible project avenues include conducting a payback analysis on replacing the current fluid management system in operating rooms (ORs), and the development of a second project for similar analysis as directed by the Committee. A project overview will be updated here as work progresses through the semester.

The GW Hospital Sustainability Committee envisions a healthier, more sustainable environment for patients, colleagues and future generations, with an overall objective to coordinate efforts at GW Hospital around minimizing unnecessary waste and improving energy efficiency. The committee includes representation from across the hospital, including EVS, Facilities, Food Service, Supply Chain, Operational Excellence, Perioperative Care, Inpatient Care, Nursing, and Marketing, whose overall goals are to:

1. Assess current energy usage and waste management to identify potential areas for improvement,
2. Expand use of sustainable practices that decrease unnecessary healthcare waste and lower the carbon footprint of the hospital; and
3. Measure and monitor progress toward established sustainability goals.

About Juliette: Juliette is a Master of Laws (LLM) student specializing in Environmental & Energy Law, focused on Indigenous rights at GW Law School. She is from Northern California and is an enrolled tribal member of the Klamath Tribes. Juliette is a lawyer, and her work and research is focused on the intersections of Federal Indian Law/Indigenous Rights, Environmental Law, and Animal Law. 

About Juliette's project: Juliette will be working with Dean Randall S. Abate (GW Law) and Dr. Sean R. Roberts (Elliott School of International Affairs) to assess the current landscape of advocacy, law, policy, and regulation pertaining to animal law, environmental law, and Indian law/Indigenous rights by conducting analysis that identifies: 1) the current risks/harms impacting the Klamath tribes; 2) what methods, if any, are being used to remedy the contamination; and 3) what innovative legal methods or policy actions the tribes could take. The analysis will culminate in a formatted journal article, highlighting barriers and plausible legal and policy solutions.

About Liz: Liz is a third-year graduate student pursuing her Master's of Professional Studies in Sustainable Urban Planning. As a student, she was awarded the ULI Randall Lewis Health Mentorship Program in 2022, and was SUP Student Organization's treasurer for the 2022-23 school year. Professionally, Liz has grown her career at CPower Energy Management where she started as an Operations Analyst and has now been promoted to Account Management on the Sales team. While working full-time at CPower and attending GWU, Liz also works as a Climate Policy Researcher for Dr. Rachael Jonassen where she actively researches and develops content for Asian Development Bank and UNFCCC. 

About Liz's project: Liz will be working with Dr. Matthew Dalbey (College of Professional Studies) and Dr. Jordan R. Kuiper (GWSPH) to collect socio-health data for Eastern Kentucky, specifically Perry County, to investigate rates of suicide, depression, obesity, drug use, teenage pregnancy, food insecurity, and homelessness, placing these health considerations in the context of the decline of the coal economy in Eastern Kentucky (specifically the transition away from coal and towards a more diversified portfolio of natural gas, nuclear, and renewables). The project will culminate in a report that contextualizes the possibility to achieve climate goals and a green economy in a way that is fair and inclusive to all communities, and present recommendations for mitigating health impacts and further economic risks by analyzing the historical boom and bust cycle of the American coal industry.

About Savita: Savita is a fourth year medical student at GW SMHS and recently received her Master's in Public Health between her third and fourth years of medical school. She has served as the executive chair for Medical Students for a Sustainable Future, is a Next Generation Climate Ambassador for Physicians for Social Responsibility, and is a co-chair of the Medical Working Group 2 for the Global Consortium for Climate & Health Education. She is an aspiring Obstetrician & Gynecologist and plans on fusing her interests in reproductive health and Environmental Justice in her career. 

About Savita's project: Savita worked with Dr. Charelle Carter-Brooks (SMHS) & Dr. Roxanne Jamshidi (SMHS) to conduct a waste audit of outpatient OBGYN procedures to better understand current institutional waste management practices, identify waste treatment pathways, and estimate annual waste output by category. In addition to the above primary research outcomes, she developed guidelines to reduce waste while maintaining effective infection prevention and calculated expected cost-savings with improved adherence to waste minimization.

About Ruth: Ruth is a graduate student in the Elliott School of International Affairs, concentrating in International Science and Technology Policy.

About Ruth's project: Ruth’s fellowship project linked quantitative air pollution data with qualitative research on city-level climate or air quality policies to explore whether cities that are taking ambitious greenhouse actions can be classified by air pollution levels or CO2 emissions. Ruth worked with with Dr. Nina Kelsey, Assistant Professor, Public Policy & International Affairs (TSPPPA), Dr. Robert Orttung, Research Professor, International Affairs (EISA), and Dr. Susan Anenberg, CHI Director and Professor and Chair of Environmental and Occupational Health (GWSPH) to carry out her project.

About River: River is a graduate student in the Master of Public Health program at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, concentrating in Global Epidemiology and Disease Control. 

About River's project: River’s fellowship project focused on the evaluation of parameters included in vector modeling under climatic conditions. River worked with Dr. Robert Canales, Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health (GWSPH), and Dr. Chris Mores, Professor of Global Health (GWSPH) to carry out her project.

About Max: Max is an undergraduate student in the Elliott School of International Affairs, studying international relations.

About Max's project: Max’s fellowship project focused on the development of a resource guide for journalists on communicating the co-benefits of climate mitigation actions. Max worked with Professor Lisa Palmer, Research Professor of Science Communication (CCAS), and Dr. Susan Anenberg, CHI Director and Professor and Chair of Environmental and Occupational Health (GWSPH) to carry out his project.

About Melina: Melina is an undergraduate student in the Milken Institute School of Public Health, studying public health.

About Melina's project: Melina’s fellowship project consisted of elements that complemented the resource guide for journalists on communicating climate co-benefits, including an audience analysis and digital content development. Melina worked with Professor Lisa Palmer, Research Professor of Science Communication (CCAS), and Dr. Susan Anenberg, CHI Director and Professor and Chair of Environmental and Occupational Health (GWSPH) to carry out her project.

About Ben: Ben is a graduate student in the Master of Public Health program at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, concentrating in Global Environmental Health

About Ben's project: Ben’s fellowship project focused on identifying the current landscape of co-benefits resources and analyzing the way in which climate co-benefits are defined by different organizations. Ben worked with Dr. Susan Anenberg, CHI Director and Professor and Chair of Environmental and Occupational Health (GWSPH), and Professor Lisa Palmer, Research Professor of Science Communication (CCAS) to carry out his project.