Protecting Health, Strengthening Systems, & Building the Future
Why Environmental Health & Community Resilience Matter
Health does not exist in isolation—it is shaped by the air we breathe, the water we drink, the communities we build, and the disasters we endure. Environmental health and community resilience are critical to preventing disease, improving patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems.
At the Frist College of Medicine (FCoM), we recognize that a truly patient-centered, whole-person approach to healthcare must include understanding and mitigating environmental risks. Air and water quality, food safety, pollution, climate change, and disaster preparedness all impact public health. Whether responding to wildfires, floods, hurricanes, or pandemics, resilient communities can adapt, recover, and thrive, protecting the most vulnerable and strengthening the foundation of health systems.
By equipping future healthcare leaders with the knowledge, skills, and partnerships to tackle environmental health challenges, we can create a healthier, more resilient world.
Our Commitment at FCoM
We are integrating environmental health and community resilience into every aspect of medical education, research, and professional training. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, real-world experiences, and global partnerships, we are preparing the next generation of physicians and healthcare leaders to be advocates for sustainable, resilient, and health-focused systems.
Key Initiatives & Impact Areas
Comprehensive Education & Training
- Embedding environmental health, disaster preparedness, and community resilience into the medical curriculum.
- Training students and professionals to apply systems thinking to complex public health challenges.
Global Health & Disaster Risk Reduction Elective
- Providing hands-on learning in global disaster trends, emergency response, and risk mitigation.
- Addressing clinical and public health challenges in low-resource and disaster-prone settings.
Strengthening Healthcare Systems & Infrastructure
- Partnering with industry leaders, policymakers, and healthcare organizations to enhance the resilience of healthcare systems, services, and infrastructure.
Research on Disaster-Related Health Risks
- Collaborating with the University of Birmingham and partners in India to improve primary healthcare for patients with non-communicable diseases affected by severe flooding. (Funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research.)
United Nations Partnership for Global Resilience
- Working with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Global Education and Training Instituteto help communities across the U.S. and worldwide identify and implement resilience-building strategies.
Building a Future of Health, Sustainability & Resilience
Through these efforts, we are empowering students, healthcare professionals, and global partners to confront the growing environmental and health challenges of the 21st century. By integrating science, policy, and action, we can create a world where healthcare systems are prepared, communities are protected, and individuals thrive—no matter the challenges they face.
Join us in building a healthier, more resilient future for all.
Connect with Us
We’d love to hear from you! Do you have questions, ideas, or want to collaborate? Let’s work together to improve healthcare.