Main Page Class of 2023 Class of 2022 Class of 2021
Fellows in Action Partners and Sponsors Webinar Series
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The 2023 Climate and Health Equity Fellows
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| Brianna Clark Kingwood, TX |
Anna Lizama Clark Orlando, FL |
George Crawford Anniston, AL |
Alfred Glover Los Angeles, CA |
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| Cheryl Holder Pembroke Pine, FL |
Valeria Dee Hairston Germantown, WI |
Marcus Kawika Iwane Kapolei, HI |
Esmeralda Morales Palo Alto, CA |
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| Marcos Moreno New Haven, CT |
Denise Powell Bay St. Louis, MS |
Earl Stewart Jr. Smyrna, GA |
Julian Watkins New York City, NY |
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Our 2023 Fellows are members of the following organizations: the National Medical Association (NMA); American College of Physicians (ACP); American Medical Association (AMA); National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA); Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, previously known as the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP), and the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP)
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Brianna Clark, DO | Family Practice | Kingwood, TX | National Medical Association (NMA)
Dr. Clark is an Osteopathic Physician and Certified Lactation Counselor. Prior to attending medical school, she worked as a public health professional and AmeriCorps Community Healthcorps member. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Baylor University and her master’s degree from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, formally known as the School of Rural Public Health. In addition, she attended The Bush School of Government and Public Service where she earned a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management. Dr. Clark completed her medical training at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas Campus. Dr. Clark has a passion for rural health and is a champion of policies that support diversity in healthcare. She actively works to promote sustainable Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) and Anti-racism efforts in healthcare through policy development and education. She is an advocate for the inclusion of breastfeeding as an integral part of full-spectrum primary healthcare.
Could Extreme Heat Make It Harder to Breastfeed? — We need more research on the impact of environmental factors
Dr. Brianna Clark | featured in Top News of Environmental Health Sciences newsletter | June 19, 2023
Could Extreme Heat Make It Harder to Breastfeed?
Dr. Brianna Clark | MedPage Today | June 15, 2023
George Crawford, MD | Surgery | Anniston, AL | National Medical Association (NMA)
Dr. George Crawford, MD is the founder and lead surgeon at The Crawford Clinic in Anniston, Alabama. After graduating from Morehouse College as a Rhodes Scholar nominee and earning his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa distinction, Dr. Crawford earned his Medical Degree from Baylor College of Medicine and then completed his surgical residency at Emory University. In addition to running his multi-specialty clinic, Dr. Crawford sits on the board of trustees of the North East Regional Medical Center and volunteers through his created mentorship program which allows high school students a practical, first-hand experience in medicine. The clinic also serves as the nucleus for one of Dr. Crawford‘s greatest passions – inventing. Filing for his first patent at the age of 16 and recently receiving his first surgical patent, Dr. Crawford is always finding ways to be innovative. He currently has two patents pending in the United States and other countries which serve as the backdrop to the founding of his biotech company, Modern Surgical Design. Dr. Crawford is the proud father of four very active children who all participate in family hobbies that include, soccer, fishing, and a host of other odd hobbies that are too numerous to list.
Guest Opinion: Alabama should get on the (electric) school bus
Dr. George Crawford | AL.com | May 30, 2023
Alfred Glover, DPM | Podiatry | Los Angeles, CA | National Medical Association (NMA)
Alfred L. Glover, DPM, FACFAS, Board-Certified Podiatrist in Foot and Ankle Surgery for 30 years, whose diverse career offers a broad perspective of the profession, has developed integrated ideas about project management across departments and the functional planning of clinical education for Podiatric Surgical Residency programs. At this juncture in his career, Dr. Glover has embraced a new professional challenge as Executive Coach at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, earning certification in Career Development with an emphasis on diversity and equity training. Moreover, he has recently received certification in Board Leadership Training by The African American Board Leadership Institute and currently serves on the TCSPP Philanthropy Advisory Board. Dr. Glover was instrumental in developing the Podiatric Surgical Residency program and completed the prestigious California Health Care Foundation/UCSF Leadership Fellowship in 2010, where he returned as Pod advisor for the 2018 and 2019 cohorts. Additionally, Dr. Glover has been a Deacon at West Angeles Church of God in Christ and Chair of the Brotherhood Health Committee since 2009.
Oil and Gas Production in our Los Angeles Communities (p. 17, C-2)
Dr. Alfred Glover (2023 Fellow) | Los Angeles Sentinel | June 8, 2023
Valeria “Dee” Hairston, DPM | Podiatry | Germantown, WI | National Medical Association (NMA)
Dr. Valeria Dee Hairston is a practicing podiatrist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She practices at Milwaukee Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Care Center. Dr. Hairston is double-boarded in the subspecialties of Podiatric Surgery and Podiatric Orthopedics.
Dr. Hairston has been active in the community all of her adult life. She is active in her church as well as in her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. Additionally, she has been involved in various medical organizations for which on many occasions she has held leadership roles. Just to name a few she has served as Past Vice President of the Cream City Medical Society, Current Treasurer of Cream City Medical Society, Current Secretary and Board Member of the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Section of the NMA, and Current Treasurer of Region IV of the NMA. She is also a member of the Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action.
Opinion: Feds should make climate-friendly EVs more affordable
Dr. Valeria D. Hairston (2023 Fellow) | The Cap Times | July 2, 2023
Cheryl Holder, MD | Internal Medicine | Pembroke Pine, FL
National Medical Association (NMA)
Dr. Cheryl L. Holder, a graduate of Princeton University and George Washington University School of Medicine, a National Health Service Corp Scholar, Internist, and HIV Specialist served as Medical Director of one of Miami’s largest community health centers and on NIH and CDC health advisory and programmatic review panels. She dedicated her career to improving the health of underserved populations.
In 2009, she joined Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine’ faculty, where she taught about the social determinants of health, diversity, and the health impact of climate change. She retired on December 31, 2022, as the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Community Initiatives.
Her leadership roles include organizations such as president of Florida State Medical Association, Founder and Co-Chair of Florida Clinicians for Climate Action and Co-chair of Miami Dade Heat Health Task Force. Her TED Talk “The link between climate change, health, and poverty” garnered over 300,000 views.
Marcus Kawika Iwane, MD | Internal Medicine | Kapolei, HI
National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP) & American College of Physicians (ACP)
Dr. Marcus Kawika Iwane was born and raised in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. He earned his medical degree from the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) in 2010. He continued his training at the University of Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program, where he served as a chief resident. Dr. Iwane is board certified in internal medicine and belongs to the American College of Physicians. He serves as president of ‘Ahahui ‘o nā Kauka, Association of Native Hawaiian Physicians.
In 2014, Dr. Iwane joined Hawaii Permanente Medical Group. He is the chief of the Kaiser Permanente West Oahu Medical Office, known as Kīpukaoha, and clinical faculty for JABSOM and the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program. In 2018, Dr. Iwane was named to Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40 list of exceptional leaders and received the 2021 Kaiser Permanente David Lawrence Community Service Award.
Anna Lizama Clark, MD | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Orlando, FL | National Medical Association (NMA)
Dr. Anna Lizama Clark, M.D., MPH, came to the U.S.A. in 1975 as a foreign student from Belize. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Goshen College in Indiana and worked as a nurse for 9 years before pursuing her MD degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago. She did her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cook County Hospital in Chicago before moving to Orlando in 1996.
She has held leadership roles with the Central Florida Medical Society (CFMS) and the Caribbean American Medical Educational Organization (CAMEO). She actively participates in medical missions locally and internationally. Dr. Lizama completed her Masters in Public Health from the University of South Florida in 2015 with Certifications in Health Policy/Programs and Public Health Management/Leadership. In 2019, she completed Certification in Post-Crisis Leadership from USF during the Covid-19 pandemic. She continues to advocate for the disenfranchised with Doctors for America (DFA), Shepherd’s Hope free clinic for the uninsured, and Florida Clinicians for Climate Action. Dr. Lizama has been involved as a Principal Investigator in clinical research for the last 8 years and believes in the science that guides conventional medicine.
Esmeralda E. Morales, MD | Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine | Palo Alto, CA | National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)
Esmeralda Morales, MD is a Pediatric Pulmonologist and earned her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. She completed her subspecialty training at the University of Arizona known for its excellence in asthma care and research. She practiced in the southwestern United States for 7 years and served as Interim Chief of the Pediatric Pulmonary Division at the University of New Mexico (UNM), UNM Cystic Fibrosis Center Director and co-chair of the New Mexico Council on Asthma. She has been a member of the Pediatric Pulmonary Division through Stanford University School of Medicine for 8 years and is leading the division’s asthma clinical efforts. Her main interest areas are childhood asthma with an interest in environmental impacts on asthma, aerodigestive disorders in children, respiratory disorders in children with complex healthcare needs, and the care of diverse/historically marginalized patient populations. She is a former National Hispanic Medical Association Leadership Fellow.
Marcos A. Moreno, MD | Psychiatry | New Haven, CT
Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), American College of Physicians (ACP), & National Medical Association (NMA)
Marcos A. Moreno M.D. is a resident physician in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University where he studied neuroscience and his Doctor of Medicine degree from UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences. In addition to being a National Health Service scholar, his prior honors include Cornell’s Solomon Cook award, the Henry Ricciuti award, and the nationally prestigious Udall Healthcare award.
Born and raised on the Pascua Yaqui Reservation in Arizona, Doctor Moreno is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe through his father and Mexican American through his mother. He has been a major advocate for Indigenous peoples, and contributed to numerous publications on the matter, including a perspective piece on the effects of pesticides in Indigenous communities, a review of Native American community health responses during Covid-19, a chapter in the book American Indian Health Disparities in the 21st Century, and was selected as a representative author for North America in the United Nations-sponsored book Global Indigenous Youth: Through Their Eyes.
On climate change adaptation, consult the original experts: Indigenous people
Dr. Marcos Moreno (2023 Fellow) | The Hill | June 15, 2023
Climate change and health equity: The imperative for community-based resilience
Dr. Julian Watkins (2023 Fellow) & Dr. Marcos Moreno (2023 Fellow) | The Climate Group | September 19, 2023
Denise Powell, MD | Pediatrics | Bay St. Louis, MS | National Medical Association (NMA)
Denise Powell, MD is a pediatrician at Ochsner Medical Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; she completed medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and pediatric residency at the University of California San Francisco as part of the Pediatric Leaders Advancing Health Equity program.
As a multi-generation Mississippian, she is passionate about improving healthcare access in rural America, increasing health literacy through primary care, and preventing the implications of environmental injustice. She is a freelance writer and has guest co-hosted radio segments regarding public health concerns in Jackson, Mississippi. Prior community work includes restorative justice collaboration with the San Francisco District Attorney’s office, promoting health literacy through workshops for students at institutions like Mission High and Jackson State University, co-hosting healthcare screening events on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and volunteering with the UCSF Black Health Initiative. She is an active member of the National Medical Association.
Earl Stewart, Jr., MD| Internal Medicine | Smyrna, GA
American College of Physicians (ACP) & National Medical Association (NMA)
Dr. Earl Stewart, Jr., earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College’s School of Medicine and completed residency training in Categorical Internal Medicine at Brown University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a recipient of numerous awards, including Georgia Trend Top Doctor in 2021 and the 2022 40 Under 40 Leader in Minority Health by the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF). Dr. Stewart is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and currently practices with the WellStar Health System in Atlanta, Georgia.
How EHRs can impact climate change [PODCAST]
Dr. Earl Stewart (2023 Fellow) | MedPageToday’s KevinMD.com | July 24, 2023
Julian L. Watkins, MD | Internal Medicine | New York City, NY
Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality (GLMA) & National Medical Association (NMA)
Dr. Julian L. Watkins is an Internal Medicine trained public servant who serves as Acting Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Bureau of Health Equity Capacity Building. Dr. Watkins leads city-wide efforts to reduce health inequities and empower communities through tailored community engagement, narrative power building, and equitable program design.
Dr. Watkins is also a Culture of Health Leader, part of a national leadership program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is on the board of the Catskills Agrarian Alliance, a collective of farms focused on land stewardship, community organizing, and mutual aid. He is also a partner at Beverly’s, a Lower Manhattan arts institution. His deep medicine practice and cultural work draw from social medicine, philosophy, literature, art, and social movements to invite people into a larger conversation about community sovereignty, safety, sustainability, resilience, belonging, and care.
Climate change and health equity: The imperative for community-based resilience
Dr. Julian Watkins (2023 Fellow) & Dr. Marcos Moreno (2023 Fellow) | The Climate Group | September 19, 2023