Environmental Health Expert Dr. Laura Geer Honored as NIH Climate Scholar

By Office of the President | Nov 28, 2023

Laura Geer, Ph.D., MHS, chair and associate professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, was been named a 2024 Climate and Health Scholar by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in acknowledgment of her exceptional work and expertise at the intersection of environmental health and climate science.

As one of only seven individuals nationwide to receive this honor, Dr. Geer will contribute to NIH’s initiatives addressing health threats from climate change, focusing on enhancing health resilience globally. Her research is centered on urban underserved communities, investigating their vulnerabilities and resilience to climate impacts, with a focus on environmental factors and social determinants of health. Dr. Geer’s current work explores the health effects of environmental exposures—notably air pollution and heat—on birth outcomes.

In her role as a Climate and Health Scholar, Dr. Geer will contribute to the NIH’s efforts to address health threats posed by climate change, with a primary focus on enhancing health resilience in individuals, communities, and nations worldwide.

As an NIH Climate and Health Scholar, Dr. Geer will be hosted by the NIH’s ‘All of Us’ research program, whose objective is to gather data from one million individuals across the United States to create one of the most diverse health databases in history. Over 7,500 health researchers are using this unique dataset to deepen our understanding of health and disease, identify opportunities to reduce disparities, and foster more precise approaches to care.

Congratulations to Dr. Geer on this great achievement and for her outstanding contributions to climate and health research.

Tags: Honors