by Hollie Meyers and Alexandra Cardoso Pinto<\/p>\n
The connection between climate change and health is undeniable, with environmental changes exacerbating conditions such as respiratory illnesses, heat-related diseases, and the spread of infectious diseases (1). Despite the increasing recognition of these links, including recent updates to GMC outcomes underscoring the importance of sustainability in the medical curriculum, we couldn\u2019t help but notice how sustainable healthcare practices remained underemphasised in our medical education (2).<\/p>\n
Driven by our desire to make a meaningful difference in helping medical students and medical educators understand sustainable healthcare, we applied for StudentShaper roles in the Undergraduate Primary Care Education Unit. In collaboration with Faculty, our job was to review and further integrate sustainability into the Primary Care curriculum at Imperial. We hope that this project helps to equip future doctors with the skills and understanding needed to practice sustainably \u2013 whilst supporting GP tutors in being a part of this journey too.<\/p>\n
The Project: What We Did <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Our efforts began with a review of the existing curriculum, focusing on online learning modules and project assessments. Through this process, we learned that there is a paucity of innovative and engaging learning resources to support students learning about sustainable healthcare practices. We conducted an extensive literature review and gathered student feedback to inform our approach in updating this material. We also reviewed assessment briefs for projects conducted in Primary Care, to ensure these not only emphasise sustainability as a core principle, but also provide sufficient guidance for students to achieve this.<\/p>\n We discovered that while there is interest in the topic, there is also lack of confidence amongst educators on how to best support students in incorporating sustainability in healthcare. In response, we filmed a video incorporating insights from Dr Tamsin Ellis, a GP tutor, who emphasised that primary care is a prime setting for integrating sustainable healthcare education. Dr Ellis highlighted the importance of explaining the relevance of sustainability through stories and practical examples to make the learning meaningful. You can watch the video below.<\/p>\n