LiPH is what you make of it.

Leadership in Planetary Health (LiPH) Fellowship

The Leadership in Planetary Health (LiPH) Fellowship is an innovative, one-year program based in the Johns Hopkins Department of Emergency Medicine, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health (JHIPH). This fellowship is designed to equip emergency medicine clinicians with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to address the pressing challenges of the Earth Crisis through clinical leadership, research, education, advocacy, and policy. 

The Leadership in Planetary Health (LiPH) Fellowship is designed to prepare emergency medicine clinicians to become transformative leaders by equipping them with the tools and expertise to integrate Planetary Health principles into clinical practice, research, education, policy, and innovation.

Planetary Health, defined as "the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends," addresses critical global challenges—climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and issues related to the built environment—while striving to safeguard a livable future for all life on Earth.

Overview of the LiPH Fellowship

The fellowship responds to the growing recognition within emergency medicine, particularly in the wake of COVID-19, that the specialty must evolve to meet mounting existential threats. Emergency clinicians are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation, given their ability to navigate time-sensitive crises and address the systemic factors driving them. By embracing the inherently interdisciplinary nature of Planetary Health, the fellowship enables clinicians to tackle these challenges at their roots while fostering resilience and hope within both the healthcare system and the communities it serves.

Fellows will also work clinically at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Medicine, maintaining their expertise while actively integrating Planetary Health principles into real-time patient care. This unique combination of academic, clinical, and leadership opportunities ensures fellows are well-prepared to advance the Planetary Health movement while contributing meaningfully to emergency medicine

Fellows will:

  • Be embedded within a robust network that spans clinical programs, sustainability initiatives, global partnerships, and community-driven efforts.

  • Gain access to tailored educational experiences, mentorship, and hands-on externship opportunities.

  • Develop and implement solutions that advance Planetary Health while enhancing emergency medicine’s response to interconnected health and environmental challenges.

This comprehensive approach empowers fellows to transcend traditional boundaries, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and equipping them to create meaningful, lasting change in their clinical practice, research, and advocacy efforts.

The LiPH Fellowship leverages the unparalleled resources and collaborative ecosystem of Johns Hopkins University, as illustrated in the Community Map. By embracing the broad and comprehensive framing of Planetary Health, fellows gain the greatest surface area upon which to apply their expertise, explore and discover innovative solutions, and collaborate across all sectors—not just at Johns Hopkins, but also on a global scale.

What Makes the LiPH Fellowship Unique?

Program Pillars

The LiPH Fellowship is structured around six core pillars, designed to provide fellows with a comprehensive and impactful experience:

1. Core and Customizable Planetary Health Didactics

Fellows will participate in foundational Planetary Health coursework co-created with JHIPH faculty. Through the Planetary Health Curriculum Mapping Program, fellows can customize their learning by drawing on disciplines across Johns Hopkins’ schools, including public health, medicine, engineering, and environmental science. This ensures each fellow’s educational journey aligns with their unique career goals and aspirations.

2. Advocacy and Education

Fellows will play a key role in shaping the Planetary Health curriculum for JHIPH Clinical Programs, developing and delivering educational content to interdisciplinary audiences. Serving as mentors and advocates, fellows will foster an understanding of Planetary Health’s role in clinical care and inspire others to take action. Fellows will also represent Hopkins and Planetary Health initiatives at local, national, and international events.

3. Administrative Leadership

Fellows will actively engage in Hopkins' sustainability, climate change, & Planetary health community, collaborating with:

  • The Sustainability Leadership Council Sustainable Healthcare Working Group

  • The Johns Hopkins Health System Sustainability Working Group

  • JHIPH and the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA)

They will contribute to policy recommendations and operational innovations, shaping healthcare practices that integrate sustainability and resilience principles.

4. Externship Experience

Fellows will undertake an immersive externship with one or more of the many organizations connected to Hopkins’ global and local networks. Examples include:

  • Collaborating with the Planetary Health Alliance’s nearly 500 global partners.

  • Partnering with community organizations in Baltimore to address localized health and environmental challenges.

These externships allow fellows to apply Planetary Health principles in real-world settings, driving practical, scalable solutions that align with their professional goals.

5. Capstone Project

The fellowship culminates in a capstone project that synthesizes the fellow’s learning and experiences into a high-impact contribution to Planetary Health and emergency medicine.
Examples of capstone focus areas include:

  • Neuroaesthetics in healthcare: Bridging arts, humanities, and environmental health.

  • Healthcare’s ecological footprint: Exploring innovations in facilities operations, supply chain management, and waste stream reduction.

  • Resilience modeling: Addressing the built environment, organizational dynamics, and provider well-being.

Fellows will have opportunities to publish and present their work at conferences, fostering broader dissemination and impact.

6. Participation in Convenings

Fellows will gain exposure to global Planetary Health discussions by attending and contributing to major events (how many is subject to available funding). Possibilities include:

  • UNCOP Climate and Biodiversity Summits

  • Planetary Health Annual Meeting

  • CleanMed Conference

  • World Association for Disaster Emergency Medicine

  • Medical Consortium on Climate and Health Annual Meeting

  • JHIPH transdisciplinary summits, including events at the Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C.