The Relentless School Nurse: Ignoring Climate Science Is Public Health Negligence

 

 

As the climate crisis accelerates—bringing extreme heatwaves, toxic wildfires, and mounting health emergencies—the stakes for America’s health, and for truth itself, have never been higher. Yet rather than confront this crisis with science and urgency, the Trump administration continues to deny, distract, and dismantle decades of climate and public health progress.

This moment demands clarity—and courage—from the healthcare community.

Doctors, nurses, hospital leaders, and public health professionals are witnessing the health impacts of climate change in real time: children struggling to breathe through polluted air, seniors hospitalized by relentless heat, and entire communities displaced by floods and fire. These are not abstract forecasts—they are daily realities. As healthcare professionals, we have an ethical obligation to speak out, counter misinformation, and demand policies grounded in science, not politics.

Few have modeled that responsibility more powerfully than nurse leader Teri Mills. Through her prolific writing and activism, Mills has inspired a generation of nurses to step beyond the bedside and into the public arena. She reminds us that nurses—consistently ranked among the most trusted professionals—have a vital role to play in advancing prevention, health equity, and evidence-based advocacy. Her voice, along with the voices of healthcare professionals across the country, is essential to confronting climate denial and protecting public health.

In their new USA Today Op-Ed, co-authored with Dr. Timothy Holtz, a physician and longtime public health leader, the duo argues that climate denial isn’t just a political failure—it’s a public health emergency. Lives are at stake, and healthcare professionals can no longer afford to stay silent.

The time to speak up is now. The health of our nation—and the integrity of our democracy—depend on it.

👉 Read the full Op-Ed here: Opinion: Trump’s agenda proves to reverse course for planet, not taking climate crisis seriously

 

About the authors:

 

Timothy Holtz, MD, MPH, is a physician and medical epidemiologist who served for over 20 years with the U.S. Public Health Service. He has worked globally and domestically on issues related to climate, health equity, and infectious disease control.

 

 

 

 

Teri Mills, MS, RN, CNE, FAAN, is a retired professor of nursing and founder of the National Nurse Campaign. She is a nationally recognized advocate for public health, climate action, and the power of nurses in shaping policy.