2024 Annual Florida Climate Conference: Climate & Human Health
November 14, 2024 @ 8:15AM — November 15, 2024 @ 12:20PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar
University of South Florida - Sarasota-Manatee Campus in the Student Center Ballroom: 8350 N Tamiami Trail Sarasota, Florida 34243 Get Directions
Thu, Nov 14, 8:15am-2:30pm - Fri. Nov 15, 8:00am-12:30pm
Join us as the CAC's CEO Bob Bunting and 20 world class speakers, including Executive Vice President and Chief Economic Adviser of the US Federal Reserve Bank, CEO of the CDC Foundation and the President, American Board of Pediatrics, as they take the stage for an interactive experience to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to tackle the growing challenges of climate warming’s impact on health AND what to do about it! This conference is for people who want to increase their knowledge so they can use it to make better decisions. It matters if you're deciding for your family, your company, your government or your own philanthropy. Better decisions means better results. Human health impacts from a warming climate will be one of our area's largest challenges. The more we know, the more we can prepare. The more we prepare, the lower the negative impact.
Come join our all-star speakers to understand how climate warming is and will continue to affect the human BODY and the MIND and what we need to do about it!
Category 5 members receive VIP tickets for all conference events and parties. For more information click here.
Thursday, November 14: The Human Body - 8:15 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Session 1: "The Heat Is On!" - Climate Warming is increasingly affecting human health. Why is it happening, what is highly probable from now to 2050. Much of what I wrote at the beginning of this document will be presented and more. The human medical fallout will be discussed and some thoughts about how we prepare our communities and medical system for the expected impacts. This is a foundational session for the entire conference.
8:15 a.m. Check-in and coffee/refreshments
8:35 a.m. Welcome - Bob Bunting, CEO and Chairman, CAC and Dr. Karen Holbrook, Chancellor, University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee
8:40 a.m. Introduction of sponsors, dignitaries, guests and Day 1 moderator - Bob Bunting
8:50 a.m. Opening Framing Comments - Moderator Day 1, David Kotok, Chief Investment Officer, Cumberland Advisors
9:00 a.m. SESSION 1: "The Heat Is On!" - Moderator Bob Bunting
9:05 a.m. Presentation 1 - Keynote: The Science of Heat - Bob Bunting
9:25 a.m. Presentation 2: A Medical Perspective on Increasing Heat Health Issues - Dr. Eugene Fu, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Extreme Heat Expert
9:50 a.m. Presentation 3: Preemptive Planning to Thwart Excessive Impacts from A Warming Climate - Ankush K. Bansal, MD, FACP, FACPM, SFHM, FCCA Internal Medicine is a member on the Council on Science & Public Health at the American Medical Association and participant in COP 29
Session 2: Climate and Infectious Disease - The warming climate will affect many aspects of human health with the spread of infectious disease. These include vector and water diseases like Dengue, Malaria and Vibrio. The climate aspects of disease will be followed by the clinical aspects as well as preemptive actions individuals, communities and health systems can take to intercept these threats and lower the risks.
10:40 a.m. SESSION 2: Climate and Diseases - Moderator, Teri Hansen, President and CEO, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
10:45 a.m. Presentation 4: Climate and Infectious Disease - Ric Kearbey, Senior Scientist, CAC
11:10 a.m. Presentation 5: A Medical Perspective of Infectious Disease Impacts
Part 1: Emphasis on upper ENT - Dr. Jack Wazen, Former Chief of Staff and current physician at SMH
Part 2: Emphasis on Infectious Disease - Dr. Kathryn Lago – Infectious Disease Specialist, SMH
Noon Audience Q & A
12:10 p.m. Catered Lunch for those who buy the L&B Lunch and Breakfast Ticket.
Session 3: Climate and Air Quality - Climate warming is creating significant and prolonged air quality issues like ground level Ozone, toxic smoke from increasing wildfires, spread of toxins from red tide, heavy and different pollens etc. Climate scientist and clinicians will define the problem and proffer strategies to deflate the risks.
1:00 p.m. SESSION 3:Climate and Air Quality – Moderator, Dr. Kirk Voelker, Medical Director and Clinical Research, Sarasota Memorial Hospital
1:05 p.m. Presentation 7 - Keynote: Climate and Air Quality: The Science - Dr. Stu Waterman, Senior Scientist and CTO, CAC
1:30 p.m. Presentation 8: How Medical Impacts from Air Quality May Evolve in the Decades Ahead – Dr. Kirk Volker, Florida Climate Clinicians Association FCCA or Sarasota Memorial Hospital
1:55 p.m. Presentation 9: Preemptive Planning to Thwart Air Quality Impacts from a Warming Climate – Dr. Cheryl Holder - Executive Director Florida Climate Clinicians Association FCCA
2:20 p.m. Audience Q&A and Daily Wrap-up - David Kotok
2:30 p.m. Adjourn
Friday, November 15: The Human Mind - 8:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.
8:00 a.m. Check in & Continental Breakfast for those who buy the L&B Lunch and Breakfast Ticket.
Session 4: Climate and Mental Health - Heat has shown to hasten mental illness while climate warming is discouraging young people in the US from having families and is bringing higher anxiety and depression to many. The increasing impacts from climate induced events worldwide and here in Florida is also driving mental health issues. What is happening and what can we do to change fear and despair into a more positive mental outlook that could also drive positive outcomes.
8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductions - Bob Bunting
Introduction of Day 2 Moderator - Anand Pallegar, CEO Dream Large Inc.
8:35 a.m. Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a CAC Climate Champion Award Winner for 2024.
8:40 a.m. Presentation 1: The Evolving Impacts from Climate Warming on Mental Health - Ric Kearbey, Senior Scientist, CAC
9:05 a.m. Presentation 2 - Keynote: Psychological/Psychiatric Issues from Climate Heating - Dr. Ruby Bhangoo, SMH
9:30 a.m. Presentation 3: The Needed Evolution of Mental Health Infrastructure is to Meet Patient Needs - Judy Schaechter, M.D., M.B.A., Professor Emerita, University of Miami and former President, American Board of Pediatrics
9:55 a.m. Audience Q & A
Session 5: Climate and Migration - This is a complex and significant trend that will only become more established as we approach the 2°C warmer threshold where many scientists have said the climate becomes inherently unstable. It is clearly a mental health issue for all strata of our society. In the US, there will be increasing migration from Central America, from the southern US to the northern US and Canada, migration inland from shorelines including in our backyard. The development Climate Economy will be one big opportunity.
10:20 a.m. Introduction of Keynote speaker, Dr. Judy Monroe, President and CEO, CDC Foundation – Bob Bunting
10:25 a.m. Special Presentation- Keynote: Preparing for Expected Medical Impacts from a Warming Climate, National to Local - Dr. Judy Monroe, President and CEO, CDC Foundation
10:50 a.m. Audience Q & A
11:00 a.m. Session 6: Climate and Migration - Moderator Elizabeth Moore, A CAC Founding Director
11:05 a.m. Presentation 4: Perspectives from a Climate Scientist, Businessman and Academic - Bob Bunting
11:30 a.m. Presentation 5: Climate Driven Migration, The Medical Impacts - Dr. Jody McBrien, University of South Florida
11:55 a.m. Presentation 6: The Ultimate Adaptation, The Climate Doctors Are Coming - Madison Miracle, Emergency Medicine Physician, Orlando, Florida
12:20 p.m. Presentation 7 - Keynote: Thoughts on How the Southeast US Must Prepare for Climate Migration Shifts – David Altig, Executive Vice President and Chief Economic Adviser, US Federal Reserve Bank Atlanta
12:45 p.m. Audience Q & A
12:55 p.m. Wrap-up Day 2 and Closing Conference Remarks - Anand Palleger; Dr. Karen Holbrook and Bob Bunting
1:00 p.m. Adjourn