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Laura: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
Pam: I grew up in a very small, rural unincorporated area in northwestern Wisconsin on a small beef farm. I grew up picking rocks out of the field and stacking hay bales when I was a young girl. I live in the same rural, unincorporated area about 9 miles from where I grew up. I did leave the area for about 10 years when I went to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and then moved after I graduated to the Marshfield area to work as a registered nurse.
Laura: Could you tell me a little bit about the kind of work that you do?
Pam: I'm a doctoral prepared, advanced practice nurse specialized in public/population health nursing. I have practiced at the local, county, state and national level in various roles as a public/population health nurse. I also have taught public/population health nursing for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. I have taught courses on policy and leadership, as well as public health courses that include epidemiology, biostatistics, and emergency preparedness. Although I “retired” from full-time public/population health nursing education, I still am very active by guest lecturing on climate and health at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and in the community.
I also was the chief executive officer of an organization focused on programs to address the root issues of poverty, including housing, food security, education, home and personal health care, legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, and other programming. And, I still am very active in systems-level public/population health nursing practice having most recently led a state initiative to develop resolutions for the Public Health Council’s consideration regarding the need to address the acute shortage of public/population health nurses and the increasing challenges of a population that is aging along with the effects we are seeing in environmental, climate, and planetary health.
Laura: What would you do on your perfect weekend in Wisconsin?
Pam: I would spend time with my family and hiking or walking outdoors. And, with a bit of extra time, I would make a good pan of brownies for my grandkids for a treat! Everything is better with a cup of coffee or milk, and a brownie!
Laura: What brought you to Healthy Climate Wisconsin?
Pam: I had a call from Jessica LeClaire who asked me if I would be willing to join the group that was forming to address climate and health issues. This was at the very beginning of creating Healthy Climate Wisconsin as a non-profit organization which was at first titled Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action (WHPCA). She knew I was interested in environmental and climate health related issues. Although I was very busy with my nursing faculty position at the time, I couldn’t say “No” because all I could think about is that I have an obligation to do something or as much as I can to address the climate and health effects that are going to affect my grandchildren’s future. So, often times, especially early on, I would be driving home after a 12 hour or longer day and I would participate via phone in the meetings during my hour commute home while simultaneously dodging deer.
Laura: What is one of your favorite projects that you’ve worked on with Healthy Climate Wisconsin?
Pam: Gosh, there are many favorites! I think that whether we are asked as an organization to find members to testify at a public hearing at the local, regional, state or federal level or meet with various governmental entities or create events such as the Clean Air Concert; each project has a specific reason and outreach purpose. I find outreach, making personal connections, initiating something exciting by bringing people together, supporting learning and education, so exhilarating! I love having the opportunity to work with other great and skilled colleagues who are as passionate as I am and have so much wonderful knowledge and skills to address how we need to all be engaged to highlight the connections of climate and health.
Seeing the results of our efforts takes time. However, through testifying and educating the Superior Community about the effects of NTEC, we know we have been able to help people in this community really understand the true health effects of building further fossil fuel infrastructure, and that has been satisfying to know we have prevented additional disease and deaths amongst a population who did not have all of the information at hand to make an informed decision for their community and their loved one’s overall health. Another event that I really liked, was the Clean Air Concert held in the Eau Claire, Altoona, Chippewa Valley area at the end of August. This event was a ton of work, but I had the opportunity to reconnect with a former nursing student of mine who is now working and pursuing graduate school and of which neither of us thought years ago our paths would cross again. It also gave me the opportunity to move out of my comfort zone and lean heavily on other colleagues who have a fantastic background in music and organizing concerts!
Laura: If you could broadcast something to every Wisconsinite about health and climate what would you say?
Pam: I would say to please try everything that they possibly can to help us mitigate the effects that we are going to have to live with and prevent the further climbing of our temperatures from global warming for the sake of all of our kids and grandkids. I would also strongly encourage all Wisconsinites to rely on the scientists and researchers regarding the effects of climate on health and to check to be assured they are receiving reputable information, data and facts.
For instance, when we consider the ravaging effects of two major hurricanes hitting Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia and other states, one has to question and research for reputable data and information about how these climate effects are not going to stop without all of us coming together to solve this issue at hand. The sooner we can all come together on this issue to implement interventions to decrease our carbon footprint, prevent the further warming of our planet, and mitigate what is already here, the better off we will all be, especially for our most vulnerable who are our children and grandchildren.
Laura: What is a topic that you really geek out about?
Pam: Hmmm, well, I love public health, public health nurses and prevention of disease and mortality…..just about anything related to strategies and interventions that prevents anyone individual, family, community, and/or population from suffering or experiencing health related effects whether it be communicable disease, the importance of vaccinations to prevent something like measles, or preventing and mitigating further health related issues due to the warming planet and climate.
Laura: What brings you hope?
Pam: When I see bright young people who are passionate and are joining efforts to address climate and health! My 10-year-old grandson asked me what our electric bill ran and this was about a year ago! I thought goodness, what 10-year-old asks their grandparents about an electric bill? So, no doubt even at his young age, he is hearing the discussions about electricity, the costs (and this means not only in regard to the financial costs specifically on the bill), but what is the price we are willing to pay in the numbers of lives lost or people affected negatively by disease or injury?
The question he posed, gave me the opportunity to talk about the importance of all of us paying more attention to consider how we can better use solar, wind, etc. for our electricity needs. It also means being aware of our natural resources so as not to pollute air and water, because all living systems need clean air and water to live. These are the types of bright moments by children and youth, as well as young adults, who give me hope for the future, knowing that their generation is learning and will likely be prepared to call out the fossil fuel industry tactics used to confuse and negate how much polluting and deadly fossil fuels are hurting all of us.