Donald De Alwis ’20, an Environmental Science and Technology and Public Health Science graduate, is studying to save lives while leading efforts to help save our planet. In addition to his career goals to become a primary care doctor through enrollment at the School of Medicine at University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB), De Alwis has another mission to accomplish; to fight for a more carbon free world by integrating climate change into the academic curriculum.
He has already taken a major step towards success. During his first year, De Alwis helped launch the first Maryland chapter of Medical Students for a Sustainable Future.
“The effects of climate change on health were already really apparent to me and part of my global view on medicine,” said De Alwis. “It’s a threat to health and to vulnerable communities. That’s why we began advocating for increased climate action at UMB.”
Part of his work with the group involved creating the first Planetary Health Report Card in the state of Maryland, a mechanism that grades how UMB is teaching climate, how sustainable it is, how much climate is integrated into the curriculum, and how community groups are incorporated into practices of the institution. The final report card was published on Earth Day and received a warm reception from administration.
“The fact that the report card was received so favorably leads into the progress UMB has made over the past couple of months,” said De Alwis. “The school appointed a climate and health curriculum lead so now we have a faculty member dedicated to the role. But it’s not just a handful of folks, it’s a very major turning point in medicine that the whole community is involved with.”
De Alwis’ environmentalism has not been limited to his involvement at UMB. Recently he participated in multi-institutional student efforts to get University System of Maryland (USM) schools to reduce their carbon footprint and increase sustainable education through the FUTURE Act. As part of his advocacy, he testified in support of the bill to the Maryland Senate and Maryland House of Delegates last spring, communicating the complex health and financial impacts of climate change and the need to create student climate leaders through teaching. While the legislation did not move forward past the committee phase, De Alwis points to the passing of the Climate Solutions Now Act as proof that progress is being made in Maryland.
“It was really interesting to see all the stakeholders who were involved with the bill,” said De Alwis. “It was focused on climate change within higher education institutions but the participation from different groups really demonstrated how intersectional the issue of climate change is. Working with students from various backgrounds and meeting non-profit stakeholders who helped amplify our message, really showed that climate change does not spare very many fields. I think it makes an argument that climate change in itself is a force multiplier with existing issues in so many areas.”
De Alwis doesn’t see his commitment to sustainability diminishing as he conducts research on air pollution while continuing his studies in medicine. Through climate and health research, he hopes to contribute to institutionalizing environmental health as an essential part of the way medicine is practiced. He is also hopeful that UMB will be known for prioritizing climate change and health equally to advocate for environmental justice in Baltimore and beyond.
“Hopefully in my practice as a physician, I will be able to continue to educate people about the intersection of environment and health and really practice what I preach,” said De Alwis. “Climate change can feel insular at first glance but really all it takes is one person to stand up and ask questions. A lot of people care but often it’s a matter of showing people how to care.”
by Andrew Muir : Momentum Winter 2023
