Medical education and the COVID-19 pandemic – a dress rehearsal for the “climate pandemic”?

Abstract

In the present commentary, we raise the question whether the COVID-19 pandemic should be seen as just the dress rehearsal for what awaits us in the impending climate crisis. Many factors have helped us navigate the challenge of this coronavirus pandemic and continue to do so. These include: recognizing scientific expertise, medical education, and digitalization as important driving forces, providing us with key information about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as integrating it into our curricula and promoting action-oriented research. However, the “premiere of the climate pandemic” will, in all likelihood, confront us with even greater challenges, difficulties, and threats. Adhering to scientific findings, promoting medical education about the effects of global warming and using the power of digitalization, as well as consciously engaging in our role as medical caregivers and leaders will make a decisive contribution to providing impetus for climate action.

Keywords

• covid-19
• medical education
• planetary health
• climate change