Environmental Crisis Affecting Human Health. A Medical Practitioner Proposes an Unconventional Solution.
In a world grappling with the climate crisis and its intimate impacts on human health, Dr. Wendy Johnson presents a revolutionary vision for a new healthcare system. This system, known as kinship medicine, is a model that prioritizes teamwork, interconnectedness, and a return to roots.
Dr. Johnson, with her extensive background in medical and public health, has been exploring the connection between ecological systems and human health. Her groundbreaking book, Kinship Medicine, published by Oxford University Press, argues for a more connected, ecological form of care.
The proposed kinship medicine model overhauls the current healthcare system, shifting focus from individual health to a collective attribute. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all aspects of health, recognizing that pollution, isolation, and lack of supportive relationships can affect our health.
The model calls for a rebuilding of care systems rooted in kinship, a concept that feels especially urgent as climate-linked health impacts surge globally. Western medicine's separation of mental and physical health doesn't serve us, as behavioral and physical health are intertwined, according to Johnson's book.
Community health centers, which originated from the movement started by Jack Geiger and Count Gibson, are still in existence today but have lost much of their original vision due to lack of funding and systemic barriers. The kinship medicine model seeks to revitalize these centers and integrate non-human relationships, such as plants, animals, and land, into healthcare practices.
Examples of this integration include community gardens, nature hikes, and the revitalization of native plant knowledge. The connection to the land is seen as central and is emphasized through these practices.
The pandemic has deepened disconnection, especially for young people, and there is a need to rebuild the skills of being together, particularly in face-to-face interactions and in nature. Embracing kinship medicine at scale could lead to major shifts, including the building of relationships, reduced stress, and increased collaboration across political divides.
Connection in face-to-face interactions and in nature can lead to a sense of kinship with people and the land, which can inspire action and activism to protect what is loved. Dr. Wendy Johnson sees the climate crisis as the biggest medical emergency of our time and believes that our personal ecosystems are embedded in larger ones.
The revitalization of native plant knowledge and its integration into healthcare practices can help connect people to the land, which is beneficial for health. This approach emphasizes a deeply relational approach to care, one that recognizes our bodies as ecosystems embedded in other ecosystems.
Dr. Wendy Johnson's call to rebuild care systems rooted in kinship feels especially urgent as climate-linked health impacts surge globally. Her vision of kinship medicine offers a hopeful path forward, one that prioritizes connection, collaboration, and care for both people and the planet.
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