APHA 2025 Reflections: SCORCH Students’ Perspectives

The American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting is an event that draws over 11,000 public health practitioners, researchers, and organizations each year.  This year, three SCORCH students had the opportunity to attend and present at the national convening held November 2 – 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Kendra Martinez, Imran Mithu, and Royani Saha reflected on their experiences.

Q. To begin, what was the most impactful session or conversation you attended about climate change and health, and why did it stand out to you?

Royani: One particular session that really stood out was the International Health Section Mentoring Committee meeting, specifically the discussion with the Climate Change and Health Group. What made it so memorable was how the leaders approached it. They were genuinely asking for feedback and implementation strategies they could apply to bring people in and keep them engaged over time; it felt collaborative and forward-thinking.

Q. Did any speakers or fellow students offer perspectives on climate justice or resilience that influenced your thinking?

Kendra: I was fortunate enough to attend the Latino Health, Environmental Justice, and Community-Driven Strategies session. One of the ideas that stood out to me is the idea of reframing community resilience as something that they have been – not something they need to become – and stressing the need for a strengths-based approach to community engagement.

Q. How did your experience at APHA differ from your participation at other conferences?

Imran: My experience at APHA differed markedly from other conferences I have attended. APHA’s interdisciplinary scope created an environment where public health professionals, policymakers, informaticians, climate scientists, and students interacted fluidly. APHA encouraged systems-level thinking and cross-sector problem-solving, reflecting the real-world complexity of climate and health challenges.

In all, these students noticed themes of technological innovation, a need for interdisciplinary collaborations across sectors, and the importance of the work SCORCH is doing throughout the conference. The students came away with a renewed sense of purpose. Royani sums it up: At the end of the day, it comes down to thinking about the community you'll be serving, understanding what their needs are, and how you can lend your expertise to help address them.

About these University of Arizona students:

• Kendra Martinez is a recent MPH graduate with a concentration in Climate Change and Health.
• Imran Mithu is a third year PhD student in Environmental Health Sciences (EHS).
• Royani Saha is a third year PhD Student in Environmental Health Sciences (EHS).