Abby Novinska-Lois, MPH

Abby Novinska-Lois, MPH, is the Executive Director of Healthy Climate Wisconsin. Abby holds a Masters in Public Health with a Certificate in Interdisciplinary Women's Health from the University of Utah School of Medicine, and a Bachelors in Environmental Science and a Certificate in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Abby began her career as a published UW-Madison Extension Researcher focused on integrated pest management solutions and pollinators in Wisconsin agriculture.

Abby played a pivotal role in the launch of Healthy Climate Wisconsin (HCW) in 2020. Serving as its inaugural Executive Director, Abby leads the charge in mobilizing health professionals to address climate-related health challenges. Her work has been recognized on the national level, with several invitations to major medical conferences and the White House. She additionally serves on the Steering Committee for the Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin, the Steering Committee of the Fossil Free for Health Coalition, and the Planning Team of the Climate and Health Action Together.

Julia Alberth, MPH
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Julia Alberth, MPH

Julia Alberth, MPH, is a public health professional and environmental justice advocate who joined Healthy Climate Wisconsin as the Health Equity and Resilient Communities Coordinator. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin–Parkside. Julia is also a graduate of the New to Public Health Residency Program, a year-long professional development program for early career public health professionals.

Julia has spent her career working at the intersection of public health, community engagement, and health equity. She previously served as the Community Engagement Manager at UW–Milwaukee’s Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health, where she coordinated Field Experiences for over 100 undergraduate and graduate students and built lasting partnerships with local organizations and public health leaders. Julia serves as the co-chair of the Early Career Professionals Section of the Wisconsin Public Health Association and is an active board member of Lead2Change, where she contributes to the Program and Community Engagement Committee.

Joel Charles, MD, MPH
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Joel Charles, MD, MPH

Joel Charles is a full-spectrum family physician practicing in rural southwest Wisconsin, where he serves as medical director for the Kickapoo Valley Medical Clinic. From the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, he received his MD and Master of Public Health degrees, the latter focusing on climate and health. He attended both those programs as a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship. He completed his residency at Sutter Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency. Upon returning to Wisconsin, he helped found Healthy Climate Wisconsin, a fast-growing group of health professionals committed to advocating for equitable solutions to the climate crisis.

Sarah Francois, LCSW
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Sarah Francois, LCSW

Sarah is a Clinical Social Worker specializing in psychotherapy treatment for adults with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Her 25-year career in Wisconsin includes over a decade in community mental health services across Milwaukee and Dane Counties, nine years with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and five years in specialty private practice. Sarah is deeply committed to the provision of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions and identifies as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. 

 Sarah sought to join forces with HCW after noticing that several of her adult clients with severe OCD or Anxiety Disorders had thematic fears related to climate change, natural disasters, personal responsibility, betrayal, and hopelessness. At the same time, Sarah is inspired by her teenage sons, who frequently express non-pathological climate distress and are enthusiastic about being change agents for their generation.

Joel Hill, MPAS-PA-C
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Joel Hill, MPAS, PA-C

Joel Hill is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he has educated physician assistant students on various topics in clinical medicine and prevention since 2010. He also coordinates an online graduate and professional certificate in global health course for the UW’s Office of Global Health, which prepares graduate students for global field courses. Since establishing interdisciplinary partnerships between the UW-Madison PA Program and colleagues in Belize 12 years ago, he has made it his goal to assist the Belize Family Life Association’s mission to increase the rates of cervical cancer screening at the rural level, expanding screening efforts throughout the Stann Creek District.

Brittany Keyes, PT, DPT, ATC
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John Meurer, MD, MBA
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John Meurer, MD, MBA

Dr. Meurer is Professor Emeritus of Community Health and Pediatrics in the Institute for Health & Humanity at the Medical College of Wisconsin. As past Institute Director, he helped to launch the MCW Center for Sustainability, Health and Environment. In 2025, John joined the HCW Board and became Strategic Development Chair. He is passionate about healthy climate policy and advocacy.

Jasia Steinmetz, PhD, RD, CD
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Jasia Steinmetz, PhD, RD, CD

Jasia Steinmetz is a Professor of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, in the School of Health Promotion and Human Development. Alongside her academic roles, she has worked as a consulting nutritionist since 1992.

Her research focuses on dietetics education, food security, sustainability, and community development. Professor Steinmetz has published extensively, including contributions to The Sage Encyclopedia of Food Issues and is the author of the book Eat Local: Simple Steps to Enjoy Real, Healthy & Affordable Food. Her work promotes practical approaches to nutrition and sustainability.

Emily Walz, MD
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Emily Walz, MD

Emily Walz, MD is a community psychiatrist who is specifically interested in climate change's impacts on people suffering from severe mental illness.  She received her Masters of Social Work from the Ohio State University in 2005.  For several years, she managed a small caseload of severely, persistently mentally ill adults at Northwest Community Counseling Centers in Ohio.  She received both a medical degree and completed psychiatric residency training at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.  She was awarded a National Health Service Corps Scholarship and, for the past seven years, has worked at Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, a federally qualified health center, in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  Most recently, Emily has accepted a position at the University of Wisconsin; the position includes academic program development in Climate Psychiatry.

Elizabeth White, MD
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Elizabeth White, MD

Elizabeth White, MD is a Family Medicine Physician practicing with Emplify Health, formerly Gundersen Health in Boscobel Wisconsin. Her practice is focused on family based care across the life cycle with a focus on prevention and community health. She received her Medical degree at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and continues as a UWSMPH Clinical Adjunct Faculty member as a rural clinical educator. She completed her residency training at Gundersen Health, a national leader in decarbonizing and energy independence in healthcare. Dr White is active both in advocacy for clean energy solutions in rural Wisconsin as well as working to bridge the rural urban divide through climate advocacy. 

Alexandria Zielinski, DNP, APNP
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Alexandria Zielinski, DNP, APNP

Alexandria Zielinski is a nurse practitioner working in outpatient internal medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In this role, she prioritizes holistic and personalized care which are foundational to well-being. She is also clinical faculty at Marquette University where she guides undergraduate nursing students in nursing theory and practice. As well as caring for patients and students at an individual level, she collaborates with others for healthier communities and advocates for policies that impact those she serves.

Alex has passion for systems change and understanding that all things are interconnected and interdependent, so she strives to improve planetary health. With a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Marquette University, her doctoral project focused on implementing environmental justice education using the Planetary Health Framework, aiming to create transformative nursing students equipped to address health disparities. She has collaborated with leading organizations to create education, raise awareness, and present on climate and health.