Included in this edition:
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Texas PSR Presents! Plastics Paradox: Better Living, Hidden Harms
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Rally this Weekend! HANDS OFF to Protect our Health, Climate & Democracy
- Upcoming Local Events
- Bridging the Gap: Trialing Community-Led Active Learning Approach to Environmental Health Education
- Celebrating the Service of Our Departing Board Members
- Climate News: Treating Texas' Oilfield Wastewater Could Require More Energy Than Most US States
- Introducing Fumed, a Podcast by Public Health Watch
- Accelerate Environmental Sustainability in Your Practice in 2025 with MGD
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Texas PSR Presents!
Plastics Paradox: Better Living, Hidden Harms
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Join Texas PSR on Monday, April 28, 2025, from 7 - 8 PM for our CME webinar, "Plastic Paradox: Better Living, Hidden Harms".
This free CME presentation will define the stages of the plastic life cycle and their impact on human health. Dr. Pundhir will explain strategies for sharing information with patients to help mitigate the risks associated with plastic exposure. She will also cover the early initiatives being undertaken in the healthcare industry to reduce plastic pollution.
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Rally this Weekend!
HANDS OFF to Protect our Health, Climate & Democracy
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Many of us are feeling dismayed, angry, and afraid, and wonder what we can do. We see the current administration gutting the health, safety, and security of our communities while running roughshod over the rule of law and assaulting the democracy we’ve counted on to make our voices heard. Some of us are even avoiding the news, hoping it will blow over or not be that bad. The last 3 months make clear that we can no longer afford business as usual. “We are facing an unconstitutional threat to our country and our freedoms through an illegal power grab.” (Earthjustice)
What can we do?
Attend a HANDS OFF! Rally on Saturday, April 5.
Many rallies are planned across our state and the country! Find more details and a rally near you at handsoff2025.com
Grab your white coat and demand this corrupt regime get their hands off everything that matters to us: our rights, freedoms, and government services; science, truth, health, environmental justice, and our democracy. Find info here to make signs.
For information about why turnout at this rally matters and why now, as well as more details and background about HANDS OFF, please read here.
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Join Texas PSR President Dr. Adelita Cantu for Earth Day: West Side Edition!
Discover community resources, learn about energy efficiency to help lower your bill, enjoy a family tree giveaway, get free health screenings, and so much more!
Date: Saturday, April 5, 10:00AM to 2:00PM
Location: Good Samaritan Center, 1600 Saltillo St., San Antonio, Texas 78207
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United to Serve Health Fair at UT Southwestern
Spread the word! UT Southwestern is offering a free community health fair serving Dallas-Fort Worth residents. The fair offers free health screenings, sports physicals, cooking demonstrations, interactive health education, science exhibitions, and a carnival of games. We work with local community and business leaders to provide families with a wonderful day full of fun, learning, and free prizes! Learn more here.
The North Texas PSR Regional Council and Student Chapter will be distributing mist fans and educational materials on heat illness to residents in preparation for the high heat summer.
Date: May 3, 2025 9:00AM - 2:00PM
Location: 2929 Inwood Rd., Dallas, Texas 75235
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Bridging the Gap: Trialing Community-Led Active Learning Approach to Environmental Health Education
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Texas PSR Student Board members Alan Nagarajan and Audrey Schulze aimed to understand the impact of community-led education and health fairs on the attitudes of health professionals and students to environmental education following their time in Port Arthur last year. They virtually presented their findings at the Medical Students for a Sustainable Future 2025 Annual Conference on March 1. View the full size poster here.
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Celebrating the Service of Our Departing Board Members
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We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Lisa Doggett, Dr. Heather Falvo, and Dr. Lakshmi Balasubramanian for their invaluable service on our Board of Directors. Their dedication, insight, and leadership have made a lasting impact on our organization. Each has played a vital role in guiding our mission and strengthening our commitment to climate and health, and we are deeply thankful for their time, energy, and commitment.
As they conclude their board terms, we celebrate their contributions and look forward to seeing the continued ripple effects of their work. They remind us all that as Texas PSR members, we must continue to be advocates for strategies and policies to address the biggest climate concerns facing our patient's health.
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Climate News: Treating Texas' Oilfield Wastewater Could Require More Energy Than Most US States
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One company wants small nuclear reactors to power the energy-intensive process of purifying vast volumes of toxic “produced water” for use in agriculture and industry.
At current efficiency levels, treating all the effluent of the West Texas oilfield would require up to 26 gigawatts of power, more than the total generation capacity of most U.S. states. Even if operators achieved their ambitious target efficiencies, the Permian would still need an additional five gigawatts, enough to power about five million average American homes. Read the full article in Inside Climate News here.
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Introducing Fumed, a Podcast by Public Health Watch
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This serial podcast is set in Channelview, a community on the San Jacinto River in Harris County that’s been all but overtaken by the petrochemical industry — the barge industry in particular.The podcast interviews two locals who simply wanted to live their lives in peace but were thrust into activism once they realized no one in government would help them. They’d grown tired of industrial fires, explosions and chronic chemical releases, and became unlikely leaders. Condensed versions of the first four episodes are being carried by Texas Public Radio. Fumed can be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and their dedicated website.
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Accelerate Environmental Sustainability in Your Practice in 2025 with MGD
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Healthcare practices need to be “wildfire aware” everywhere in the world because the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires raises the risks to your patients, families, and practice. My Green Doctor’s latest newsletter explores the health risks of wildfire smoke, explains how to be prepared, and offers teaching resources for your patients:
Be Wildfire Aware in Your Practice, from My Green Doctor
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My Green Doctor is a free money-saving membership benefit provided through the Medical Group Management Association. Practice managers, doctors, and nurses use the “Meeting-by-Meeting Guide” to learn how to adopt environmental sustainability, save resources, address the health threats of climate change, and help create healthier communities.
The MGD team is ready to accelerate your environmental sustainability goals—ask them how: member.services@mygreendoctor.org. They’ll explain how adding just five minutes of My Green Doctor to each regular clinic or practice staff meeting will add up to big savings. They welcome everyone in your practice to register as Partner Society members at https://www.MyGreenDoctor.org or at www.MyGreenDoctor.es (sí, en español). Use the discount code MGDPSR when you register to get free access to My Green Doctor and save money!
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We do so much with so little, imagine what we could do
with just a little bit more!
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OR to mail your contribution to us, please send a check to our mailing address: Texas PSR, 3571 Far West Blvd. #3428 Austin, TX 78731
As a registered non-profit under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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