The New York Academy of Medicine

09/29/2026

October is right around the corner. What better way to commemorate autumn kicking off in earnest than to visit New York Academy of Medicine’s historic library for a First Monday tour focused on harvest season?

Here in New York City, we don’t often think of how agricultural our state is, but so many different fruits, vegetables and grains grow in our state. If we look back to the 19th century, we can learn about how much diversity there was, with so many different varieties that we might not encounter now when many of us don’t have the opportunity to buy locally grown produce. As agricultural practices and the climate have changed, some of these varieties may have disappeared. What can we learn from the past to try to be better stewards of the earth today?

We hope to see you on Monday, October 5, at 12:00 p.m. in the lobby at 1216 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029. You can learn more about our historic library here:
https://bit.ly/3VWuwQR

09/28/2026

This week, we're getting ready to welcome visitors from the area to NYAM's 100-year-old building on 103rd and Fifth. Our thanks go to Open House New York for working with the incredible institutions in this great city to make them more accessible.

See you soon!

09/25/2026

Community resiliency in the face of climate and health challenges was an overarching theme of the closing plenary during the Climate and Health Commons. Shameika Hanson, climate adaptation specialist at The Nature Conservancy in New York, touched on how climate and health outcomes are interwoven.

“Of course, the climate can have a direct impact on health and our livelihoods from the quality of the air that we breathe to contaminants that we can find in our water. We are not separate at all from our natural environment... One of the biggest threats that we really face is actually flooding. After a flood event, there can be a myriad of impacts that communities face from possible roadways or damages to homes and critical infrastructure such as utilities or even hospitals.”

09/24/2026

“You’re taking action by being here today. You’re taking action every day in your work. Even in this very difficult time, those are green shoots. We can share our wisdom, we can share new strategies, we’re forming our own learning community today.

We know that action can be empowering. It can improve the way we add to science, add to the evidence base, and drive policy, even in difficult times.”

Ann Kurth, PhD, CNM, MPH, president and CEO of New York Academy of Medicine, delivering opening remarks during the Climate and Health Commons, co-hosted by the National Academy of Medicine.

09/24/2026

Yesterday, New York Academy of Medicine welcomed climate and health leaders from across academia, health care, philanthropy, and policy for the Climate and Health Commons. These leaders came from as close by as Columbia University to as far as the United Kingdom.

Convened in partnership with the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), the event created space for meaningful conversations, collaboration, and practical action at a time when the connections between climate and health are becoming increasingly clear.

We will share lots of content relating to the Climate and Health Commons over the coming days. Thank you so much to our partners at NAM, yesterday’s plenary speakers and session leaders, and the hundreds of people who attended in person and online. In the spirit of yesterday's sessions, keep thinking globally and acting locally!

We're honored to serve as a home for these critical conversations.

09/23/2026

Our second installment of “The Art of Aging Well” was a huge success! Thank you to all who came out last night to attend, but especially cartoonist and educator Kriota Willberg, who led the graphic medicine workshop. This hands-on event focused on visual narratives in medicine and aging. We hope you enjoy these images that were produced during last night’s workshop!

The third and final installment of “The Art of Aging Well” will center on a panel that will discuss the intersection of art, brain health, and creative aging. Attendees will learn from a neurologist, artists, and creative aging experts as they explore the power of art and creativity in healthy aging. Stay tuned!

09/22/2026

The Climate Group’s Climate Week NYC has drawn 100,000 people into New York City to forge collaborations in tackling the climate crisis. It’s expected that this annual event would draw politicians and climate activists from around the globe, but there’s also a strong business presence as well.

Karen Pflug, chief sustainability officer of Ingka Group, said there’s a strong economic incentive for companies to embrace energy-saving measures. Ingka Group is the worldwide holder of most IKEA furniture stores. Ms. Pflug told attending delegates that energy efficiency initiatives save Ikea millions of dollars annually.

Learn more about what other business leaders have to say during Climate Week NYC:

https://businesschief.com/news/climate-week-nyc-2026-ikea-100-000-delegates-us-100-oil

Ingka Group Chief Sustainability Officer Karen Pflug says the energy transition makes business sense as 100,000 delegates open Climate Week NYC 2026

09/22/2026

How does the climate crisis affect health care? How does it tangibly impact your life and the lives of those in your community?

That question is at the center of New York Academy of Medicine President and CEO Dr. Ann Kurth’s keynote discussion during Climate Week NYC this week. We are thrilled to co-host and collaborate alongside the National Academy of Medicine!

Here in New York City and around the world, communities can feel and measure the health effects of extreme heat, poor air quality, severe weather, and other climate-related challenges. Building resilient health systems will require collaboration across sectors.

We're looking forward to an important conversation on the future of climate and health. If you aren’t able to visit us tomorrow during our Climate and Health Commons, we hope you’ll still tune in remotely: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-and-health-commons-at-climate-week-nyc-tickets-1993921594163

Join us for our Climate and Health Commons, jointly hosted by the National Academy of Medicine and the New York Academy of Medicine.

09/21/2026

Did you know that the Vatican has plans to become the first nation on Earth powered solely by solar power? The multifaceted plan also implements agriculture; the solar panels will be placed several meters above the ground, allowing plants to grow as the panels take in solar energy.

Earlier today at Climate Group’s “The Hub Live” during , climate activist Bill McKibben relayed how he thanked Pope Leo XIV for the slogan, “energy from Heaven, not from Hell.”

Learn more about this exciting and ambitious development: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/vatican-build-100-million-renewable-energy-plant-sources-say-2026-08-22/

In agrivoltaic plants, solar panels are ​mounted several meters above the ground so crops can grow beneath them and take shade.

09/21/2026

This week, New York Academy of Medicine President and CEO Dr. Ann Kurth is participating in multiple Climate Week NYC events that explore one of the most important challenges facing population health today: the intersection of climate and health.

From keynote remarks on resilient health systems to leadership convenings and public discussions, these conversations bring together researchers, policymakers, health care leaders, and community organizations to move from awareness to action.

New York Academy of Medicine is proud to help convene the field as we work toward practical solutions that support healthier communities and stronger health systems.