Cristina Watkins, FNP-BC, has been practicing as an NP for almost 15 years. She has worked in a variety of areas, including pediatrics, vascular neurology, and, most recently, telemedicine. She is a current third-year Johns Hopkins DNP/MPH student, a joint program of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her interest is the intersection of climate change, water insecurity, and maternal and infant health.
Leka Rob is a senior at the University of Rochester studying Health, Behavior, and Society with a Computer Science minor. As a first-generation Bengali-American, she approaches public health with inclusivity and adaptability. Currently, she supports environmental health projects at the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, contributing skills in research, policy advocacy, and community engagement. Known for her analytical abilities, Leka is committed to leveraging technology for impactful health outcomes in diverse communities and is particularly interested in the field of health informatics .
Paloma Greenwald, RN, BSN, MA, a dedicated public health professional and military spouse, draws from her U.S.-Mexico border upbringing and 25-year nursing career, particularly focusing on Spanish-only speakers. Her work spans from public-school nursing during the COVID pandemic to advising injured workers and elders aging in-place and Climate and Health campaigns. Experienced in policy advocacy, she champions voting rights, fights food insecurity, and promotes climate and health initiatives in local, state, and federal level communities. With a Master’s in Public Leadership and certifications in Financial Counseling, Scientific Advising, LEAN Healthcare, and Leadership from Harvard’s National Public Leadership Institute, Paloma addresses social determinants of health head-on.
Paloma’s advocacy is deeply inspired by her love of nature through long treks in North American National Parks. In 2023, Paloma completed a 1000 KM pilgrimage by foot on the Camino de Santiago, fostering bonds with global health professionals. Global medical missions and backpacking trips taught Paloma that life-long learning takes many forms. She recently embraced immersion training for crisis communications in Rome, Italy and United Nations in NYC, NY in 2024.
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About the Nurses for Healthy Environments Podcast
Since 2017, Beth and other hosts have interviewed dozens of nurses across the globe, all of whom are working at the intersection of health and environment. The goals of the podcast are to spread the word about the fabulous work of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments – so we’re glad you found us! And, to highlight and share the amazing and leading work nurses around the world are doing to help protect our natural world in order to support health and healing.
Again and again, nurses are spearheading social change, climate action, environmental justice, and improving health for vulnerable populations, while using their valuable clinical skills, teaching, and caring. Nurses’ work can seem overlooked or taken for granted, and we are here to tell their important stories. We hope you enjoy meeting the nurses in the Nurses for Healthy Environments podcast!
Beth Schenk, Nurses for Healthy Environments Podcast Host
Elizabeth Schenk, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a leader of environmental stewardship in healthcare, where she has been working to reduce
pollution from healthcare for 3 decades. Schenk is a former board member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, and serves on the boards of Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate and Climate Smart Missoula.
