Description:
In this episode, guest host Milagros Elia sits down with Diana Baptiste, DNP, RN, CNE, a cardiovascular nurse, educator, and health equity leader, to discuss the trusted role of nurses in protecting public health, advancing climate science, and advocating for communities most impacted by environmental harm. Grounded in evidence, nursing expertise, and a commitment to health equity, this conversation explores what the Endangerment Finding means for clean air, vulnerable communities, and the future of health in the United States.
Guest Host:
Milagros Elia, M.A, APRN, ANP-BC
Milagros R. Elia is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, an early-stage researcher
in the environmental impact of climate change on patient care, and the Program Manager of Climate and Clean Energy at the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. She co-chairs the national ANA Innovation Advisory Committee on Planetary and Global Health as well as the ANA-NY state chapter’s Climate & Health SIG. Milagros is also a Fellow of the American Nurses Advocacy Institute in which she is focused on building awareness and developing educational toolkits on the impact of climate change on patient care and
outcomes.
Diana Baptiste, DNP, RN, CNE
Diana Baptiste is a cardiovascular nurse, educator, and leader who has made significant and sustainable contributions to nursing education, practice, and scholarship, focusing on improving cardiovascular health outcomes among underserved populations. Her work in identifying cardiovascular disease risks among underserved populations has been nationally recognized. She is a co-editor for the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing and has published peer-reviewed papers in areas of cardiovascular disease, nursing education, diversity, and cultural humility.
Dr. Baptiste is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing whose teaching is grounded in cutting-edge, evidence-based instructional methods with a strong commitment to health equity in practice, research, scholarship, and academic service.
About the Nurses for Healthy Environments Podcast
2026 marks the 9th season of the Nurses for Healthy Environments Podcast. Since 2017, Beth and other hosts have interviewed dozens nurses across the globe, all of whom are working at the intersection of health and environment. The goals of the podcast are 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, and to spread the word about the fabulous work of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. We’re glad you found us!
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.
