Claire Richards

About Claire Richards

I became a nurse because of my interest in community health and social determinants of health. I sought my PhD because of my interest in improving the experience of seriously ill patients and their families in hospital settings. While in my post-doctoral fellowship in public health/health services research, my family\'s community was destroyed by the rapidly intensifying Hurricane Michael. At the same time, the wildfires were increasing in severity, pushing the smoke into the city. These combined series of events motivated me to change what I was doing. I expanded my knowledge and skill base so that we can address this injustice for not only our children, but humans (and more-than-humans) throughout the world who are being choked by the atmospheric waste (pollution) produced by capitalism and greed. I believe the world would be a better place if we were all courageous and took risks by doing the right thing, rather than the next logical thing or the thing we are supposed to do to advance our careers. I am an Assistant Professor of Nursing focused on health equity in response to climate change at the intersection of energy, wildfire, and emergency management. I am also interested in mental health and climate change, activism as an antidote to despair, and environmental bioethics. I volunteer for the Medical Reserve Corps and am an active member of the Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility Climate Action Task Force.

Experience

1. Assistant Professor

   Washington State University Spokane

   Jul 2020 — Present · Spokane, WA, US

   Conducting research related to energy justice and health.

Education

• University of California, Berkeley

  B.S., Chemistry

  1999 — 2003

• University of Washington School of Nursing

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Nursing Science

  2013 — 2017

• Universidad de Alcalá

  Spanish Literature

  2001 — 2002

• Duke University

  Bachelor of Science, Nursing

  2008 — 2009