Launched in 2018, the Center for Health & Nature is a partnership between Texan by Nature, Houston Methodist, and Texas A&M Health Science Center. The Center for Health & Nature Symposium convenes friends of the Center, researchers, potential funders, and donors to explore ways to advance the science of the interplay between exposure to natural environments, health, and healing. The 2021 Symposium is happening on December 8, 2021. To learn more about the event and purchase tickets, click here.
The 2020 Symposium was entirely virtual, so we’ve collected all of the presentations below to give you a preview of what you’ll see this year.
Nature in Practice – Clinical Solutions Panel Keynote: John Henderson
John Henderson, Executive Director of Park Rx America, discusses how nature can be prescribed for positive results in prevention, treatment, and recovery. The latest research explores the use of nature in the clinical setting to achieve optimal mental and physical health outcomes.
Virtual Reality Gardening and Stress Prevention for Oncology Patients; Bring Nature Indoors
Renee Stubbins, PhD, Senior Oncology Dietitian, Houston Methodist, covers their research project, which explores how bringing nature indoors can affect patient well-being.
Influences of Virtual Window on Hospital Patients’ and Caregivers’ Health & Well-Being
Dr. Zhipeng Lu, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Associate Director, Center of Health Systems & Design and Senior Lecturer, Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, presents information on the effects of windows on patient and caregiver health.
Communities in Nature—the Daily Dose Panel Keynote: Diana B. Allen
Diana B. Allen, Chief, Healthy Parks Healthy People, National Park Service, discusses how having nature where we live and play is a critical component to long term health. Research encompassing access to, quality of, and quantity of nature exposure can benefit communities in need, as well as our growing population and the way we develop both our urban and rural areas.
Communities in Nature—the Daily Dose Panel Keynote: Myron Floyd
Myron Floyd, PhD – Dean, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, discusses how having nature where we live and play is a critical component to long term health. Research encompassing access to, quality of, and quantity of nature exposure can benefit communities in need, as well as our growing population and the way we develop both our urban and rural areas.
Bayou Greenways Retrospective Study
Alan Pan, MS, Data Scientist, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, gives a retrospective of the Bayou Greenways 2020 initiative and it’s health effects.
Rivers of Recovery
Keith Tidball, PhD, Senior Extension Associate and Assistant Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension, reviews how fly fishing can have therapeutic effects on veterans.
Designing Systems to Prevent Physician and Nurse Burnout
Terri Menser, PhD, MBA, Scientist, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist and Zhaoyue Shi, PhD, Instructor of Translational Imaging in Radiology, Houston Methodist, discuss…
The Human Handprint—Built Environment Design for Nature and Human Health
Rick Archer, FAIA, LEED AP, Senior Principal, Overland Partners, reviews how design and the built environment can affect human health.
Nature-Based Climatic Responsive Community Planning and Design
Dongying Li, MLA, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, reviews how nature-based community planning needs to respond to future challenges presented by climate change.
Grow It Yourself
Taehyun Roh, Ph, Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, reviews the health effects of hydroponic vegetable gardening…
Developing Health Behavior Change Scales for Health & Nature
Jay Maddock, PhD, FAAHB, Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University reviews…
Learn more about The Center for Health & Nature at: https://centerforhealthandnature.org