Center for Nature and Health

About Us 

Nature is essential to health. And a growing number of healthcare and public health professionals are using nature to heal their patients and communities. The Center for Nature and Health (CNH) at UCSF is a pioneer in this field. Founded in 2016 at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, the Center reflects the idea that nature can and should play a key role in healing. We accomplish our mission through original research relating to nature and health, interdisciplinary partnerships to promote the study of nature and health, clinical care in nature, and advocacy.

Illustration of hands holding a daisy chain.

Mission

The Center for Nature and Health is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the world's most vulnerable children through connection with nature.

Vision

The Center for Nature and Health envisions a world where children flourish, nurtured by thriving ecosystems, and where this cultural wisdom and connection are perpetuated from generation to generation.

Illustration of California Blackberries

What we do

Advocate for Nature as a Public Health Priority

We proudly join in the movement to increase access to nature by writing, speaking and participating in California advocacy groups such as Parks Now!, the California Outdoor Engagement Coalition, and Healthy Parks Healthy People (HPHP): Bay Area.

Build the Field of Nature Champions

We are developing training modules, replicable protocols and other tools that can be used by public health departments, medical practitioners and others. As opposed to a toolkit model, our method aims to support clinicians as future thought leaders and clinical scientists in nature and health.

Translational Research

Through research, we seek to understand how more public health and health care systems can use nature in healing. We work to gather thought leaders through mentorship and community relationships, and to create a research agenda and collaborative approach both for generating important research questions and for answering questions through high-quality prospective research.

Provide Clinical Care for Vulnerable Populations

In partnership with the East Bay Regional Park District, the Primary Care Clinic at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland became one of the first in the nation to refer patients to the outdoors for health. The Center for Nature and Health has served hundreds of patients and their families. We continue to build partnerships to give patients access to nature and advocate for the rights of patients in outdoor spaces. Interested in participating? We are currently enrolling for our BLOOM program.

Advisors and Partners

 

other much appreciated partners and funders