Virtual Biophilia: Pittsburgh February Meeting

### Virtual Biophilia: Nature Rx – A Prescription for the Outdoors

Register to Attend

Join us Thurs., Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. with staff from Cornell University’s Skorton Center for Health Initiatives to learn about the NatureRx @Cornell initiative, a campus-wide collaboration that aims to promote the natural beauty of campus and nearby nature and how it can have a positive impact on people’s individual well-being. You’ll hear about the inception and growth of the initiative, including training primary care and mental health clinicians to prescribe time in nature to patients and clients, building a steering committee of faculty, staff and students, and advising a student-run NatureRx club. We will also discuss the mental health landscape of our campus, and the challenges to encouraging students to spend time in nature amidst busy schedules and other barriers. Backed by a growing body of research on the therapeutic impact of nature, and a campus full of beautiful nature sites and trails, NatureRx @Cornell strives to spread awareness and build inclusive opportunities for engagement with nature. We look forward to sharing and discussing our growing initiative with you!
Register in advance for the meeting here. The Zoom meeting will begin promptly at 6 p.m. (EST), 3 p.m. (PST). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Meet the Speakers:
Laura Santacrose, MPH, DrPH(c) | Associate Director of the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives
Laura has worked in higher education as a public health practitioner for over a decade. In her current role, she develops, implements, and evaluates key programs, policies, and strategies associated with campus health initiatives. This includes the promotion of mental health and well-being and anti-racism resources, as well as the prevention of sexual violence, suicide, alcohol and other drug misuse, bias, and hazing. Additionally, Laura conducts epidemiological research to monitor behavioral health trends in the Cornell student population and uses these data to inform decisions related to campus health initiatives. Laura is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) at George Washington University and her dissertation is focused on restricting access to means as an environmental intervention to prevent suicide.

Emily Dunuwila, MS.Ed | Health Initiatives Coordinator at the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives
Emily has over 8 years of experience as a wellness educator and practitioner and has worked with a range of adult and young adult audiences, including administrators in the School District of Philadelphia, clinicians-in-training at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and many K-12 and college student groups. She has developed programs and tools to help people manage stress, including the Calm Space afterschool program at West Philadelphia High School and the Embodiment Toolbox, a guide to mind-body connection, which is used as a teaching tool by the Office of School and Community Partnerships at Penn Graduate School of Education.

Meetings are free to attend; however**, advance registration is required. To R.S.V.P., please use this link.**