Kliniken &… Institute Global Health Staff Schwerdtle, Patricia…

Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle

Post doc Researcher

Dr. Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle is a global health academic with extensive clinical experience across the Asia Pacific Region, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe. She specializes in the nexus between climate change, migration and health and climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems in LMICs and climate change and humanitarian action. Her methods of choice include synthesis research, qualitative methods and implementation science. She has advised governments, development banks, and UN agencies on climate change and health strategies and works at the nexus between research, policy and practice, actively participating in COP 26, 27 and 28. Trish is an advocate for open inquiry and viewpoint diversity in academic research. She is affiliated with several organizations, including the IWR at Heidelberg University, the University of Melbourne, and Monash University in Australia.


  • Dr.sc.hum (2019 - 2024) Heidelberg University, Germany.
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education (2015) Monash University, Australia.
  • Masters International Health (2009 - 2011) La Trobe University, Australia.
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Critical Care (2001) La Trobe, Australia.
  • Bachelor of Applied Science (Health Promotion)/Bachelor of Nursing (1996 - 1999) Deakin University, Australia.

PROJECTS & GRANTS

  • DFG Research Unit: Climate Change adaptation in Sub Saharan Africa (2023 - 2025)
  • NIH/Fogarty Climate Change and Health Grant (2024)

Other scientific projects and initiatives

Trish is on the steering committee of The CliMigHealth network, an international thematic working group studying the nexus between climate change, migration, and health. 

Publications

  • Nayna Schwerdtle, P., Ngo, T. A., Hasch, F., Phan, T. V., Quitmann, C., & Montenegro-Quiñonez, C. A. (2024). Climate change resilient health facilities: a scoping review of case studies in low and middle-income countries. Environmental Research Letters, 19(7), 074041.
  • Bowen, K.J., Ebi, K.L., Woodward, A., McIver, L., Tukuitonga, C. and Nayna Schwerdtle, P., (2023) Human health and climate change in the Pacific: a review of current knowledge. Climate and Development, pp.1-15. 
  • Nayna Schwerdtle, P.N., Devine, C., Guevara, M., Cornish, S., Christou, C., Wyns, A., Jungmann, M., Sauerborn, R. and Voûte, C., (2023) What cannot be mitigated or adapted to, will be suffered. Loss and damage in health and humanitarian terms. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 13, p.100270. 
  • Hellowell, M., & Schwerdtle, P. N. (2022). Powerful ideas? Decolonisation and the future of global health. BMJ Global Health, 7(1). 
  • Nayna Schwerdtle, P., Baernighausen, K., Karim, S., Raihan, T. S., Selim, S., Baernighausen, T., & Danquah, I. (2021). A Risk Exchange: Health and Mobility in the Context of Climate and Environmental Change in Bangladesh—A Qualitative Study. Int J of Environ Res Public Health, 18(5). 
  • Shaw, E., Walpole, S., McLean, M., Alvarez-Nieto, C., Barna, S., Bazin, K., Nayna Schwerdtle, P ... & Woollard, R. (2021). AMEE Consensus Statement: Planetary health and education for sustainable healthcare. Medical Teacher, 43(3), 272-286. 
  • Wright, C. Y., Moore, C. E., Chersich, M., Hester, R., Nayna Schwerdtle, P., Mbayo, G. K., ... & Butler, C. D. (2021). A Transdisciplinary Approach to Address Climate Change Adaptation for Human Health and Well-Being in Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(8), 4258. 
  • Berrang-Ford, L., Siders, A. R., Lesnikowski, A., Fischer, A. P., Callaghan, M. W., Haddaway, N. R., Nayna Schwerdtle, P... & Abu, T. Z. (2021). A systematic global stocktake of evidence on human adaptation to climate change. Nature Climate Change, 1-12. 
  • Scheelbeek, P. F., Dangour, A. D., Jarmul, S., Turner, G., Sietsma, A. J., Minx, J. C., Nayna Schwerdtle, P, ... & Berrang-Ford, L. (2021). The effects on public health of climate change adaptation responses: a systematic review of evidence from low-and middle-income countries. Environmental Research Letters, 16(7).  
  • Turek-Hankins, L. L., de Perez, E. C., Scarpa, G., Ruiz-Diaz, R., Nayna Schwerdtle, P., Joe, E. T., ... & Mach, K. J. (2021). Climate change adaptation to extreme heat: A global systematic review of implemented action. Oxford Open Climate Change. 
  • Sitati, A., Joe, E., Pentz, B., Grayson, C., Jaime, C., Gilmore, E., Nayna Schwerdtle, P … & de Perez, E. C. (2021). Climate change adaptation in conflict-affected countries: A systematic assessment of evidence. Discover Sustainability, 2(1), 1-15.
  • Vinke, K., Rottmann, S., Gornott, C., Zabre, Pascal., Nayna Schwerdtle, P., Sauerborn, R. (2021) Is migration an effective adaptation to climate-related agricultural distress in sub-Saharan Africa?. Popul Environ.
  • Nayna Schwerdtle P, McMichael C, Mank I, Sauerborn R, Danquah I, Bowen K. (2020) ‘Health and migration in the context of a changing climate: A systematic literature assessment. Environmental Research Letters’. 15 103006. 
  • Nayna Schwerdtle P, Stockemer J, Bowen K, Sauerborn R, McMichael C and Danquah I (2020). A Meta-Synthesis of Policy Recommendations Regarding Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change. Int J Environ Res Public Health; 17(24). 

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