Valesca Venhof
MD, MSc PH
As a Medical Doctor and Public Health specialist, my specialization lies in the intricate nexus of Environment and Health.
I firmly believe in the symbiotic relationship between human wellbeing and the natural environment, a cornerstone supported by disciplines such as Planetary Health and Eco Health.
About.
I’m a Medical Doctor with over a decade of clinical expertise specializing in Rehabilitation Medicine. Throughout my career, I have been actively engaged in integrating an active lifestyle, exercise, and sports into treatment modalities and preventive healthcare protocols. Presently, I work as a medical practitioner in the field of Public Health, with a particular focus on the intersection of environmental change and human health.
In addition to holding a Master’s degree in Medicine and specialized training in Rehabilitation Medicine (currently non-practicing), I have a Master’s degree in Public Health, specializing in Environment and Health, obtained from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
Furthermore, I’m a Ph.D. candidate in Planetary Health at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. See “publications” for more details on my research.
As I’m a firm believer in the symbiotic relationship between human wellbeing and the natural environment, I deeply embrace the principles of planetary health, eco-health, and regenerative farming. In recent years, I have been actively involved in advocacy efforts and educational initiatives addressing the interplay between climate change and health, planetary health, and eco-health.
Public Health - Planetary Health - Eco-health - Environment and Health - Climate change
Environmental change and mental wellbeing
My beliefs.
Holistic approach to wellbeing.
The various aspects of a person's life, including physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions, are interconnected. Instead of focusing solely on one aspect, such as physical health, a holistic approach recognizes that all these dimensions are interrelated and influence each other.
Planetary Health
This emerging interdisciplinary field recognizes that human health is intimately interconnected with the health of the planet's ecosystems, biodiversity, climate, and other environmental factors.
Key aspects of planetary health include:
- Systems Thinking
- Sustainability
- Global Perspective
- Preventive Approach
Synthesis
To create a more comprehensive understanding and solution to the complex problems we face as humanity, we need diverse perspectives and sources of knowledge.
Two eyed seeing
This concept emphasizes the importance of integrating both Indigenous knowledge and
Western scientific knowledge to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the world.
Environmental distress and solastalgia among Dutch young adults aged 16-35. Worried minds or indifferent hearts?
Beyond borders: exploring Indigenous Circumpolar People’s perspectives on environmental change and mental wellbeing, with a focus on resilience factors across Sámi communities.
A systematic literature review.
“Climate distress and denial”.
Publication expected in september 2024
Publications.
My Ph.D. research centers on the psychological health implications of environmental changes, including climate change. I believe in the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives and knowledge sources to foster a more comprehensive understanding and effective solutions to the multifaceted challenges confronting humanity. Therefore, my research methodology embraces the concept of "two-eyed seeing," advocating for the equitable integration of Indigenous wisdom and Western scientific knowledge into research and policy formulation processes. My research focus on exploring perspectives concerning the nexus of environmental change and mental wellbeing, with a particular emphasis on Dutch youth and Circumpolar Indigenous Peoples, notably the Sámi community.
What can I do for you?
PUBLIC HEALTH CONSULTANCY AND WORD SMITHING
I offer expertise in public health assessments and strategic development, conducting thorough research, crafting effective health education and communication strategies, fostering collaboration and networking, and delivering comprehensive training sessions for healthcare professionals, community workers, and other stakeholders.
My proficiency extends to distilling complex information to its essence, as well as providing meticulous attention to detail in problem-solving.
Additionally, I possess the ability to author medical reports that are both comprehensible and engaging, tailored to suit the specific needs of your target audience.
Focus
Education (healthcare) professionals
Health communication
Patient education
Publications for (non-peer reviewed) journals, or professional audiences
skills
Communication and writing
Academic scientific wrtiting
Medical terminology
Literature searching
Professional ethics
Statistics, basic
Epidemiology, basic
Evidence based medicine
Regenerative farming
For over a decade, we as a family have been growing our own vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries, and eggs. We do this in a regenerative way, where the health of the soil and the animals in our location are central. I fully embrace regenerative farming initiatives including agroforestry as an important solution to the interconnected problems of soil and water pollution, land erosion, biodiversity loss and climate change. Regenerative farming places a stronger emphasis on actively restoring and enhancing ecosystem health and resilience, particularly through soil regeneration and carbon sequestration efforts
Books and more.
STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION