Human Health and Nature in an Interconnected World

About Christine

I believe that human well-being and the well-being of the planet are inseparable.

My work sits at the intersection of health, nature, and systems change. As an environmental health social scientist, educator, coach, and nature-based practitioner, I help people and organizations explore how healthier lives and healthier ecosystems can flourish together.

Professionally, I serve as Planetary Health Lead at the University of Vermont (UVM) Osher Center for Integrative Health and am a Fellow in the Gund Institute for Environment. My research, teaching, and writing focus on the connections between human health and planetary health, with a particular interest in reimagining healthcare systems that support patients, communities, and the natural environment.

My path has bridged both the natural and social sciences, with degrees from Cornell University (B.S. in Natural Resources), the University of Minnesota (M.S. in Conservation Biology), and the University of Wisconsin (Ph.D. in Environment and Resources). I am also the author of Dying Green: A Journey through End-of-Life Medicine in Search of Sustainable Healthcare (Rutgers University Press, 2023), which explores opportunities to create a more environmentally sustainable healthcare system.

As an educator, I have developed and taught courses including Human-Nature, Climate Change and Health, Planetary Health, and Reimagining Medicine: Science and Evidence of Integrative Health. Teaching is one of my greatest joys, and I was honored to receive UVM's Outstanding Part-Time Teacher of the Year Award and to be nominated for UVM's Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award.

Today, I am expanding my work beyond academia to help people cultivate health, resilience, and connection in their everyday lives.

Current Offerings

Health & Wellness Coaching
Through evidence-based coaching, I help individuals clarify their goals, build sustainable habits, and create meaningful change in areas such as stress management, well-being, lifestyle, and connection with nature. I am currently completing training through UVM's Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching program and am pursuing National Board Certification as a Health & Wellness Coach. Learn more about my Coaching practice and schedule a complementary session. 

Nature as Medicine & Forest Therapy
As a Forest Therapy Guide and Nature as Medicine Practitioner-in-training, I help people reconnect with the healing benefits of the natural world. Through guided experiences and nature-based practices, I support stress reduction, restoration, and deeper relationships with place, community, and self.

Sprout Garden Coaching & Design
Drawing on my background in ecology and Permaculture Design, I offer garden coaching, consultation, and design services that help people create productive, beautiful, and ecologically supportive outdoor spaces. Whether you're starting your first vegetable garden or reimagining an existing landscape, I can help you cultivate a space that nourishes both people and planet. Visit Sprout Garden Coaching & Design to learn more.

Across all of my work, a common thread remains: helping create conditions for flourishing. Whether through research, education, coaching, nature connection, or garden design, I am passionate about supporting healthier people, healthier communities, and a healthier planet.