Public Health - Planetary Health - Environment and Health - Climate change - Environmental change and mental wellbeing
Valesca Venhof, MD, PhD, MSc PH
As a Medical Doctor, Public Health specialist and researcher, my specialization lies in the intricate nexus of Environment and Health.
I believe that addressing today’s complex environmental and health challenges requires interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of diverse perspectives.
About me
I am a physician and public health researcher specializing in planetary health, environmental change, and mental wellbeing. I hold a PhD in Planetary Health focused on environmental distress and mental wellbeing, an MSc in Public Health (Environment & Health) from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and I am a licensed medical doctor and specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine (non-practicing).
My work sits at the intersection of climate, environment, health, and society. I am particularly interested in how environmental change affects mental health, wellbeing, and health equity.
A central aspect of my work is bridging different ways of knowing. By connecting Indigenous knowledge systems with Western scientific approaches, I aim to contribute to more inclusive, holistic, and context-sensitive responses to today’s environmental and public health challenges.
More details on my research, including a link to my PhD thesis and the underlying publications can be found under 'Posts,'
Do you need my expertise? I can help you with research, consultancy, advisory work, or interdisciplinary projects related to climate, environment, and health. See here for more details and how to contact me.
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
Planetary Health is an integrative approach to health that recognises the interdependence of human well-being, the health of other species, and the integrity of Earth’s natural systems. It emphasises that human health cannot be considered in isolation from ecological, social, and climatic contexts, acknowledging the rights, roles, and intrinsic value of non-human life and the broader biosphere. Planetary health calls for solutions that sustain the resilience of both human and more-than-human life in the face of environmental change.
Diverse perspectives
To create a more comprehensive understanding of the complex problems we face as humanity, we need to embrace diverse perspectives and sources of knowledge.
Two eyed seeing
Two-Eyed Seeing, or ‘Etuaptmumk’ is a Mi’kmaq principle, rooted in the idea that no single worldview holds all the answers, and that meaningful understanding arises when we respectfully combine insights from different traditions (Bartlett, Marshall & Marshall, 2012).
Areas of expertise:
- Planetary health
- Climate & mental health
- Environmental health
- Public health & health equity
- Interdisciplinary and participatory research
Available for:
- Research
- Academic writing
- Project development
- Policy consultancy
- Teaching
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
What can I do for you?
Public/Planetary Health Consultancy, research and Word Smithing
I translate complex interdisciplinary topics into actionable insights for research, policy, and practice.
As an independent researcher and Public/Planetary Health Specialist and researcher/writer, I'm open to:
- Contract work & consultancy
- Research collaboration
- Advisory roles
- EU/Horizon projects
- Remote & hybrid opportunities
I can help you in 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.
I’m a creative thinker who enjoys turning complex information into clear insights and pays close attention to detail when solving problems.
Posts
List of publications
An overview of my publications and a link to my Ph.D. dissertation.
Mixed feelings
🤷♀️ Mixed feelings.
Last week, I was standing here with the proof print of my PhD dissertation: Navigating the Storm: Towards Coexisting Ways of Knowing in Approaching Environmental Distress, which I will defend on 27 March 2026 at Maastricht University.
I am proud. Of both the content and the design.
And at the same time, I am tired. Four intense years in which this project lived in every free minute I had; working in our garden shed, and later in a garage in Norway. Alongside work, a study at LSHTM, emigration to another country; and motherhood.
I am also confused. The first question people ask when I tell them about this 400-page work that I am proud of is rarely about its content. Almost immediately, it is about whether it will “pay back”, or whether I have already found a job.
And honestly: sometimes I then feel shame and insecurity. Because I had no income over the past year. Because I finished this work without a tight career plan, but because I felt that I had to do this. Because it also gave me joy. Because it reawakened my creativity and sensitivity; qualities I had lost for many years as a rationally trained medical specialist within a Western scientific framework.
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