Public Health - Planetary Health - Eco-health - Environment and Health - Climate change - Environmental change and mental wellbeing
Valesca Venhof MD, MSc PH
As a Medical Doctor, Public Health specialist and researcher, my specialization lies in the intricate nexus of Environment and Health.
I firmly believe that everything and everyone is interconnected and that we can only find solutions for the complex challenges we face, by respecting and integrating diverse perspectives.
About Valesca Venhof
Trained as a Medical Doctor with clinical expertise in Rehabilitation Medicine (currently non-practising), my work has entred on integrating active lifestyles, exercise, and sports into both treatment modalities and preventive healthcare. Building on this foundation, I have specialised in Public Health, with a focus on Environment and Health (LSHTM).
In recent years, my work has increasingly focused on research, advocacy and educational initiatives at the intersection of climate change and health, Planetary Health, and Eco-Health.
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Planetary Health at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, my dissertation titled Navigating the Storm: Towards Coexisting Ways of Knowing in Approaching Environmental Distress (expected completion: March 27, 2026) examines mental wellbeing in the context of environmental change. This research aims to bridge diverse perspectives, including Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science.
More details on the research, including a link to the dissertation and the underlying publications can be found under 'Posts,'
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).
Focus
- Public/Planetary health research
- Education (healthcare) professionals
- Health communication
- Patient education
- Publications for (non-peer reviewed) journals, or professional audiences
Skills
- Communication and writing
- Academic scientific research and writing
- Literature searching
- Professional ethics
- Medical terminology
What can I do for you?
Public/Planetary Health Consultancy, research and Word Smithing
As an independent Public Health Specialist and Researcher, I can offer expertise in Public/Planetary Health research, writing, assessments and strategic development.
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.
Need more information? Send me an e-mail or reach out via LinkedIn.
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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