Dr. Debra Hendrickson is an alumna of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med). She has focused her career on the relationship between environmental science and pediatric health. Before earning her M.D. in 2004, Dr. Hendrickson worked for ten years as an environmental analyst and planner. Her work centered on river and watershed management. She has stated that her background in environmental science influenced her approach to medicine, especially in understanding links between health and the environment.
After graduating from UNR Med, Dr. Hendrickson completed a pediatrics residency at UC Davis. She balanced her training with family life in Reno. For nearly twenty years, she served as a clinical professor of pediatrics at UNR Med. In this role, she taught medical students about how early childhood experiences, such as poverty and trauma, can affect long-term health.
In 2013, the Yosemite Rim Fire brought hazardous smoke to Reno. Dr. Hendrickson treated a 10-month-old patient with breathing difficulties during this time. She has noted that such events highlight the risks environmental hazards pose to children. As Reno has experienced rising temperatures, Dr. Hendrickson has seen more pediatric patients affected by smoke, heat, and pollution…