Lecture for UM Miller School of Medicine incoming class

On August 14th, Xavier Cortada had the distinct privilege of addressing the largest-ever incoming class at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. As an artist deeply committed to using creativity to drive change, he presented a session titled “Addressing Miami’s Climate Crisis: Engaging Communities through Creative Leadership.”

During the presentation, Cortada showcased artwork he had created in collaboration with patients over the past 30 years—pieces developed within medical settings, including their campus. These works represented the powerful intersection of care, creativity, and community engagement.

He focused on the urgent need for future doctors to recognize how climate change directly impacts community health, emphasizing that supporting planetary health is essential to ensuring human health. He noted that these students, as future leaders in one of the most trusted professions, have a powerful platform to advocate for environmental stewardship and a healthier world.

Cortada explored strategies for keeping curiosity, interest, and relevance at the forefront when engaging with communities. Adam Roberti, the Executive Director of the Xavier Cortada Foundation, joined him to discuss their participatory art project, The Underwater, which highlights the reality of rising sea levels. The students even found their home elevations, ranging from three feet in Miami to 450 feet in New Jersey.

He also stressed the importance of equity and the responsibility these future doctors have to do more than just “do no harm.” They must actively prevent harm and use their status as trusted professionals to tell the truth about climate change, challenging the denial that persists.

This was more than a lecture; it was a call to action for these future doctors to lead with creativity, courage, and compassion. Together, they can heal not just individuals, but entire communities and the planet.