Physicians for Social Responsibility Maine (PSR Maine): 2025 Achievements & Initiatives December 8, 2025

Protecting Health from Climate Hazards

• Continued to build the statewide Alliance of Maine Health Professionals for Climate Action now with over 130 members. The Alliance is a coalition of health professionals including nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physicians, students and public health practitioners concerned about the impacts of climate change on all those who live, work, and visit Maine.
• Delivered a three-part CME webinar series Healthy Energy, Healthy Homes, Health Maine, connecting fossil fuels, electrification, clinical practice, and health system resilience.
• Actively supported a range of climate health policy initiatives:
  • Mobilized strong health professional support for OSHA’s Heat Injury & Illness Prevention Rule.
  • Defended critical federal science protections amid mass EPA firings and political interference.
  • Activated members to oppose efforts to dismantle the EPA Endangerment Finding.
  • Opposed attempts to eliminate the EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.
  • Supported passage of 100% Clean Energy by 2040 through major health advocacy at the State House.
• Joined the Environmental Priorities Coalition in promoting climate-forward state legislation, including make polluters pay, PFAS regulations, and resilience priorities.
• Elevated research on fossil fuel health harms, countermarketing strategies, and climate liability science.
• Promoted the national Climate Action Convention: Our Planet, Our Health.
• Promoted My Green Doctor’s climate-resilience tools and AMA-endorsed sustainability guidance.

Nuclear Disarmament, Peace, and Security

• Continued facilitating the state-wide Mainers Ending Nuclear Dangers or MEND, which is a coalition of Maine citizens of diverse backgrounds. This coalition works toward a world free of nuclear weapons and advocating for common sense nuclear weapons policies to secure a safer, more just future. 
• Actively supported a range of nuclear disarmament policy initiatives:
  • Highlighted national nuclear-policy education on weapons modernization, AI risks, and spending reform.
  • Celebrated Rep. Pingree’s leadership as a co-sponsor of H.Res.317 advancing nuclear risk reduction.
  • Opposed presidential calls for renewed nuclear weapons testing and activated statewide response.
  • Celebrated the expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), extending justice to Downwinders.
• Encouraged participation in the Vatican’s global nuclear abolition survey.
• Co-sponsored MEND’s Hiroshima & Nagasaki 80th Anniversary Remembrance event, providing “Silent Fallout” screening and delivered letters to Senators Collins and King  requesting support of S. Res. 323
• Engaged the public with discussion resources around the Netflix film “A House of Dynamite” and published LTEs describing nuclear risks and the need to change policies.
• Promoted national education events tied to the original Trinity Test, nuclear history, and peace-building.

Protecting Maine Communities

• Advocated for PFAS protections through statewide coalition work and legislative lobbying.
• Responded to the new ‘Do Not Eat’ PFAS advisory in Waldo County, calling for stronger testing and cleanup.
• Supported Portland’s passage of the Act to End Fugitive Coal Dust, a major public health victory.
• Met with Maine’s Attorney General to support the state’s climate deception lawsuit against fossil fuel companies.
• Expanded outreach and education by tabling at statewide health conferences including Maine Medical Association, Maine Primary Care Association, and Maine Public Health Association.
• Welcomed Dr. Colin Phillips to the PSR Maine Board, adding national expertise on air pollution and cardiovascular health.

Strengthening Democracy & Public Health

• Promoted statewide HANDS OFF! rallies in defense of health, climate, and democracy.
• Joined the national No Kings Day / Day of Defiance, linking democratic health to scientific integrity.
• Elevated the UCS report documenting over 400 attacks on science in six months.
• Supported the Maine Gun Safety Coalition through advocacy days and recognition events.

Community Leadership & Public Education

• Hosted PSR Maine’s Annual Virtual Gathering honoring Attorney General Aaron Frey as Health Hero for his leadership in protecting public health and standing up to powerful interests. His recent lawsuit against major oil companies and the American Petroleum Institute exposes decades of deception about fossil fuels and climate change, seeking accountability for the damage already impacting Maine communities.
• Hosted Climate & Health Grand Rounds on extreme heat at Maine Medical Center.
• Shared wildfire-health resources, climate-psychiatry references, and new climate-health publications.

2025 Income and Expense Breakdown

PSR Maine is a Lean, Green, Advocacy and Education Machine. Our Annual budget is around $40,000 a year. Minimal paid staff hours support thousands of volunteer hours by our health professional volunteers.