Climate change is the
biggest global health threat
of the 21st century
The University of Pittsburgh Office of Sustainability in the Health Sciences seeks to develop sustainable health care practices by decarbonizing our own operations, training eco-literate future healthcare leaders, and researching sustainable solutions that improve human and planetary health.
New Funding Opportunity!
Sustainable Healthcare Challenge
What is your bold solution to reduce the environmental impact of the healthcare system?
The Sustainable Healthcare Challenge is back for the 3rd year! We invite you to submit proposals that align with our commitment to promoting environmental, economic, and social sustainability in healthcare. Over $125,000 in total awards are available for funding. Three faculty projects will be selected to receive a $40,000 award, and up to two additional student projects will each receive $2,500 awards. available, as appropriate. Click below to learn more & apply.
For Faculty:
Round 1 applications are due Friday, August 7th by 11:59 pm
For Students:
Applications are due Monday, October 5th by 11:59 pm.
Save the Date!
Planetary Health Day
Friday, October 16th
Alan Magee Scaife Hall
Join us as we explore the critical role of sustainability in advancing global health at the third annual Planetary Health Day on October 16th. Activities include student poster sessions, keynote speaker, research presentations, panel discussion, and more! View pictures from previous years below:
Wild Connections: One Health, Planetary Health, and Sustainability
Wednesday, September 9th 3:00-5:30pm
University Club Ballroom and Terrace
Join the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, the Office of Sustainability in the Health Sciences, and the School of Public Health for a keynote conversation with author, Andrew Moore, and a panel discussion exploring the connections between One Health, Planetary Health, and Sustainability.
Planetary Health Journal Club
Faculty, staff, students, and community members meet to critically evaluate articles that address topics around climate change and health. This is an excellent event to network and explore research specific to sustainable health care.
- September 2026
- May 2026
- March 2026
- January 2026
- November 2025
- September 2025
- May 2025
- March 2025
- January 2025
- November 2024
- September 2024
- May 2024
- March 2024
When: September 22nd, 2026 12-1pm
Where: 4585 Scaife Hall (or Zoom link provided with RSVP)
Topic: Sustainability in Medical Device Design: Engineering Smarter Solutions
Presenter: Meg Thondaiman, Biomedical Engineering Student
- How medicine becomes trash: disposability in healthcare
- Solar powered O2 delivery for the treatment of children with hypoxaemia in Uganda: a stepped-wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial
Presenter: Michelle Varnell, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrtion, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Topic: Environmental Considerations for Treatment of ACL Tears
- Articles:
- Exploring the Efficacy of Conservative Management Versus Surgical Intervention in Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries: Insights Into Reinjury Rates, Quality of Life, and Long-Term Outcomes
- Environmental life cycle assessment of surgical versus conservative care pathways for an anterior cruciate ligament injury
View presentation here.
March 27th 12-1pm
Presenters: Tyler Johnston & Aqsa Owais, Bioengineering
Topic: Sustainable Laboratory Practices
- Presenter: Nathan Schneider, PhD Student, Center for Neurosciences, School of Medicine
- Topic: The Human Health Effects of Noise Pollution
- Recording
Journal Article: Combining evidence-based health care with environmental sustainability: using the toothbrush as a model
Presenters: Noel Do, Emma Nordin, and Ean Maxwell, School of Dental Medicine
Journal Articles:
- The impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on the health of children: An ethical perspective
- Impact of prior and projected climate change on US Lyme disease incidence
Presenter: Puja Dutta, School of Medicine, Physician Scientist Training Program
Topic: Climate Change as a Social Determinant of Health
Journal Article: Modern Diets and the Health of Our Planet: An Investigation into the Environmental Impacts of Food Choices
Presenter: Jenny Snyder, Student in Dietitian Nutritionist Program
Journal Article: The environmental impact of data-driven precision medicine initiatives
Presenter: Becky King, Health Informatics Graduate Student
Journal Article: Microalgae, a current option for the bioremediation of pharmaceuticals & Minimizing the environmental impact of unused pharmaceuticals: Review focused on prevention
Presenter: Ainsley Lederer, PhD Student, School of Pharmacy
Jounral Article: Waste audits in healthcare: A systematic review and description of best practices
Presenter: Abhimanyu Nangunoori, B.S. Economics and Biological Sciences
Journal Article: Reducing plastic in the operating theatre: Towards a more cicrular economy for medical products and packaging
Presenter: Nathalia Cano, PhD candidate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Journal Article: Health Care Pollution and Public Health Damage in the United States: An Update
Presenter: Monet Weldon, Medical Student
Journal Article: The 2023 report of Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for a health-centered response in a world facing irreversible harms
Presenter: Divya Natesan, Medical Student
Education
The Planetary Health Report Card is a metric-based tool for evaluating and improving planetary health content in health professional schools.
The University of Pittsburgh is proud to have participated in the process annually since 2023, when it submitted for the School of Medicine.
In 2026, 5 health sciences schools submitted a report card:
- School of Medicine (4th report card)
- School of Dental Medicine (2nd report card)
- School of Pharmacy (2nd report card)
- SHRS, Nutrition & Dietetics (1st report card)
- SHRS, Athletic Training (1st report card)
If you are interested in learning more about this initiative or getting involved in your health science school, please reach out to Lola Conti.
Pitt’s Clinical Partner
A world-renowned health care provider and insurer, UPMC combines clinical and research excellence to deliver high-quality care for patients from Western Pennsylvania and across the globe. The Schools of the Health Sciences work closely with UPMC to ensure that health care delivery, biomedical research, and education are equally robust and continuously evolving.
Our Partners
