About College of Medicine
Sustainability
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Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s Sustainability Initiative aims to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by creating a sustainable campus community though evidence-based solutions in operations, education, research, outreach, patient care and health programs.
A Sustainability Council and teams focused on the environment, equity and health help to achieve these goals. The council comprises representatives from each Sustainable Development Goals team and from Penn State Health/Penn State College of Medicine at large. Council meetings are an opportunity for team representatives to share ideas and obtain expert advice from representatives of different components of the health system.
United Nations Sustainability Goals
Connect with Sustainability
Sustainability Council
The Sustainability Council meets at 4 p.m. the first Monday of each month. Meeting locations vary. For details, email Natasha Sood at nsood@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
Environment Team
The Environment Team of the Sustainability Council aims to promote environmental stewardship by advocating for sustainable institutional practices, encouraging future leaders in environmental health and serving as an anchor for education and practice in the community.
Co-Leaders
Mark Heisey
Andrew Geronimo
Natasha Sood
Sam Acri
Related Efforts
Participation in pen and marker recycling program started by a local middle-school student
Articles/Resources of Interest
Seven Takeaways on Health Care and the Climate Crisis (Health Care Without Harm, July 30, 2020)
Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America (House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, July 18, 2020)
Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, July 1, 2020)
Equity Team
The Equity Team of the Sustainability Council aims to create and sustain an inclusive environment that encompasses all mission areas to promote engagement and achievement for all.
Co-Leaders
Ellen Miller
Mary Catherine Santos
Related Efforts
American Medical Women’s Association (for medical students)
Graduate Women in Science (GWIS)
Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS)
Harrell Library/GWIMS book collection highlighting issues women face in the professional workplace
LGBTQ and Allies Affinity Resource Network Group
Office for Culturally Responsive Health Care Education
Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Penn State Commission for Women (CFW)
Participation in Time’s Up Healthcare
Women in Surgery Interest Group (for medical students)
Articles of Interest
Medicine and medical science: Black lives must matter more (The Lancet - editorial, June 13, 2020)
Health Team
The Health Team of the Sustainability Council builds from a foundation of food security and safety and encompasses efforts in access to health care, wellness, activity, mindfulness and well-being in order to improve health for all.
Co-Leaders
Greg Holmes
Susan Veldheer
Related Efforts
Community Health Needs Assessment
LionCare student-run free health clinic for the uninsured and underinsured population of Harrisburg and Tyrone
Support of Hershey Food Bank
Articles of Interest
Seven Takeaways on Health Care and the Climate Crisis (Health Care Without Harm, July 30, 2020)
Penn State Sustainability Institute
The Sustainability Council in Hershey is related to Penn State’s University-wide Sustainability Institute, which was developed to focus Penn State’s initiatives in pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Penn State desires to be a leader across the state in creating transdisciplinary research-based solutions to these challenges.
Much of Penn State’s Strategic Plan is aligned with those goals. The plan looks to attain the goals by carefully stewarding natural resources, enhancing health and well-being of students and communities, driving digital innovation and integrating humanities- and arts-based perspectives, and the Sustainability Institute exists to nurture and promote the work being done across the University’s colleges and campuses.
