P L A N E T A R Y
H E A L T H
R E P O R T
C A R D
2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 s u m m a r y r e p o r t
A n i n t e r n a t i o n a l H e a l t h
S t u d e n t i n i t i a t i v e
APRIL 2023
Prepared by:
Medical students and faculty from 96 medical schools in Canada, India, Ireland, Germany, Greece, Japan,
Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States
With Support from:
Planetary Health Alliance
Medical Students for a Sustainable Future
Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education
UK Health Alliance on Climate Change
University of California Center for Climate, Health and Equity
European Medical Students’ Association
Practice Greenhealth
Health Care Without Harm
phreportcard.org
M E D I C I N E
TABLE OF CONTENTS
04
About the Initiative
05
Goals
06
Initiative Growth & Future Directions
08
Turkish Schools Acknowledgement
10
Regional Grading Summary Tables
19
Metrics
28
PHRC-Inspired Institutional Change
30
School-Specific Report Cards
38
Recommendations
09
Sections of the Report Card
New Zealand
South Africa
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Germany
Greece
India
Ireland
Japan
4PHRC APRIL 2023
The Planetary Health Alliance defines planetary health as “a solutions-oriented,
transdisciplinary field and social movement focused on analyzing and addressing the impacts
of human disruptions to Earth’s natural systems on human health and all life on Earth.” This
definition is intentionally broad, intended to encompass the multitude of ways that the
environment can affect health, including climate change, pollution, biodiversity shifts,
reconfiguration of biogeochemical cycles, land use changes, and resource scarcity, with health
consequences including expanding ranges of vector-borne diseases, mental illness, and
excessive mortality due to heat and air pollution. The World Health Organization states that
"Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity... Between 2030 and
2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately a quarter of a million additional
deaths per year." Paradoxically, healthcare delivery has an adverse impact on the
environment, and therefore health. If the healthcare system were a country, it would be the
fifth largest carbon emitter in the world.
As future health professionals, we must be prepared to address the impacts of human-caused
environmental changes on our patients’ health, and to understand and mitigate the
environmental impact of clinical care. It is imperative that we hold our institutions
accountable for educating health students on planetary health and education for sustainable
healthcare, generating research to better understand health impacts and solutions, supporting
related student initiatives, embracing sustainable practices on our campuses and in our
hospitals, and engaging with surrounding communities that are most affected by
environmental threats. Because climate change and environmental threats disproportionately
affect marginalized populations, these issues are inherently ones of equity and justice.
With the purpose of increasing planetary health awareness and accountability among medical
schools, the Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC) was developed as an institutional advocacy
tool in 2019 by a group of medical students at the University of California, San Francisco
School of Medicine. The PHRC is a student-driven metric-based tool that aims to evaluate
health professional schools on discrete metrics in five main category areas: 1) Curriculum, 2)
Interdisciplinary research in health and environment, 3) Community outreach and advocacy 4)
Support for student-led initiatives and 5) Campus sustainability. Since its founding just four
years ago, the PHRC community has grown to encompass 13 countries and over 100 medical
schools. As it has spread across the world, it has left many examples of institutional change in
its wake. Though initially developed to evaluate medical schools, the report card has now
been adapted for nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy schools, catalyzing interprofessional
collaboration.
A B O U T T H E I N I T I A T I V E
Operate as a “needs assessment” tool to identify institutions’ planetary health strengths and
opportunities for growth
Assemble synthesized, institution-specific information on planetary health resources useful
for faculty and students
Facilitate cross-institutional sharing of planetary health resources that can catalyze
curricular innovation
Establish a global, interprofessional community of like-minded students and faculty
Track progress in implementing planetary health curriculum and resources
Advance the planetary health movement in pursuit of a healthier and more equitable world
5PHRC APRIL 2023
G O A L S
The 2022-2023 Planetary Health Report Card is the fourth iteration of the initiative, now
with additional schools and countries, and a growing international leadership team.
Enthusiasm from students and faculties has catalyzed rapid development in the breadth and
depth of the initiative as outlined below.
INTIATIVE GROWTH
& FUTURE DIRECTIONS
6PHRC APRIL 2023
INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION
Educating all future healthcare professionals about the effect of climate on health
and encouraging them to be creative about climate action is crucial for a future
where all health professionals work together to improve engagement of health
systems with sustainability and planetary health.
We are delighted to have publications from nursing, physiotherapy, and pharmacy,
following successful pilots from nursing and pharmacy last year. Report cards for
dentistry and veterinary medicine are underway for the 2023-2024 cycle.
As the PHRC is rolled out in other health professions, we aspire to establish
interprofessional teams that can work together to fill out the shared aspects of the
report cards at their institutions, collaboratively leveraging the results for change.
Compared to the 2022 Planetary Health Report Card, our number of participating
medical schools has grown to 96, including the addition of medical schools in Greece,
India, New Zealand, South Africa, and Switzerland.
Translation of the report card into Turkish has now been completed.
Pilots in Turkey and Rwanda are underway, with ambitions to publish results later this
year.
MEDICAL SCHOOL EXPANSION
7PHRC APRIL 2023
The goal of the report card is to be not only a template for compiling information
on institutional planetary health engagement, but also a tool for institutional
advocacy.
Many school teams and members of the leadership team have written publications
and presented at national and international conferences on the PHRC, further
increasing the initiative’s international reach and impact.
As teams identify curricular gaps, we hope to offer convenient and accessible
solutions. We are excited to be partnering with Climate Resources for Health
Education, an expert-reviewed, open–access repository of learning objectives,
slides, and cases for climate change and health curricula. This year, we mapped
their curricular materials to our metrics, thus lowering the activation energy to
implement curricula that address the gaps identified by the report card.
INSTITUTIONAL ADVOCACY
RESEARCH
In collecting annual qualitative and quantitative report card data, we have created
a large data repository of global medical school planetary health engagement. We
hope to study the trends and impact of the PHRC more rigorously in future years,
including through focus group discussions and longitudinal analyses. School report
cards will continue to be available open-access on our website.
At the end of the 2022 cycle, UK students associated with the PHRC wrote an open letter
to the GMC, the UK medical regulator, expressing their concern with the lack of inclusion
of planetary health or climate change in Outcomes for Graduates - the document
outlining the required learning requirements for undergraduate medical students.
Since then there has been really positive collaboration with the GMC, including an in
person focus group in March 2023, discussing potential new outcomes and helping to
draft a GMC Mission Statement committing to the GMC’s inclusion of this topic in all their
education regulatory documents on their next review. Hopefully this Mission Statement
will be published soon.
COLLABORATION WITH THE GENERAL
MEDICAL COUNCIL (GMC), UK
8PHRC APRIL 2023
During our 2022-23 cycle, our lead for Turkey, Sıla Gürbüz, led the implementation of the
Report Card in Turkey and recruited ten Turkish medical schools to participate. Due to the
devastating earthquake on 6 February 2023, these report cards were not able to be completed
by Earth Day. We thank Sıla and participating students for their hard work this year and will
continue to work together with the goal to publish their report cards on a later date.
Acıbadem University
Ankara University
Cukurova University
Erciyes University
Hacettepe University
Istanbul University
Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University
Karadeniz Technical University
Koc University
Uludag University
TURKISH SCHOOLS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
9PHRC APRIL 2023
Researching and teaching planetary health is necessary but not sufficient. It is
critical that institutions also directly engage with communities most affected by
ecological destruction. Although climate change is a problem largely created by
those with power and resources, its impacts fall disproportionately on marginalized
populations. Institutions should partner with local communities affected by climate
change and pollution to share information about environmental health threats and
collaboratively advocate for change. Students should be given opportunities to
engage in this work.
Community Outreach and Advocacy
SECTIONS OF THE REPORT CARD
Today's medical students will be on the frontlines of tackling the impacts of
environmental degradation on human health. It is critical that medical education
reflects those health threats. Topics like the changing geography of vector-borne
diseases, the health consequences of air pollution, environmental health inequities,
disaster response principles, and healthcare sustainability must be part of every
medical school's core curriculum.
Planetary Health Curriculum
Interactions between health and the environment are complex and multifactorial.
While climate change has been extensively studied from an environmental science
perspective, planetary health is an emerging field. As leading health institutions
with talented researchers and research resources, medical schools should fund
research studying environmental health, the health effects of climate change, and
climate solutions.
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and Environment
Planetary health is a young field and, as young people facing a future deeply
shaped by climate change, students are often some of the first at an institution to
engage with it. Institutions should provide support for students to engage in
sustainability quality improvement (QI) initiatives, discover mentors in their area of
interest, convene in student groups, and receive funding for planetary health
projects.
Support for Student-Led Planetary Health Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
The healthcare industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions as well
as pollution that harms local, regional, and global ecosystems. While healthcare is,
by nature, a resource-intensive endeavor, the healthcare sector is well poised to lead
the world to a more sustainable future. This transformation can begin with our
educational campuses; medical schools must sustainably source energy, food, and
supplies; ensure institutional investments are free of fossil fuels; and offer
incentives for greening lab spaces and events.
General
1.1 Did your medical school offer elective courses (student selected modules) to engage
students in Education for Sustainable Healthcare or Planetary Health in the last year?
Health Effects of Climate Change
1.2 Does your medical school curriculum address the relationship between extreme heat,
health risks, and climate change?
1.3 Does your medical school curriculum address the impacts of extreme weather events on
individual health and/or on healthcare systems?
1.4 Does your medical school curriculum address the impact of climate change on the
changing patterns of infectious diseases?
1.5 Does your medical school curriculum address the respiratory health effects of climate
change and air pollution?
1.6 Does your medical school curriculum address the cardiovascular health effects of climate
change, including increased heat?
1.7 Does your medical school curriculum address the mental health and
neuropsychological effects of environmental degradation and climate change?
PLANETARY HEALTH CURRICULUM
Today's medical students will be on the frontlines of tackling the impacts of environmental
degradation on human health. It is critical that medical education reflects those health
threats. Topics like the changing geography of vector-borne diseases, the health
consequences of air pollution, environmental health inequities, disaster response principles,
and healthcare sustainability must be part of every medical school's core curriculum.
10PHRC APRIL 2023
METRICS
For more detailed information on metric scoring, please visit our website at phreportcard.org.
For problem based learning cases and slide decks that correspond to our curriculum metrics,
check out the Climate Resources for Health Education website.
11PHRC APRIL 2023
M E T R I C S
1.8 Does your medical school curriculum address the relationships between health,
individual patient food and water security, ecosystem health, and climate change?
1.9 Does your medical school curriculum address the outsized impact of climate change
on marginalized populations such as those with low SES, women, communities of
color, Indigenous communities, children, homeless populations, and older adults?
1.10 Does your medical school curriculum address the unequal regional health impacts of
climate change globally?
Environmental Health & the Effects of Anthropogenic Toxins on Human Health
1.11 Does your medical school curriculum address the reproductive health effects of
industry-related environmental toxins (e.g. air pollution, pesticides)?
1.12 Does your medical school curriculum address important human-caused environmental
threats that are relevant to the university’s surrounding community?
1.13 To what extent does your medical school emphasize the importance of Indigenous
knowledge and value systems as essential components of planetary health solutions?
1.14 Does your medical school curriculum address the outsized impact of anthropogenic
environmental toxins on marginalized populations such as those with low SES, women,
communities of color, children, homeless populations, Indigenous populations, and
older adults?
Sustainability
1.15 Does your medical school curriculum address the environmental and health co-benefits
of a plant-based diet?
1.16 Does your medical school curriculum address the carbon footprint of healthcare systems?
For more detailed information on metric scoring, please visit our website at phreportcard.org.
For problem based learning cases and slide decks that correspond to our curriculum metrics,
check out the Climate Resources for Health Education website.
12PHRC APRIL 2023
M E T R I C S
1.17 Does your medical school curriculum cover these components of
sustainable clinical practice in the core curriculum?
Clinical Applications
1.18 In training for patient encounters, does your medical school’s
curriculum introduce strategies to have conversations with patients
about the health effects of climate change?
1.19 In training for patient encounters, does your medical school’s
curriculum introduce strategies for taking an environmental history or exposure history?
The health and environmental co-benefits of avoiding over-medicalisation, over-
investigation and/or over-treatment.
The environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and over-prescribing as a cause of climate
health harm. Alternatively teaching on deprescribing where possible and its
environmental and health co-benefits would fulfill this metric.
The health and environmental co-benefits of non-pharmaceutical management of
conditions where appropriate such as exercise or yoga classes for type 2 diabetes; social
group activities such as gardening for mental health conditions; active transport such as
bicycle schemes. This is commonly known as social prescribing in the UK.
Environmental impact of surgical healthcare on planetary health and the climate crisis,
and how can it be mitigated.
The impact of anaesthetic gasses on the healthcare carbon footprint and ways to reduce
anesthesia environmental impacts, such as total intravenous anaesthesia or choosing
less environmentally harmful anaesthetic gas options with reduced greenhouse gas
emissions.
The impact of inhalers on the healthcare carbon footprint and the environmental benefit
of dry powdered inhalers over metered dose inhalers.
Waste production within healthcare clinics and strategies for reducing waste in clinical
activities (e.g. single use items in the inpatient or outpatient setting).
For more detailed information on metric scoring, please visit our website at phreportcard.org.
For problem based learning cases and slide decks that correspond to our curriculum metrics,
check out the Climate Resources for Health Education website.
13PHRC APRIL 2023
M E T R I C S
Administrative Support for Planetary Health
1.20 Is your medical school currently in the process of implementing or improving Education for
Sustainable Healthcare (ESH)/planetary health education?
1.21 How well are the aforementioned planetary health/Education for Sustainable Healthcare topics
integrated longitudinally into the core curriculum?
1.22 Does your medical school employ a member of faculty to specifically oversee and take
responsibility for the incorporation of planetary health and sustainable healthcare as a theme
throughout the course?
For more detailed information on metric scoring, please visit our website at phreportcard.org.
For problem based learning cases and slide decks that correspond to our curriculum metrics,
check out the Climate Resources for Health Education website.
2.1 Are there researchers engaged in planetary health research and healthcare sustainability
research at your medical school?
2.2 Is there a dedicated department or institute for interdisciplinary planetary health research
at your institution?
2.3 Is there a process by which communities disproportionately impacted by climate change
and environmental injustice give input or make decisions about the research agenda at your
medical school?
2.4 Does your institution have a planetary health website that centralizes ongoing and past
research related to health and the environment?
2.5 Has your institution recently hosted a conference or symposium on topics related to
planetary health?
2.6 Is your medical school a member of a national or international planetary health or ESH
organization?
14PHRC APRIL 2023
M E T R I C S
Interactions between health and the environment are complex and multifactorial. While
climate change has been extensively studied from an environmental science
perspective, planetary health is an emerging field. As leading health institutions with
talented researchers and research resources, medical schools should fund research
studying environmental health, the health effects of climate change, and climate
solutions.
I N T E R D I S C I P L I N A R Y R E S E A R C H
I N H E A L T H A N D E N V I R O N M E N T
For more detailed information on metric scoring, please visit our website at phreportcard.org.
15PHRC APRIL 2023
M E T R I C S
Does your medical school partner with community organizations to promote planetary and
environmental health?
Does your medical school offer community-facing courses or events regarding
planetary health?
Does your medical school have regular coverage of issues related to planetary health
and/or sustainable healthcare in university update communications?
Does the institution or main affiliated hospital trust engage in professional
education activities targeting individuals post graduation with the aim of ensuring their
knowledge and skills in planetary health and sustainable healthcare remain up to date
during their professional career?
Does your medical school or its primary affiliated hospital have accessible educational
materials for patients about environmental health exposures?
Does your medical school or its primary affiliated hospital have accessible educational
materials for patients about climate change and health
impacts?
Researching and teaching planetary health is necessary but not sufficient. It is critical that
institutions also directly engage with communities most affected by ecological destruction.
Although climate change is a problem largely created by those with power and resources, its
impacts fall disproportionately on marginalized populations. Institutions should partner with
local communities affected by climate change and pollution to share information about
environmental health threats and collaboratively advocate for change. Students should be
given opportunities to engage in this work.
C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E A C H
A N D AD V O C AC Y
For more detailed information on metric scoring, please visit our website at phreportcard.org.
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.5
3.4
3.6
16PHRC APRIL 2023
M E T R I C S
Planetary health is a young field and, as young people facing a future deeply shaped by
climate change, students are often some of the first at an institution to engage with it.
Institutions should provide support for students to engage in sustainability quality
improvement (QI) initiatives, discover mentors in their area of interest, convene in student
groups, and receive funding for planetary health projects.
Does your medical school or your institution offer support for medical students interested
in enacting a sustainability initiative/QI project?
Does your institution offer opportunities for medical students to do research related to
planetary health and/or sustainable healthcare?
Does the medical school have a webpage where medical students can find specific
information related to planetary health and/or sustainable healthcare activities and
mentors within the medical school? For example, projects achieved, current initiatives
underway at the medical school and/or contact of information of potential mentors.
Does your medical school have registered student groups dedicated towards fostering a
culture of planetary health engagement, scholarship, and advocacy on campus, supported
by faculty advisors?
Is there a student liaison representing sustainability interests who serves on a medical
school or institutional decision-making council to advocate for curriculum reform and/or
sustainability best practices?
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
S U P P O R T F O R S T U D E N T - L E D
P L A N E T A R Y H E A L T H I N I T I A T I V E S
For more detailed information on metric scoring, please visit our website at phreportcard.org.
17PHRC APRIL 2023
M E T R I C S
4.6 In the past year, has the institution had one or more co-curricular
planetary health programs or initiatives in the following categories?
Projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and
sustainable food systems, such as gardens, farms, community supported
agriculture (CSA), fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects.
Panels, speaker series, or similar events related to planetary health that have
students as an intended audience.
Events in which students learn directly from members of a local environmental
justice community about the climate and environmental challenges they face,
and how health professionals can partner with their community to address these
exposures and impacts.
Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to planetary health
that have students as an intended audience.
Local volunteer opportunities related to building community resilience to
anthropogenic environmental impacts.
Wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g., that organize hiking, backpacking,
kayaking, or other outings for students).
For more detailed information on metric scoring, please visit our website at phreportcard.org.
5.1 Does your medical school and/or institution have an Office of Sustainability?
5.2 How ambitious is your medical school/institution’s plan to reduce its own carbon footprint?
5.3 Do buildings/infrastructure used by the medical school for teaching (not including the
hospital) utilize renewable energy?
5.4 Are sustainable building practices utilized for new and old buildings on the medical school
campus, with design and construction of new buildings and remodeling of old buildings
conforming to a published sustainability rating system or building code/guideline?
5.5 Has the medical school implemented strategies to encourage and provide environmentally-
friendly transportation options for students and reduce the environmental impact of
commuting?
5.6 Does your medical school have an organics recycling program (compost) and a conventional
recycling program (aluminum/paper/plastic/glass)?
5.7 Does the medical school apply sustainability criteria when making decisions about the
campus food and beverage selections (e.g. local sourcing, reduced meat, decreased plastic
packaging)?
5.8 Does the medical school or associated institution apply sustainability criteria when making
decisions about supply procurement?
The healthcare industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions as well as
pollution that harms local, regional, and global ecosystems. While healthcare is, by nature, a
resource-intensive endeavor, the healthcare sector is well poised to lead the world to a more
sustainable future. This transformation can begin with our educational campuses; medical
schools must sustainably source energy, food, and supplies; ensure institutional investments
are free of fossil fuels and offer incentives for greening lab spaces and events.
M E T R I C S
18PHRC APRIL 2023
C A M P U S S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y
5.9 Are there sustainability requirements or guidelines for events hosted at the medical school?
5.10 Does your medical school have programs and initiatives to assist with making lab spaces
more environmentally sustainable?
5.11 Does your institution’s endowment portfolio investments include fossil-fuel companies?
For more detailed information on metric scoring, please visit our website at phreportcard.org.
Overall
Curriculum
Research
Community Outreach & Advocacy
Support for Student-led Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
19PHRC APRIL 2023
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
Ireland
phreportcard.org
80-100% = A, 60-79% = B, 40-59% = C, 20-39% = D, 0-19% = F
Scores within top or bottom 5% awarded + or -, respectively
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
Canada
National University of Ireland
Galway School of Medicine
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
University College Cork
University College Dublin School of Medicine
Trinity College Dublin
C
C+
D
B
B+
C+
D+
C-
B-
C
B
C-
A-
C+
C
C+
D
D
C
D+
C D-
B
C
C+ D
A
D
C+
C-
D D
C+
B+
C C+
D B F B C+
A- A A D+ A-
D+
C
D+
B
D
C-
C-
F
D
A+
B
C-
B C F C C
C
C
C
= Overall score improved from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
Dalhousie University
McGill University Faculty of Medicine and Health
University of Ottawa
University of Alberta
Universite de Montreal
University of Saskatchewan
Overall
Curriculum
Research
Community Outreach & Advocacy
Support for Student-led Initiatives
20PHRC APRIL 2023
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
United Kingdom
phreportcard.org80-100% = A, 60-79% = B, 40-59% = C, 20-39% = D, 0-19% = F
Scores within top or bottom 5% awarded + or -, respectively
Campus Sustainability
A
A A- A A- A+
A- B+ B B A A+
B+ A- A+ B- A B-
B+ B+ B+ B A C+
B B A D+ A- A-
B
A- B- B B C
C
B-
B B B B+
B-
A C D+ C B+
B-
B B- C B C+
B-
B B D B B
Keele University School of Medicine
University College London
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Queen’s University Belfast
Peninsula Medical School
Barts and The London Medical School
University of Aberdeen
University of Southampton
University of Sheffield
Newcastle University, UK
= Overall score improved from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
C+
C-
B
B-
C
C
C
B
B
C
C-
D+
C-
C
C
B- B B D B-
C-
C
C+
B+
D-
F+
D-
D-
C-
C-
B-
C
D
B
C+
A
C+ C+ B D- B B+
C+
C+
B
D+ A- C+
C+
B
B
D+
C- B+
C+
B
C C
B-
C
C B+
C-
F
C
B+
C
C+ C
F
B C+
C
D
B
D- B-
A-
D+ C D C C-
F
C-
D B-
D
B-
C
21PHRC APRIL 2023
phreportcard.org80-100% = A, 60-79% = B, 40-59% = C, 20-39% = D, 0-19% = F
Scores within top or bottom 5% awarded + or -, respectively
= Overall score improved from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
United Kingdom (Continued)
Overall
Curriculum
Research
Community Outreach & Advocacy
Support for Student-led Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
Imperial College
Lancaster University Medical School
Newcastle University, Malaysia
Oxford University Medical School
St. George’s University of London
Swansea University
University of Warwick
University of Glasgow School of Medicine
University of Bristol
University of Liverpool
University of Cambridge
University of Leicester
University of Manchester
University of Buckingham
University of Birmingham
22PHRC APRIL 2023
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
United States
phreportcard.org80-100% = A, 60-79% = B, 40-59% = C, 20-39% = D, 0-19% = F
Scores within top or bottom 5% awarded + or -, respectively
B+ C+ A+ A A-
A
A A+ A A
B+
B
B
B A+ B A- C+
B
C A C+ A B+
B
B- A- B- A C
B
B- A B B C-
B-
C A B C B
B-
C A C+ C B
C+ C A- D+ B B-
C+ B- A- D C C
C+ C B- C A- D
C C C B- B C
C C B+ D+ B C
C C C- B- B+ C
C
C+
C+
D A C-
= Overall score improved from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program
Emory University
UC San Francisco
UC Davis
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
University of Washington
University of Virginia
Northwestern (Feinberg)
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
University of Minnesota
University of North Carolina
University of Massachusetts
Washington State University
Overall
Curriculum
Research
Community Outreach & Advocacy
Support for Student-led Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
23PHRC APRIL 2023
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
United States (Continued)
phreportcard.org
80-100% = A, 60-79% = B, 40-59% = C, 20-39% = D, 0-19% = F
Scores within top or bottom 5% awarded + or -, respectively
C A- C- D+ C C-
C B D- C+ B D
C D+ B- D B B+
C C- A D B- C+
C C+ C C- B D+
C D B+ C B C
C
C- B C- B D+
C
C+
C D B- C
C B D+ D+ B D+
C C- B C- B D+
C D D+ B B B-
C+
C
D+ B- B D
C C C C C- B
C C- C D+ B C
C C- B D B D
= Overall score improved from 2021-2022 to 2021-2023
Oregon Health and Science
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
(Boston University)
Columbia University
Rush Medical College
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
The George Washington School of Medicine
Brown University
University of Rochester
Creighton University - Omaha Campus
University of Pittsburgh
University of Arkansas
Loyola University of Chicago
Indiana University
Tufts University
Overall
Curriculum
Research
Community Outreach & Advocacy
Support for Student-led Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
24PHRC APRIL 2023
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
United States (Continued)
phreportcard.org
80-100% = A, 60-79% = B, 40-59% = C, 20-39% = D, 0-19% = F
Scores within top or bottom 5% awarded + or -, respectively
C D A D- B
D+ D C F D
C-
B
C-C C C C C
C D+ B- D B D+
C C- C D+ B- D+
C-C- C- B- C D
C- B- C- D- C- D+
C-
C- C D- B D
D+ F D+ D A- C+
D F C C- C D
D
D B- D- D D-
D
C- D F- C C-
D D- D- F C D
D C- F+ F D D
= Overall score improved from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
UC Irvine
Vanderbilt University
University of Utah
Creighton University - Phoenix Campus
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
University of Connecticut
West Virginia University
University of Missouri
University of Oklahoma
University of Cincinnati
University of Maryland
Virginia Commonwealth
Rosalind Franklin (Chicago Medical School)
Overall
Curriculum
Research
Community Outreach & Advocacy
Support for Student-led Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
C
C A- D+ B-
25PHRC APRIL 2023
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
New Zealand
phreportcard.org
80-100% = A, 60-79% = B, 40-59% = C, 20-39% = D, 0-19% = F
Scores within top or bottom 5% awarded + or -, respectively
C-
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
Japan
C C C F- B-
C-
C D+ F- B-
B
B
C
C+ C
F- B- C+
University of Otago - Dunedin
University of Otago - Christchurch
University of Otago - Wellington
Nagasaki University
C-
B- D D+ D D
= Overall score improved from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
Universität zu Köln
2022-2023 Summary Report
Germany
Planetary Health
Report Card
Overall
Curriculum
Research
Community Outreach & Advocacy
Support for Student-led Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
C
C C D+ D- C-
26PHRC APRIL 2023
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
South Africa
phreportcard.org80-100% = A, 60-79% = B, 40-59% = C, 20-39% = D, 0-19% = F
Scores within top or bottom 5% awarded + or -, respectively
Planetary Health
Report Card
University of Cape Town
2022-2023 Summary Report
Switzerland
C
C+ B F B- B
C
C+ C+ D+ B D+
C
C C D B C+
C-
C- C F- C- B
D+
C D F- C- C
D D D+ F D- C
University of Lausanne
University of Genève
University of Basel
University of Bern
University of Fribourg
University of Zürich
= Overall score improved from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
Overall
Curriculum
Research
Community Outreach & Advocacy
Support for Student-led Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
C-
A- D+ D- D F+
27PHRC APRIL 2023
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
Greece
phreportcard.org
80-100% = A, 60-79% = B, 40-59% = C, 20-39% = D, 0-19% = F
Scores within top or bottom 5% awarded + or -, respectively
Planetary Health
Report Card
2022-2023 Summary Report
India
D D D+ D- D D
D
D D F C D
D D- D- D DD
University of Patras
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
University of Crete
Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical
College and Hospital
= Overall score improved from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
Overall
Curriculum
Research
Community Outreach & Advocacy
Support for Student-led Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
Students and faculty have successfully used the Planetary Health Report Card to
improve planetary health engagement and promote institutional changes at their
medical schools. Here are some examples from this year’s feedback form.
PH R C-I NSP I RED INS TIT UTIO NAL CHA NGE
28PHRC APRIL 2023
GE O RG E W AS HI N GT ON UN IVE RS ITY
"Our success in implementing a longitudinal climate change and human health
curriculum is in large part due to the comprehensiveness of the Planetary
Health Report Card metrics, particularly in the curriculum domain. This tool has
been incredibly useful in identifying which aspects of our curriculum would be
most effective to address. With the recent approval of the four-year Climate
Change & Human Health curriculum theme at GW SMHS, we are excited to see
our curriculum domain metrics improve on PHRC."
UN I VE RS I TY O F M AN C HE STE R
“Since working on the PHRC in 2020/21, several faculty members have
created a working group focused on integrating planetary health and
sustainability into the curriculum. They have involved students in the
decision-making process and have made large steps forward in improving
the delivery of ESH topics.”
UN I VE RS I TY O F N OR T H CAR OL INA
“After several years of PHRC publications, we have noticed increased
discussion regarding climate change, planetary health, and healthcare
sustainability following presentations of the report results in class
meetings. Notable tangible progress includes changes to the curriculum to
increase the content focusing on climate change and its effects on health
and the development of student-run waste audits for UNC-affiliated
clinics. UNC SOM also developed a new scholarly concentration related to
planetary health that will open up to students in fall 2023!"
PH R C-I NSP I RED INS TIT UTIO NAL CHA NGE
29PHRC APRIL 2023
VA N DE RB I LT
“The core MD curriculum has begun to incorporate some planetary health
content into a few lectures. A group of students has developed and
proposed a curriculum map that addresses climate change/planetary
health topics where they are most relevant throughout the four-year MD
curriculum. This has been met with a lot of enthusiasm from the medical
school Deans especially after showing them this PHRC.”
VI R GI NI A C OM M ON WE A LT H
"Following publication of PHRC, there have been a lot of curriculum
changes, including implementing new elective classes and reaching out to
course directors to include notes and clinical correlations with climate
health in their lectures. We are also increasing medical student
involvement in community events like legislative advocacy days,
community partnerships through volunteering events, and are working on
creating new research projects which examine intersections and
relationships between climate and human health.”
WA S HI NG T ON S T AT E U NI VER SI TY
“Following the implementation of the PHRC in 2022, students, faculty and staff worked
together to create major changes in the medical school curriculum… These changes
included multiple core lectures being added to cover specific aspects of planetary
health, as well as a lecture dedicated to the effects of planetary health on health
equity.”
QU E EN ’S UN IV E RS IT Y B ELF AS T
"In QUB we have established the 'Sustainable Healthcare Development Group'
which is composed of the PHRC team, faculty staff and estates staff. We
discuss planetary health education, initiatives and wider sustainability on
campus, which has resulted in changes to the medical curriculum and new
sustainability projects on campus. We are also working on involving students
from other healthcare degrees (eg. nursing and pharmacy), and hope to form a
multi-disciplinary PHRC group at QUB in the coming years."
Useful resources include:
Climate Resources for Health Education - an open-access respository of climate-health learning objectives, slides, and
problem based learning cases for undergraduate and graduate medical education
MS4SF Curriculum Guide
Education for Sustainable Healthcare - a curriculum for the UK
Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Sustainable QI project resources
Climate Health in Medical Education Network - Irish Doctors for the Environment and the Royal College of Surgeons of
Ireland.
30PHRC APRIL 2023
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.UTILIZE EXISTING RESOURCES AND COLLABORATE
Appreciate the work that has already been done in advancing planetary health across the world
and draw upon resources from other institutions and organizations when developing learning
objectives or new resources. Additionally, collaborate with other individuals, groups and
institutions to facilitate efficient and quality advancements in planetary health and sustainable
healthcare.
For additional resources, please see our website.
EXAMPLES
2. ESTABLISH LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Formalize curricular content on both planetary health and sustainable healthcare with
students by developing testable learning objectives. The curricular content should emphasize
skill-building as well as clinical knowledge.
A team of medical students at Emory University School of Medicine established and published this set of climate and
health learning objectives for preclinical medical education, creating an integrated curricular plan of climate and
health content which is now fully implemented.
Barts and the London School of Medicine (UK) have at least 9 lectures dedicated to Planetary Health and Sustainable
Healthcare across the course with associated learning outcomes.
EXAMPLES
31PHRC APRIL 2023
3. INTEGRATE CURRICULAR CONTENT LONGITUDINALLY
Planetary health (PH) and Education for Sustainable Healthcare (ESH) is relevant to every organ
system, and spaced repetition is more effective for learning. Therefore, PH and ESH should be a
cross-curricular theme integrated into existing lectures, small groups, and projects whenever
possible, rather than a standalone lecture. Faculty members should be empowered, educated, and
incentivized to integrate the topics into their existing content.
At Emory University (US), the Climate Change & Health curriculum, first introduced for the class of 2024, spans most
organ-systems across the first 18 months of medical school. The Climate & Health Curriculum team engaged faculty
members to incorporate climate learning points into existing lectures and to create new dedicated climate lectures. The
curriculum also adds environmental health discussion points to small group activities.
At University College London (UK), there is an overarching Intended Learning Outcome (ILO) to “appreciate the impact
of climate change and sustainability in healthcare”. Through the ‘Climate Change and Sustainability Working Group’,
students can discuss how well the issues surrounding climate change and sustainability and their impact on healthcare
are integrated, and how teaching might be implemented or improved, thereby bringing the conversation closer to senior
management within the medical school.
The medical school at QUB (UK) continues to roll out its new C25 Curriculum across all years of the course. The theme
of ‘Global and Population Health’ is one of the central themes in this curriculum and includes the sub-themes of ‘Social
Accountability & Sustainable Healthcare’, and ‘Public & Population Health’.
EXAMPLES
4. OFFER ELECTIVES AND STUDENT SELECTED COMPONENTS
In addition to the core curricular content on planetary health and environmental health required
for all students, schools should provide opportunities for deeper exploration for interested
students, such as electives, community engagement opportunities, and optional reading.
‘Global Health MOOC - Achieving Sustainable Development’, ‘Climate Change and Health’, and “Better understand
the links between health, medicine and the environment” are examples of electives offered by universities Trinity
College Dublin (Ireland), University of Virginia (US), and Geneva (Switzerland).
Peninsula Medical School (UK) offers two Student Selected Units: “Green Practice. Creating a more sustainable
world in General Practice”, focusing on applying the UK national “Greener Practice” model to a rural GP, and
“Doctors as Educators: Sustainability in Healthcare”. The University of Glasgow (UK) introduced a new elective
this year “Mapping the Sustainable Development Goals”, primarily focusing on ESH/PH.
The University of Saskatchewan (Canada) offers a 2-week Environmental Medicine elective in Saskatoon. They
also offer an Indigenous Health elective which may provide the opportunity to gain insight from Indigenous
leaders on planetary health-related themes depending on community experience and preceptorship.
EXAMPLES
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
32PHRC APRIL 2023
5. PROVIDE CLINICAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Research shows that community members rely on their primary care doctor for information on
climate change. However, most medical students feel unprepared to answer patient questions on
climate change. Therefore, medical schools should include clinical curriculum on taking an
environmental history and communicating information on planetary health to patients.
6. SITUATE TEACHING IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
The ecological crisis is a global issue and given the interconnected nature of human health
globally, medical students should understand the health impacts of climate change throughout the
world, its disproportionate effects on low-resource nations, and impacts on global stability through
mechanisms such as food security.
In teaching about planetary health and climate change, curriculum should acknowledge how
Indigenous communities, who have long lived in harmony with the planet, have knowledge and
value systems that are an essential part of the solution, yet are tragically disproportionately
affected by climate change.
At Barts and The London School of Medicine (UK), in a 3rd year session, students learn how to discuss with patients
about their environmental impacts and lifestyle changes that positively impact people and the planet. Interventions
include reducing meat consumption and active travel.
At Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College (India), students are required to be able to counsel patients on the links
between climate change and disease in a simulated assessment environment. Students should be able to cover
evidence based links between infection and changing environments, and the health impacts of climate change, with
both local and personal context to the patient.
EXAMPLES
At the University of Southampton (UK), the core curriculum includes a lecture on global health and chronic disease.
This lecture covers the importance of partnerships with local rural healers and effects of colonialism on indigenous
knowledge.
The Critical Health Humanities course at University of Cape Town (South Africa) describes the link between
ecosystem health and food and water security. It also covers the effects of environmentally damaging activities, like
mining, on ecosystem health.
West Virginia University (US) has a Global Health Track that discusses factors that affect health, including one’s
physical environment, access to food and water, and local ecosystem health. The lecture “Health in All Places”
highlights the importance of health equity in the background of these issues.
At the University of Fribourg (Switzerland), the lecture “Health and Climate Change Co-benefits'' describes how rising
temperatures, extreme weather events, ocean acidification and other air pollutants impact various health sectors as
well as lowers the agricultural productivity and therefore global food security and the dynamic of vector-borne
diseases."
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
EXAMPLES
33PHRC APRIL 2023
7. RESPECT FOR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
In teaching about planetary health and climate change, a curriculum should acknowledge how
Indigenous communities, who have long lived in harmony with the planet, have knowledge and
value systems that are an essential part of the solution. This topic should be covered across all
health professional education internationally regardless of whether indigenous populations are
locally present.
At the University of Southampton (UK), the core curriculum includes a lecture on global health and chronic disease.
This lecture covers the importance of partnerships with local rural healers, effects of colonialism on Indigenous
knowledge, and the outsized health impacts of mining and soil degradation on the indigenous people of the Pacific
islands.
The University of Oregon has a specific elective on Native American and Alaskan Native Health, there is course
content from and discussion around Indigenous perspectives on land and activism, including traditional ways of using
land. For example, there is a required Native American Health Seminar series talk entitled “Climate, Identity, and our
Health: Indigenous Lessons and Voice from the Front Lines to Prevent Climate Collapse”.
8. CENTER EQUITY
Ensure that planetary health and environmental health curricular content and auxiliary
opportunities center the disproportionate impact of all health effects on vulnerable populations,
such as communities of color, low-income communities, Indigenous populations, and older
adults.
At Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (US), the Race and Health Equity Longitudinal Curriculum includes three
first-year sessions on environmental racism and discrimination. Additionally, there is a recently formed sub-
committee focused on planetary health within a medical-school wide group dedicated to making longitudinal
curricular changes related to race and health equity.
University of Cambridge (UK) has several lectures that cover the impacts of climate change on marginalized
communities, including the fourth year “Environmental Change and Health” lecture that discusses increased exposure
of communities of color to environmental toxins. The exacerbation of existing vulnerabilities in society by the climate
crisis is also explored in the Year 4 Migrant and Refugee Health lecture
At the University of Washington School of Medicine (US) students are taught about how the health impacts of climate
change disproportionately affect marginalized communities. This lecture is accompanied by a case study which
focuses on the disproportionate impact of climate change on the health of Indigenous communities.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
34PHRC APRIL 2023
9. DELIVER SOLUTION-ORIENTATED SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE TEACHING
ALONGSIDE PROGRESSIVE AFFILIATED HOSPITALS
Geneva Medical School (Switzerland), University of Sheffield (UK), Emory University (US), Queen’s University Belfast
(UK) and University of Fribourg (Switzerland) have lectures on the harmful impacts of healthcare systems on the
environment and the role of health professionals in mitigating environmental impact.
At Newcastle University (UK), all final year students will complete a SusQI project in their second General Practice
assistantship, a project in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare.
University College London Hospital (UK), the primary hospital affiliated with UCL, has declared a climate emergency
with a plan to reach net zero within 10 years.
Students must understand that healthcare provision significantly contributes to environmental
degradation and therefore patient morbidity. They must learn ways to mitigate this impact,
including carrying out Sustainability Quality Improvement projects. For this learning to be
effective, associated hospitals should be promoting sustainable practices and educating staff and
patients.
10. PROVIDE MENTORSHIP INCLUDING A DEDICATED FACULTY POST
An increasing number of schools have dedicated faculty leads in Education for Sustainable Healthcare, Planetary
Health, and/or Sustainable Healthcare. A few examples include Dr. Husein Moloo (University of Ottawa, Canada), Dr.
Rebecca Philipsborn (Emory University, US.), Dr. Anna Jones (Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK), Prof. Trevor
Thompon and Prof. Kate Tilling (University of Bristol, UK), and Dr. James Bevan (Southampton University, UK).
Nagasaki University (Japan) as a “Planetary Health Promotion Headquarters” comprising multiple faculty members
with the role to promote initiatives related to Planetary Health.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School’s Sustainable Healthcare Group has a comprehensive website which includes
faculty members, their contact information, and their research projects. The Institute for the Environment at
University of North Carolina hosts a central website which clearly lists institutional faculty who have research,
mentoring, or teaching roles in environmental health.
Facilitate accessible mentorship of students with an interest in planetary health. Create a
dedicated paid faculty position to oversee planetary health curricular integration, student
mentorship, and other planetary health initiatives.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
35PHRC APRIL 2023
11. SUPPORT STUDENTS TO FACILITATE THEIR LEADERSHIP
Create funded opportunities for students to engage with planetary health, environmental health,
and sustainability, such as sustainability grants, research fellowships, student groups, and
community-based projects. Support student advocacy efforts and take action in response to
student input.
UCSF’s (US) EaRTH center offers an Environmental Scholars Program - a funded, three-year, community-based clinical
and research fellowship for medical and nursing students interested in Environmental Health.
The University of Otago (NZ) runs a 10-week summer studentship programme which includes planetary health
research topics. Medical students can apply for up $6,000NZD to fund a project in this area.
Many schools have grants for student sustainability projects, such as McGill’s (Canada) Sustainability Projects Fund
totalling 1 million dollars annually, Tufts University (US) Green Fund, Keele University’s (UK) Sustainable Fund, Emory
University’s General Sustainability and Social Justice Incentives Fund, the University of Geneva (Switzerland) offering
up to CHF 5,000, and University of Basel’s (Switzerland) Impulse Funding Programme.
Many schools have active student groups with faculty support. These include the ‘Climate Health Interest Group’ at
University of Arkansas (U.S.), ‘Earth Resus Team’ at University of Birmingham (UK), and the ‘Environmental Team of
AUTh” at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece).
12. PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Partner with community organizations, develop community-facing courses on planetary health,
and include planetary health in patient educational materials and marketing.
At UCSF (US), the Community Engagement Core of the EaRTH Center informs all EaRTH Center
During orientation at University of Pittsburgh (US), students attend required neighborhood tours in underserved areas
and meet community leaders of local nonprofits. On each tour, students visited a community garden and learned
about available volunteer opportunities.
At University of Sheffield (UK), phase 2 medical students have opportunities to work with community organizations
that promote planetary and environmental health during their 4 week Social Accountability SSC. Examples include
working at Heeley City Farm to address inequality and lack of opportunity in the local community, educating students
on the link between climate change and health at King Edward VII School, and promoting physical activity,
environmental projects and Green prescribing at Manor & Castle Development Trust.
As part of the Year 2 course at Queen’s University Belfast (UK), medical students can take the module ‘“Medics in
Primary School” through which they have the opportunity to teach health and medicine in local schools. Planetary
health was added as a suggested lesson for the 2021/22 cohort, and continues to be taught by our medical students
in a number of local primary schools.
priorities based on community input through the Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB) in monthly
meetings.
EXAMPLES
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
EXAMPLES
36PHRC APRIL 2023
13. LAUNCH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTER
Institutions should create interdisciplinary centers with education, research, policy, and
community engagement pillars that focus on the intersections between climate change, the
environment, and health, bridging traditional divides among disciplines to ensure collective
vision, problem-solving and action.
Newcastle University’s (UK) One Planet interdisciplinary research center.
The University of California’s (US) newly launched Center for Climate, Health, and Equity.
The University of North California (US) Institute for the Environment.
Queen’s University Belfast’s (UK) Centre for Sustainability, Equality And Climate Action.
The University of Leicester’s (UK) Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability.
University of Galway’s (Ireland) Centre for One Health.
University of Otago’s (NZ) Coastal people: Southern Skies interdisciplinary research center.
Examples of such centers include:
14. ADVANCE RESEARCH
Encourage interdisciplinary research on planetary health and environmental health topics by facilitating
research networks, awarding funding, hosting conferences, and recruiting researchers actively exploring
these subjects.
In December 2022, Emory (US) launched the Emory Climate Research Initiative to strengthen Emory’s academic
response to the global climate crisis. The Group’s research topics include integration of planetary health into medical
curriculum, effects of climate change on vulnerable populations, and healthcare sustainability.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School (UK) annually host the Sustainable Healthcare Academic Research and Enterprise
(SHARE) conference which aims to facilitate collaboration among healthcare professionals, students, and service-users
on topics related to sustainability and health and healthcare practice. Keele University has a website dedicated to
sustainability and planetary health research at their school.
At University of Geneva (Switzerland), the research program Human, Animal and Environmental Health performs
interdisciplinary research and teaching activities that include public and global health, animal health, ecology,
epidemiology, and environmental sciences.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
37PHRC APRIL 2023
15. CARBON NEUTRALITY GOALS AND FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT
Divest institutional funding from fossil fuels, set ambitious carbon neutrality goals, and outline a
thoughtful and achievable plan to meet those goals.
In addition to aiming for Net Zero carbon emissions by 2040, the University of Leicester Medical School (UK) aims to
achieve EcoCampus platinum by 2025 and to be carbon neutral for scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030.
Following the Climate Emergency Statement, Newcastle University (UK) has committed to achieve net-zero carbon
dioxide emissions by 2030.
The University of Otago (New Zealand) has a commitment to reducing true emissions by 50% from 2019 levels and
achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. There is a full-time staff member at the Sustainability Office who manages the
Net Zero programme and has created a tangible roadmap to achieve this target.
University College London (UK) is committed to investing in renewable energy and 100% of medical school buildings
are powered by renewable energy. By 2024, UCL aims to achieve net zero carbon buildings and having a campus free
of single-use plastic.
The following institutions are some examples of institutions fully divested from fossil fuels (links to divestment
policies included where available): University of Manchester Medical School (UK), University College Dublin (Ireland)
and Emory University (US)
16. IMPLEMENT DAY TO DAY SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES ON CAMPUS
Create an environmentally sustainable learning and working environment by setting and following
guidelines for supply procurement, lab spaces, events, and buildings.
Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (Ireland) has been using 100% green electricity, with all power produced by wind
farms, for several years.
McGill University (Canada) has created a Sustainable Labs Guide to reduce the negative environmental impacts of
research to improve waste management practices, promote green chemistry as well as reduce energy and water use.
The University of Washington (US) Green Laboratory Certification program allows faculty to assess the sustainability
of their lab practices and facilities, provides suggestions and tools for improvement, and awards levels of recognition.
University of Birmingham (UK) has a Sustainable Procurement Policy that applies sustainability criteria to its supply
procurement decisions, including reducing carbon footprint, assessing environmental/social impacts, promoting waste
hierarchy & circular economy principles, using Fairtrade products, fulfilling duty of care obligations, using ethical
suppliers, and communicating the policy.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
38PHRC APRIL 2023
S C H O O L - S P E C I F I C
R E P O R T C A R D S
Overall
39PHRC APRIL 2023
Dalhousie University
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
The Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine has incorporated some Planetary Health recommendations through the
curriculum refresh by including one core-curriculum lecture and corresponding tutorial in year one that discusses
climate change and the impacts of health but there lacks a longitudinal integration of this subject.
Recommendations: We propose that the Faculty create a leadership role in Planetary Health/Sustainable Health
Systems within the next year, similar to the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine’s Director of Planetary
Health, to clearly signal that the climate emergency is important and urgent. The Faculty should also incorporate
more lectures that address the relationship between climate change and health risks.
B+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Dalhousie faculty, staff and students within and outside of the medical school are involved in leading
interdisciplinary research and teaching programs, National and Provincial Planetary Health groups, and are
members of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, Planetary Health Alliance and
Emerging Leaders for Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare (ELESH).
Recommendations: As the Healthy Populations Institute is already a leader in interdisciplinary population
health research and sustainable health systems, we recommend that Dalhousie clearly articulates the link
between the Faculty of Medicine and the Healthy Populations Institute in this area.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
While Dalhousie University partners with community organizations and provides community facing events,the
Medical School has few events pertaining to Planetary Health including a conference and speaker series.
Recommendations: The Faculty of Medicine should encourage staff and students to take a Continuing
Professional Education program with a focus on Planetary Health and/or Sustainable Health Systems, such
those offered by CASCADES Canada. To increase opportunities for outreach and advocacy related to
healthcare sustainability, the Faculty should build on the foundation set by the Healthy Healthy Populations Institute,
Dalhousie Planetary Health Community of Practice and Dalhousie Medicine Green Team
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
Dalhousie Medical School offers continued support for student initiatives related to sustainability and
medicine (research, quality improvement projects, community outreach etc.).
Recommendations: We recommend the Faculty of Medicine regularly promote their support of such
initiatives to all members of the faculty and student body either through communications or mentions on the
website, and visibly outline the process for achieving support for future interested students.
2022-2023 Summary Report
Canada
C
Campus Sustainability
Dalhousie University, including the medical campuses, has made strides to increase the sustainability of the
institution through recycling programs and subsidizing transportation, and has set carbon neutrality goals.
Recommendations: We would like to see the Faculty of Medicine make a public commitment to the future
sustainability goals of the School and recommend that they provide further opportunities for labs in the medical
faculty to connect with Dalhousie’s Office of Sustainability’s Green Labs program, to increase the number of medical
school and affiliated hospital labs pursuing sustainable operations.
C+
Overall
40PHRC APRIL 2023
McGill University Faculty of
Medicine and Health Sciences
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
C+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
McGill University hosts an annual Sustainability Research Symposium (SRS), as well as other conferences, events,
and workshops relating to PH.
Recommendations: McGill lacks a dedicated institute for interdisciplinary PH research that emphasizes the impacts
of anthropogenic environmental changes on health. Within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences itself, it is
difficult to find faculty members who have a primary research focus in PH or healthcare sustainability.
C-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences does not offer community-facing education opportunities on PH. This
extends to a lack of patient materials regarding environmental health exposures, as well as climate change and
health impacts.
Recommendations: There is limited partnership between the medical school and community organizations to
promote planetary and environmental health. The faculty could augment meaningful partnerships and promote
medical student involvement through the addition of relevant community organizations in the Community Health
Alliance Project (CHAP) course.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
Overall, the administration is supportive of student-led PH initiatives. The McGill Sustainability Projects Fund has a
mandate to build a culture of sustainability on McGill campuses. They offer their time, funding, and enthusiasm for
student projects from all faculties.
Recommendations: Within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, the administration could further support
student-led initiatives by facilitating connections between research mentors and students, creating grant
opportunities, and developing a student fellowship program designated for PH.
2022-2023 Summary Report
Canada
C+
Campus Sustainability
The McGill University Climate and Sustainability Strategy 2020-2025 includes a stated goal of carbon neutrality, as
well as objectives pertaining to waste management, food systems, procurement, and more. However, it is unclear
how these strategies translate to the medical school buildings.
Recommendations: The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences should work towards extending sustainable
practices through composting, sustainable food and beverage options, and waste management.
C
Planetary Health (PH) connections exist within the core medical curriculum, though they are mostly found within a
solitary lecture dedicated to climate change and health. Over the past year, PH connections have significantly
augmented thanks to curricular integrations of the Climate Wise slides throughout the pre-clerkship organ systems.
Recommendations: PH connections in the curriculum should have more dedicated time allocated consistently
throughout medical education. The medical school should identify PH (including climate change) as a priority theme
and include that material in learning objectives and test questions, in addition to filling in content gaps.
Overall
41PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Alberta
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
The University of Alberta has an incomplete planetary health curriculum, and lacks integration
longitudinally. Most of the planetary health education comes from one 50 minute lecture.
Recommendations: There are more areas throughout the curriculum where planetary health issues can be
inserted, inclduing neuropsychological and reproductive effects of environmental events, as well as
planetary health equity and sustainability from an indigenous lens. More case-based discussion of planetary health
issues are needed. Social justice and planetary health equity topics can be integrated within various areas of the
curriculum. The addition of a planetary health elective team can also be beneficial to the diversification of the
curriculum.
D
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The University of Alberta lacks an interdisciplinary planetary health community that can engage in research and
scholarship. Moreover, resources for students to participate in planetary health research are scarce.
Recommendations: Currently, planetary health resources are not accessible to students. Compiling a
research database that identifies available projects, research groups and opportunities would be helpful in
navigating scholarship. Additionally, creating a dedicated and interdisciplinary group or society for
planetary health research would be beneficial to both students and to furthering planetary health research at our
institution.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
The University of Alberta has adequate support for student-led initiatives surrounding topics of
environmental sustainability. However, the Medical School itself lacks such support.
Recommendations: We suggest the formation of a faculty-supported, student-led planetary health group to better
facilitate student-led initiatives. Moreover, centralization of environmental sustainability groups on
campus can help create community and support for students and their initiatives.
2022-2023 Summary Report
Canada
D
Campus Sustainability
The University of Alberta Medical school has made some progress to become a more sustainable campus in
conjunction with the wider University, however more work must be done.
Recommendations: Simple infrastructural changes, such as the introduction of compost bins to the medical
building could further these efforts. Moreover, creating updated and concrete energy plans are
recommended.
D+
University of Alberta Medical School currently has limited outreach and advocacy programs in place.
Recommendations: We recommend the creation of a task force that will be able to identify the needs of the
community and evaluate the areas in which improvements are necessary. Then, we can begin addressing
these issues more systematically. Additionally, lobbying to Alberta Health Services for the inclusion of
more patient-targeted planetary health resources would be critical. Lastly, more dedicated partnerships with
national and local planetary and environmental health communities such as CAPE can benefit the
institution.
Overall
42PHRC APRIL 2023
Université de Montréal
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B+
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The Université de Montréal offers many opportunities for students to be involved in community outreach and
advocacy as well as a well established Patient-Partner Office. However, no such opportunities involve communities
impacted by climate change or environmental perturbations specifically.
Recommendations: Partnership with community organisations in relation to planetary health could be secured for
interested students within the “Community medicine” or “Social medicine” clerkship rotations. The Patient-Partner
Office and Social Accountability Office could further develop partnerships with communities most impacted by the
effects on climate change and environmental perturbations.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
The Université de Montréal and its medical school have a dynamic student life with many opportunities for
involvement in planetary health or sustainability initiatives. However, funding for these projects often come from
sources outside the institution.
Recommendations: The medical school could increase its support for planetary health or sustainability initiatives
by creating dedicated grants for those projects. Such projects could also receive further formal recognition and be
credited in the curriculum.
2022-2023 Summary Report
Canada
C+
Campus Sustainability
The Université de Montréal has committed to carbon zero emissions for 2040 and has a clear associated action
plan.
Recommendations: Further efforts could be made to facilitate active transport or carpooling and/or offer free public
transit passes for students during their clerkship years.
C
The Universite de Montreal has a longitudinal curriculum on the health impacts of climate change, with the
recent introduction of several lectures and clinical cases with associated learning objectives. The medical
school is in the process of further expanding the curriculum on planetary health and sustainable healthcare.
Recommendations: The curriculum could be expanded to further develop subjects related to sustainability
in healthcare and planetary health issues outside the scope of climate change.
The medical school at Université de Montreal recently organised and hosted several conferences and symposiums
on planetary health and sustainable healthcare, and has ongoing plans to pursue this involvement in the future.
Recommendations: The medical school could develop a website dedicated to planetary health to help students to
find relevant information about research projects and activities related to planetary health and sustainable
healthcare.
Overall
43PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Ottawa
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
In January 2023, the Faculty of Medicine Phase 3 Planetary Health Curriculum Working Group began meeting to
create recommendations for a longitudinal, spiral planetary health curriculum at the University of Ottawa Faculty of
Medicine (uOttawa FoM).
Recommendations: The working group will focus on longitudinal integration of planetary health into medical
education, expanding beyond the single, one-hour lecture that is currently devoted to the topic in Year 2. We
acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the FoM and encourage further progress. Additionally, we support their intention
to adhere to the 11 curricular competencies identified by the Canadian Federation of Medical Students’ Health and
Environment Adaptive Response Task force.
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The appointment of Dr. Husein Moloo as Director of Planetary Health continues to create momentum for
planetary health research. Dr. Moloo ensured that the uOttawa FoM joined the Global Consortium on Climate and
Health Education and established the first research symposium on planetary health. His work in creating and
interdisciplinary Planetary Health Council has also promoted knowledge-sharing between hospitals and departments
related to planetary health research.
Recommendations: A department specifically dedicated to planetary health research has yet to be established.
Additionally, there is no policy by which the FoM’s research agenda remains accountable to communities
disproportionately impacted by climate change. Community partnership represents an avenue for improvement.
C-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
A number of public-facing events & professional development activities related to planetary health took place at the
FoM this year. However, the FoM does not partner with community organizations at this time.
Recommendations: Development of strong, longitudinal community partnerships, and integration with the
curriculum, should remain a priority.
A-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
Interested medical students can pursue planetary health initiatives through existing programs with non-specific
focuses, such as the fourth-year Leadership Elective. A planetary health website was also created this year.
Recommendations: Listings of planetary health events on the website could be updated more frequently.
Increased availability of planetary health-specific research funding and opportunities to connect with relevant Faculty
would also improve student engagement.
C+
Campus Sustainability
The uOttawa Office of Campus Sustainability is well-established, with multiple programs for the entire
university. PPE recycling and sustainable event guidelines were initiated at the FoM in 2021.
Recommendations: Most sustainability initiatives occur at the main campus, separate from the medical school.
Focus on expansion of the application of the FoM’s sustainable event guidelines, sustainable food selection, and
sustainability in lab spaces is recommended.
C+
2022-2023 Summary Report
Canada
Overall
44PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Saskatchewan
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) has been making significant progress towards integrating environmental
and planetary health into the curriculum. There is however, a need for content to be integrated longitudinally
throughout the curriculum in order for students to be competent and well versed on planetary health issues and their
relation to patient health.
Recommendations: There is a need to make a distinction in our current curriculum that defines how planetary
health differs from environmental health given that a significant amount of time is allocated to environmental hazards
rather than planetary health and climate change. The respiratory health and climate lecture greatly improved our
curriculum score as it briefly touched on other areas evaluated by the report
card. However, we do not feel that the content was sufficient enough to offer students an adequate understanding of
the corresponding topics. We would strongly encourage the expansion of such topics in the system-specific
modules.
C+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
An initiative spearheaded by medical students and faculty members of the College of Medicine (CoM) is currently
underway to host the inaugural USask healthcare trainee hub for the CASCADES Summer Institute on Sustainable
Health Systems.
Recommendations: The USask CoM may benefit from becoming a member of a planetary health organization and
developing a process by which disproportionately impacted communities can
contribute to its research agenda and future efforts.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The USask CoM has had limited engagement with community partners to create meaningful partnerships related to
planetary health.
Recommendations: Increase community partnerships related to planetary health, including ones that target a
public audience. Create a database of institutionally developed patient resources that encompasses geographically-
and population-specific education.
A
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
The CoM is eager to support student-driven curricular change, sustainability efforts and leadership opportunities.
The Division of Social Accountability within the CoM has also supported student efforts by hosting a student-led
planetary health webinar in early 2022
Recommendations: It is recommended that an accountability process be implemented so that student
efforts have a lasting impact.
2022-2023 Summary Report
Canada
C
Campus Sustainability
The USask has made strides towards improving campus sustainability, primarily
through the Office of Sustainability. Being a signatory of the Climate Charter for Canadian Universities and
initiating a study on decarbonization options are positive initial steps that require further follow through.
Recommendations: Though some of these categories are allocated to institutional related change, there are a set
of recommendations that the College of Medicine should consider. We recommend further engagement in
sustainability initiatives by the College of Medicine, such as advertising sustainable transportation
D
B-
D
D+
D
2022-2023 Summary Report
Germany
C-
D
Overall
45PHRC APRIL 2023
Universität zu Köln
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
Planetary Health Curriculum
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cologne specifically addresses the topic of Planetary Health (PH)
in a few subject areas, but it has not yet been integrated into all subjects in a structured way. Two voluntary
electives in which PH aspects were addressed were offered.
Recommendation: PH should be integrated longitudinally and in a structured way into the compulsory
curriculum. Here, solutions to climate protection and climate adaptation measures should be focussed on.
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
At the Faculty of Medicine, the Medical Student Council supports the student working group “Public Health”. There
are no explicit funding offers or project announcements concerning PH by the faculty.
Campus Sustainability
At the faculty there are several working groups dealing with sustainability on campus. However, the faculty does not
yet have specific sustainability goals and policies.
The Faculty of Medicine makes only a minor contribution to research in PH and is not a member of any
planetary health organization. There is the newly established Institute of General Medicine, which has a
research focus on "General Practice and Climate Change” and has integrated PH into teaching, research and
clinical practice.
Recommendations: PH-Research should be strengthened, encouraged and supported by the faculty. To this
end, financial incentives could be created and organizational assistance provided.
There is little community involvement. There is a steady exchange between the medical school and the city of
Cologne, but without a focus on PH.
Recommendations: Financial and organizational support by the Faculty of Medicine could encourage students to
become more involved in PH.
Recommendations: Mandatory policies and sustainability criteria should be adopted. Measures to educate and
implement waste prevention and separation and resource conservation should be implemented. Energy supply
should be increasingly sourced from renewable sources.
Recommendations: More community partnerships related to PH should emerge. To this end, the medical faculty
of the University of Cologne could become more involved in the continuation of the heat action plan of the city of
Cologne. Regular staff training on PH should be introduced.
Overall
46PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Crete - School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
Our Medical School does not include planetary health in its core curriculum in neither compulsory or
elective courses, with the exception of few brief optional covers in some courses.
Recommendations: Specific courses about planetary health should be integrated as well as supplement the
existing ones (especially the main aspects that cause disease, such as air pollution).
D-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Our institution, through the affiliated University Hospital, the interdisciplinary Research Center unit
(UCRC) and the Foundation for Research & Technology - Hellas (FORTH), do engage in various research
activities related to planetary health / sustainable healthcare, such as: relevant labs and studies (including
ongoing european-granted projects about climate change effects and microbiological hygiene of water and
food), and the hosting of several conferences and webinars in the context of global environmental-collaboration
networks. However, there is still lack of sufficient interdisciplinary-approach
applications, systematic engagement and externalisation.
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
University of Crete has little community outreach relating to planetary health and climate change. Little
effort is put in raising awareness about the health risks of climate change. They seem to support but not
sufficiently promote community organisations that address these issues, neither they share updates about the
current affairs of climate change.
D
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Greece
D
Campus Sustainability
Our institution has made good steps to increase sustainability of its campus but there’s still room for improvement.
Indicatively, there are plans and policies for SDGs, recycling and renewable energy usage, but they are not
sufficiently supervised. Also relevant research activities do take place about alternative energy sources, solar fuel
production, environmental remediation etc.
D
There doesn’t seem to be any formal pathway for encouraging students to express their interest or apply to
University’ environmental activities. Only students’ special interests and initiatives would lead them to seek for
such opportunities and maybe end up partaking, such as the student voluntary “Green Team” engaging in
environmental voluntary activities incl. the cleaning of the campus. Such actions are promoted through the
University’s monthly newsletter.
Recommendations: Deeper focus needs to be given in gradually conducting planetary-health and
sustainable-healthcare research as a seperate field by: analysing past progress and future prospects, creating
realistic plans, reinforcing interdisciplinary approach, projects and collaborations nationally and worldwide.
Recommendations: More effort needs to be put in systematic impact recording, information providing, and
the promotion of opportunities seeking for inclusive involvement among the students, the academic
community and the general public.
Recommendations: We recommend that the University put more effort in systematically encouraging and
promoting student-led initiatives, as well as taking their input into better consideration.
Recommendations: We recommend trying to update the campus’ buildings so
as to be more environmentally-friendly, and better monitor the application of relevant policies.
Overall
47PHRC APRIL 2023
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Curriculum
The Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh Medical School) includes planetary health only
briefly in the curriculum, mostly in the first and second years. Most of the time the coverage of planetary health as a
subject seems like more of an afterthought and not as the actual goal of the lectures. Only specific courses
reference planetary health and there is much to be desired and many steps to take towards integration in the
curriculum.
D
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
AUTh Medical School conducts research on a basic level and only a part of it is about topics around
planetary health. Also, the university doesn’t have a big role in organising conferences or symposiums
about planetary health.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
AUTh Medical School has little community outreach relating to planetary health, and it is mostly related to health
care professionals. Overall, community outreach is something our university generally lacks.
Recommendations: More community partnerships relating to planetary health, as well as more events
aimed towards the public on this subject.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Greece
D
Campus Sustainability
The AUTh Medical School has made some moves in recent years on campus sustainability. The steps are mostly
theoretical, and other than recycling, little has been done in practice.
Recommendations: There are still many practical changes to make on campus regarding sustainability, especially
to the older buildings that make up a lot of the faculties.
D
Recommendations: There should be core curriculum courses that are more specifically centred on planetary
health, parallel to the subject being interwoven in all aspects of the curriculum.
Recommendations: The goal of AUTh Medical School should be the more active participation in the
research of topics around planetary health in the near future.
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Medical School support student groups dedicated to
planetary health. There is the “Environmental Team of AUTh” whose actions are shaped around
environmental issues that primarily concern the university and secondarily the local community in which the
students study and live. In addition, the AUTh Vet School organises an electronic competition, that has actions to
promote sustainable mobility (supply of electric cars, electric bicycles and a charging station to cover the needs of
the AUTh), while the "Environmental Conference of Macedonia" is addressed to students and has topics about
planetary health.
Recommendations: Support for student-led initiatives mostly comes from the wider University rather than
the Medical School. We recommend the medical school offers increased support to students interested in
sustainable initiatives for example via creating a website that advertises mentors or opportunities for
students relating to PH or ESH and prioritises grants for related research.
Overall
48PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Patras
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
University of Patras does not include planetary health in the core curriculum. However, in the second year,
various aspects of planetary health are discussed in lectures of the subject Hygeine and also it is
sporadically brought up as a topic of discussion in other subjects.
Recommendations: There is a lack of teaching about introducing conversations about planetary health into
conversations with patients and general lack of information. Due to this situation, it could be beneficial if inthe lesson
Hygeine there is more information offered and important aspects of some topics covered in depth.
D+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The University of Patras only recently has begun hosting events regarding planetary health . However, they
are not directly aimed at medical students and there is a lack of post graduate programmas regarding
environmental health and managment in the field of medicine.
Recommendations: Patras Medical School could organise a conference directly related to Planetary Health.
They could also join the Planetary Health Alliance and the Global Consortium on Climate and Health
Education.
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
University of Patras Medical School has little to no community outreach relating to planetary health. There
are both lack of information and initiative.
Recommendations: more community partnerships relating to planetary health and education regarding
several aspects of the environment and its immediate effects to us.
D
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Greece
D
Campus Sustainability
Patras Medical school does not actively harm the environment with excessive pollution, however it does not
actively take any important action to protect it or become more sustainable.
Recommendations: There is much to improve with the campus sustainability. Due to the fact that students
spend a lot of time in labs, maybe sustainability during laboratory work could be the start of a more
environmental friendly UoP.
D
The University of Patras and the Medical School do not actively support student groups dedicated to
planetary health. Even though there are some inititives taken in the past there is a long way to go.
Recommendations: Support for student-led initiatives mostly comes from the wider University rather than the
Medical School. We recommend the medical school offers increased support to students interested in sustainable
initiatives for example via creating a website that advertises mentors or opportunities for students relating to PH or
ESH and prioritises grants for related research.
Overall
49PHRC APRIL 2023
Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and
Hospital
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
A-
Planetary Health Curriculum
SCBMCH has taken great efforts to integrate planetary health longitudinally into the curriculum. Across the
first three years, various aspects of planetary health are discussed in different lectures. However, there is no
discussion of planetary health or carbon footprint in the seminars or tutorials.
D+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Although SCBMCH has an ethics committee it does not have a dedicated department with a
comprehensive list of interdisciplinary research publicly available. There is no website that provides
information on ongoing and past research, nor are there conferences related to planetary health research.
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Campaigns and activities organised by our medical school do not actively involve the community. Hospitals
do not have any accessible educational materials for patients.
Recommendations:SCBMCH should form a planetary health committee with a student representative
dedicated to organising outreach activities in schools and other colleges to promote awareness and education
on the health impacts of climate change.
D
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
India
C-
Campus Sustainability
SCBMCH has made a good start towards becoming a more sustainable campus in terms of using
sustainable building materials as well as energy optimisation. Water management systems have
demonstrated a reduction of 28.9% according to the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment.
However, there is a long way to go in order to become a carbon-neutral campus.
Recommendations: SCBMCH campus should have a net zero carbon goal. To reduce the carbon footprint
and promote good health, active travel such as walking and the use of bicycles should be encouraged
amongst the students & faculty within the campus.
F+
Recommendations: A separate coursework or module discussing planetary health and different health
impacts of climate change would be helpful. The development of flashcards highlighting the locally
relevant health effects of climate change to encourage dialogue with patients is needed.
Recommendations: SCBMCH should form a committee dedicated to planetary health and sustainable
development research in collaboration with Utkal University’s Centre for Environment, Climate change &
Public Health. Setting up a website dedicated to planetary health updates and news would be useful.
SCBMCH supports student-driven activities but there have not been many initiatives related to planetary
health. The lack of a dedicated research group and no proper supervision/encouragement at the
undergraduate level in medical school makes it difficult to carry out QIPs or research related to planetary
health.
Recommendations: The medical school should support students interested in working in the field of
planetary health by providing a platform to network with faculty/other researchers having similar interests.
Overall
50PHRC APRIL 2023
Royal College of Surgeons
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
A
Planetary Health Curriculum
At RCSI, Planetary health (PH) connections exist throughout the medical curriculum. In the last few years, the
administration has made a concerted effort to increase the PH content. A new module on “Climate Change and
Sustainability in Global Public Health” is now in the core curriculum in the Pharmacy programme.
Recommendations: Specific aspects, such as the mental health and neuropsychological effects of
environmental degradation or the unequal regional health impacts, can be more extensively explored rather than
briefly mentioned in one or two lectures.
A
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
RCSI lacks a formal institute for interdisciplinary PH research that solely focuses on Planetary Health.
However, there is a considerable number of projects led by RCSI researchers dedicated to minimizing the
environmental impacts on human health. As of 2023, RCSI has formally joined a range of internationally
recognized environmental organizations, such as the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
Recommendations: The medical school should commit to recruitment of additional PH researchers, and
endeavor to establish at least one collective research group which is dedicated exclusively to better
understanding the intersection of PH and human health research.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
RCSI continues to perform the weakest in this area; however, RCSI’s collaborative works with other
universities in Ireland to develop planetary health / sustainability curriculum content are making substantial
progress every year.
Recommendations: Encouraging affiliated hospitals to provide accessible educational materials bout climate
change and health impacts would significantly bolster the university’s performance in this area.
A-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Ireland
A-
Campus Sustainability
RCSI has shown strong initiative in this area by developing a Sustainability Committee consisting of both
student and staff members, resulting in this year’s Best Green Campus Award in Educations Awards, following last
year’s Beacon status with the Centre for Sustainable Health care.
Recommendations: To develop a formal Sustainability office with salaried staff who would assist in oversight of the
implementation and progress of sustainability goals and practices.
A+
Overall, RCSI performed very well in this area. The administration consistently offers their time, funding, and
enthusiasm for student-led work in planetary health initiatives.
Recommendations: The administration could facilitate more planetary health-specific connections between
research mentors and students, and by developing a student fellowship program designated for PH. Students
would also benefit from more co-curricular planetary health programs, such as local volunteer opportunities, to gain
experience in sustainable practices while giving back to the community.
Overall
51PHRC APRIL 2023
Trinity College Dublin
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
TCD’s medical curriculum includes a module called ‘Global Health’ which covers aspects of sustainable
development. However, it does not fully cover the concepts of Planetary Health or Climate Change. The addition of
the ‘Sustainable Healthcare’ workshop this year was a major improvement, due to the platform for discussion among
students about the relationship between climate change and healthcare.
Recommendations: Further additions such as the aforementioned workshop are needed. We would like to see a
larger emphasis on climate change as a threat to global health and it being added longitudinally to the core
curriculum. We would like to see additional modules being added devoted to Planetary Health and the Environment.
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
TCD has several departments that receive funding for, and promote planetary health research among staff and
students, but these are outside the domain of the School of Medicine. Additionally, the Nature+ research group
tackled to focus on planetary health and sustainability has no members from the School of Medicine. TCD is a
member of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
Recommendations: Organisation of a planetary health focused conference would be of benefit. Membership to the
Planetary Health Alliance could be considered. Expansion of the Healthy Trinity Webpage to a full website including
planetary health news, events, and research contacts, perhaps through liaising with the Nature+ research group
would prove beneficial in further promoting interdisciplinary research.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
TCD Medical School and its affiliated hospitals have little community outreach relating to planetary health. The
University does have some links to planetary health organisations, but the medical school itself has no direct
role.
Recommendations: Patients of the affiliated hospitals and students of the medical school should be informed
about planetary health through educational materials, email updates, events, and academic learning
opportunities.Obvious opportunities for improvement include engagement with community gardens and other
such local organisations.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Ireland
C
Campus Sustainability
Trinity College Dublin has made consistent progress and efforts into becoming a more sustainable campus
and has tried to involve all staff and students to participate in such efforts, as well as making relative facilities
and services more accessible.
Recommendations: There is still much to improve with the campus sustainability. Goals and plans are
already in place at the Medical School, but have yet to be achieved. The college, and different schools within
the college have set goals and plans; but those specific to the medical school are far from enough, and lacking
of information.
C
TCD has an “Irish Doctors for the Environment” student working group. TCD has also launched various
sustainability-related initiatives, including the E3 “Balanced Solutions for a Better World”, and the Green
Campus Programme. TCD offers research grants for students, however the projects must be initiated by the
students themselves and are not necessarily related to sustainability.
Recommendations: Increased support is needed for TCD medical students seeking sustainability-related
research. We recommend the medical school launch a planetary health webpage, where students can learn
about ongoing projects and search for mentors. TCD should also create a student representative role related
to sustainability.
Overall
52PHRC APRIL 2023
University College Cork
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D+
Planetary Health Curriculum
University College Cork (UCC) includes planetary health in the curriculum, but it lacks both
comprehensive coverage of important topics and integration longitudinally throughout the years. Various
topics regarding planetary health are discussed in first and second year lectures, but are not included in the
curriculum in the later years.
Recommendations: More lectures and group discussions on these topics could be introduced through
clinical case-based teaching sessions or lectures throughout all years.
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UCC’s Environmental Institute is heavily involved in research regarding climate health, however there is no
direct association to the School of Medicine. UCC also hosted many events on topics related to planetary
health and sustainability in 2022.
Recommendations: The UCC School of Medicine could offer research opportunities or elective courses in
sustainable healthcare, planetary health, and the impacts of climate change on human health. They could
also join the Planetary Health Alliance and the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
UCC promotes planetary health and sustainable healthcare via the working student group under the Irish
Doctors for the Environment. University-affiliated hospitals have easy-access webpages for patients to
view. UCC also has various community-facing courses and events regarding planetary health including th
UCC Green Campus initiative podcast, as well as the Adult Continuing Education diploma titled
“Environment, Sustainability, Climate”.
Recommendations: Market environmental health webpages more to the patients, lectures regarding
planetary health and impact of climate change on human health integrated into the medical teaching
curriculum.
B
Support for Student-led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Ireland
C
Campus Sustainability
UCC as a whole, including the School of Medicine, successfully established the Green Campus program.
Many existing university buildings that facilitate School of Medicine activities have won awards for
sustainable energy and design.
Recommendations: Although there are environmentally friendly transportation options available to
medical students, these are not properly advertised, so students are unaware of them and their benefits.
Promotion on the Students Union and Medical Society social media pages will increase this awareness.
B
UCC and the Medical School support student groups dedicated to planetary health. UCC also had some
planetary health programs and initiatives through various societies, though they are not specifically targeted at
medical students.
Recommendations: The school could dedicate a webpage or other resources available to students to locate
planetary health or sustainable healthcare projects, activities and initiatives. Also, in addition to each class electing
two class representatives each year, at least one cohort representative should be
Overall
53PHRC APRIL 2023
University College Dublin
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
Planetary health (PH) exists throughout medical education. However, the level of detail remains sparse, and
inclusion of PH relies on individual lectures.
Recommendation: PH connections in the curriculum should be made more explicit, and more dedicated
time should be invested. The medical school should identify PH (including climate change) as a priority
theme and include that material in learning objectives and test questions, in addition to filling in content
gaps. We want to emphasise that UCD recently partook in the Climate and Health in Medical Education (CHIME)
workshop, aimed at improving PH teaching in Irish medical schools, with a particular focus on public health.
C-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UCD lacks an institute for interdisciplinary PH research, but the medical school may draw from existing
centres such as the Occupational and Environmental Health department, and that of individual faculty
members.
Recommendation: Student-led research within PH currently relies too heavily on student initiatives. Thus,
we would like to see a greater level of facilitation from the medical school to further enhance research
opportunities within PH.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
This is the medical school’s weakest metric. There is poor awareness of environmental advocacy
programming amongst the students and faculty and a clear lack of community engagement from the
institution, medical school, and hospital trusts.
Recommendation: We suggest that related material (e.g., clubs, events) gets communicated to the student body as
a means to encourage engagement and advocacy.
D
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Ireland
D
Campus Sustainability
UCD as an institution is showing commitment to improving its carbon footprint. However, we would like to
see a greater level of involvement from the medical school, as we believe the medical school should be at
the forefront of this movement, in terms of influencing the university, but also affiliated hospitals and other
healthcare settings.
Recommendation: A crucial starting point would be to assign one or more staff members to this
endeavour.
C-
The faculty and administration are supportive of student-led PH initiatives. However, we would like to see a greater
level of support for such initiatives, e.g., facilitating connections between research mentors and
students, and providing stipends for research projects.
Recommendation: We would like to see students actively being involved in the process of improving the
level of PH teaching and research opportunities, a UCD specific webpage for locating planetary health
and/or sustainable healthcare projects, and increased support of student-led QI initiatives.
Overall
54PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Galway
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
The school of medicine is currently undergoing a curriculum review to renew the medical school
curriculum. There is support for greater planetary health and sustainability focus, however the translation of
this support to tangible learning outcomes is still not there yet.There is some mention of topics related to planetary
health in the existing curriculum, however the school
should expand on these areas further and link them closer to the effects of climate change.
Recommendations: University of Galway has an amazing opportunity to become more planetary health
focused in their teaching through the ongoing curriculum review. The School of Medicine should take this
opportunity to develop planetary health learning outcomes across all years and disciplines.
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
University of Galway has excellent research clusters related to planetary health, such as the Centre for One
Health (COH). The school of medicine also has a summer research programme which allows students to
choose from a list of projects available. Unfortunately, few of the projects are related to planetary health.
Recommendations: The summer research programme should link up with the COH or related research
clusters to provide research projects related to planetary health, climate change, and sustainability.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
University of Galway has few community outreach initiatives and events relating to planetary health. These
include an annual conference hosted by The Centre for One Health, sustainability events hosted by
University Hospital Galway, and sustainability activities hosted by multiple student societies. However, the
School of Medicine is not involved in any of these initiatives or events.
Recommendations: The School of Medicine should partner with initiatives already present in the hospital
as well as the university community. The school could also arrange their own community-facing events on
the health effects of climate change, and develop easily accessible patient information on the topic.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Ireland
C
Campus Sustainability
University of Galway is making great progress to make the campus more sustainable. The School of
Medicine is aligned with this development through the university-wide Sustainability Strategy.
Recommendations: The School of Medicine is part of the university’s Sustainability Strategy, but there is
no accessible strategy for how the School of Medicine is working to meet these goals. We recommend
making a Sustainability Strategy specifically for the School of Medicine and collaborate with the hospital.
C+
There is one active medical student group affiliated with Irish Doctors for the Environment. Faculty and
administration have invited one of the students to participate in the Medical Curriculum Review Steering
Group to completely renew the medical curriculum. We hope to incorporate more planetary health topics
into the medical curriculum. Student research in the area of planetary health is possible, but remains
unfunded and largely based on student and individual lecturer initiative.
Recommendations: Although we greatly appreciate the support already received within the School of
Medicine, we recommend the school become active partners to student-led initiatives, by providing a
planetary health primary contact person in the School of Medicine with whom the students could liaise.
Overall
55PHRC APRIL 2023
Nagasaki University
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
Nagasaki University School of Medicine has many core curriculum subjects related to medicine. Although
there are subjects that explain the relationship between the environment and disease, there seem to be few
subjects that introduce them in depth. Also, like last year, we haven't had a chance to learn about the impact of
medical care on the environment.
Recommendations: At Nagasaki University, there is a TBL class in which students deepen their learning
through team discussions. Using this teaching method and treating the environment and illness as the theme will
increase the student's knowledge and understanding of the relationship between the environment and disease.
A-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
In Nagasaki University, the Planetary Health Promotion Division has been promoting initiatives such as
holding public lectures. With the establishment of Nagasaki University Interfaculty Initiative in Planetary
Health in October 2022, we expect more researchers to focus on planetary health.
Recommendations: It is necessary to enhance the website so that faculty members, students, and citizens
can easily access the research results and learn more about planetary health.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
At the Nagasaki University School of Medicine,, there is a series of lectures on local initiatives related to
planetary health. Not only students but citizens can also participate in this course. In addition, a Japanese
translation of "PLANETARY HEALTH" was released, making it easier for citizens to learn about planetary
health. However, like last year, the collaboration between local public health centres and medical
institutions is for conventional medical and nursing education purposes, not for planetary health education.
Recommendations: We think that efforts to promote global health in the community will increase and that
the existing cooperation with medical institutions and connections with remote islands will be improved by
including the purpose of planetary health education.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Japan
C
Campus Sustainability
We are working on the environment based on the country's basic policy and consideration for the
transportation environment. In addition, Nagasaki University's unique efforts, such as food and recycling,
which were not last year, have improved, such as providing vegetarian meals in the cafeteria.
Recommendations: Student participation is essential for these efforts. New student-centered efforts, such
as coordinating student cafeteria menus with co-ops and holding events where students present food waste,are
highly beneficial.
C-
Nagasaki University has an environment that supports the research of students interested in planetary health and
the activities of student groups, making it a great place to deepen your knowledge of planetary health. However, it
is rare for these to be made public to all students, and events that all students can participate in are not held, which
led to this evaluation.
Recommendations: We believe that all students will be able to learn about global health research and
student activities by introducing them in class and posting them on our website and SNS.
Overall
56PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Otago-Christchurch
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
D+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The UOC is engaged with planetary health interdisciplinary research on an institutional level, however there is little
local focus within the UOC itself.
Recommendations: A website which pools the planetary health research of the UOC and institution more broadly
would be a good way to engage students, staff, and the broader community in how planetary health is evolving.
Long-term hiring a member of staff within the UOC to perform such research would be ideal.
F-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
There appears to be minimal community action by the UOC.
Recommendations: It would be a good starting point for UOC to directly engage with community partners in order
to help promote local buy-in addressing the local health implications of climate change. Additionally, due to the small
size of the UOC, coordination with larger local institutions such as the University of Canterbury could be an effective
approach.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
New Zealand
C-
Campus Sustainability
The office of sustainability is engaged in designing sustainability standards for the campus, such as carbon
neutrality by 2030, and energy efficient/low waste buildings. Full divestment away from fossil fuels has been
implemented on an institutional level. Student options for sustainable transport, however, are limited.
Recommendations: Focusing on enabling sustainable transport options for students would be an achievable goal
to help improve the sustainability of the campus. This could be done through discounts for student bus transport and
partnerships with community organisations to help students acquire, and learn to do basic maintenance on, bikes.
B
The UOC provides good coverage of planetary health issues, and opportunities for students to engage in planetary
health projects, however coordinated student engagement (including at the institutional level) is lacking.
Recommendations: A centralised website for students to find planetary health projects would be beneficial for
helping students to easily connect with supervisors who are engaged in this research. Additionally, including
students within institutional bodies that are responsible for sustainability could help guide organisational processes
so that any initiatives are better utilised by students.
The University of Otago – Christchurch school of medicine (UOC) delivers most of its planetary health content in 4
sessions across 3rd and 4th year. While the breadth of teaching is thorough, the longitudinal integration of its delivery
could be improved. Given the lack of elective teaching intrinsic to the degree structure, all students are exposed to a
foundational level of planetary health teaching, however there is little scope for those with a particular interest in the
field to pursue further structured content.
Recommendations: Longitudinal integration of planetary health teaching would likely improve the preparedness of
graduates for the challenges they will experience in health due to climate change. Brief discussion of planetary health
topics could be added to existing modules without major restructuring (e.g. describing the effects of extreme heat on
cardiovascular disease in the general medicine modules).
Overall
57PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Otago-Dunedin
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The DSM is engaged with planetary health interdisciplinary research on an institutional level, however there is little
local focus within the DSM itself with much of the research being on a national level.
Recommendations: A website which pools the planetary health research of the DSM and institution more broadly
would be a good way to engage students, staff and the broader community in how planetary health is evolving.
Further engagement with community to steer the research agenda could also help the local applicability of such
research.
F-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
There appears to be minimal community action by the DSM.
Recommendations: The DSM directly engaging with community partners, as is done already in other areas of the
university, would a good start point to helping promote local buy in to addressing the local health implications of
climate change.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
New Zealand
C
Campus Sustainability
The office of sustainability is engaged in designing sustainability standards for the campus, such as carbon
neutrality by 2030, and energy efficient/low waste buildings. Full divestment away from fossil fuels has been
implemented on an institutional level. Student options for sustainable transport, however, are limited.
Recommendations: Focusing on enabling sustainable transport options for students would be an achievable goal
to help improve the sustainability of the campus. This could be done through discounts for student bus transport and
partnerships with community organisations to help student acquire and learn to do basic maintenance on bikes.
Additionally, school-wide recycling and compost would help reduce waste.
B
The DSM provides reasonable average of planetary health issues and opportunities for students to engage in
planetary health projects, however coordinated student engagement including at the institutional level is lacking.
Recommendations: A centralised website for students to find planetary health projects would be beneficial to
helping students easily connect with supervisors who are engaged in this research. Additionally, including students
within institutional bodies which are responsible for sustainability could help guide organisational processes so that
any initiatives are better utilised by students.
Planetary health is included within the University of Otago - Dunedin School of Medicine (DSM) curriculum, however
it is heavily dependent on 2 lectures in 3rd year by a single lecturer and 1 in first year, with little relevant teaching in
the clinical years (4th-6th). Given the lack of elective teaching intrinsic to the degree structure, all students are
exposed to a foundational level of planetary health teaching, however there is little scope for those with a particular
interest in the field to pursue further structured content.
Recommendations: Longitudinal integration of planetary health teaching would likely significantly improve the
preparedness of graduates for the challenges we will experience in health due to climate change. Brief discussion of
planetary health topics could be added to existing modules without requiring major restructuring e.g. describing the
effects of extreme heat on CVD in the general medicine modules.
Overall
58PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Otago-Wellington
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The UOW is engaged with planetary health interdisciplinary research on an institutional level, however there is little
local focus within the UOW itself with much of the research being on a national level.
Recommendations: A website which pools the planetary health research of the UOW and institution more broadly
would be a good way to engage students, staff and the broader community in how planetary health is evolving.
Further engagement with community to help steer the research agenda would also help the local applicability of such
research.
F-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
There appears to be minimal community action by the UOW.
Recommendations: The UOW directly engaging with community partners, as is done already by other areas of the
university, would a good start point to helping promote local buy in to addressing the local health implications of
climate change. Additionally, due to the small size of the UOW, coordination with larger local institutions such as
Victoria University of Wellington could be an effective approach.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
New Zealand
C
Campus Sustainability
The office of sustainability is engaged in designing sustainability standards for the campus, such as carbon
neutrality by 2030, and energy efficient/low waste buildings. Full divestment away from fossil fuels has been
implemented on an institutional level. Student options for sustainable transport, however, are limited.
Recommendations: Focusing on sustainable transport options for students would be an achievable goal to help
improve the sustainability of the campus. This could be done through further discounts for student bus transport and
partnerships with community organisations to help students acquire and learn to do
basic maintenance on bikes. Additionally, school-wide recycling and compost would help reduce waste.
C+
The UOW covers planetary health issues and provides opportunities for students to engage in planetary health
projects, however coordinated student engagement, including at the institutional level, is lacking.
Recommendations: A centralised website for students to find planetary health projects would be beneficial to
helping students easily connect with supervisors who are engaged in this research. Additionally, including students
within institutional bodies which are responsible for sustainability could help guide organisational processes so that
any initiatives are better utilised by students.
The University of Otago – Wellington school of medicine (UOW) has a thorough workshop in 4th year which covers
many elements of planetary health, with several other isolated episodes of planetary health teaching over the course.
Given the lack of elective teaching intrinsic to the degree structure, all students are exposed to a foundational level of
planetary health teaching, however there is little scope for those with a particular interest in the field to pursue further
structured content.
Recommendations: Longitudinal integration of planetary health teaching could significantly improve the
preparedness of graduates to deal with the impact climate change will have on health. Brief discussion of planetary
health topics could be added to existing modules without requiring major restructuring e.g. describing the effects of
extreme heat on cardiovascular disease in the general medicine modules.
Overall
59PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Cape Town
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UCT’s Khusela Ikamva (“Secure the Future”) Sustainable Campus project is developing a diverse
community of practice that is informed by leading research.
Recommendations:
Khusela Ikamva should include more FHS researchers.
The FHS should seek local and international partners in PH research.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
There is little awareness-raising and advocacy by the FHS to protect local communities’ health from
environmental and climate threats, and to promote more sustainable healthcare.
Recommendations:
Develop more active community partnerships that address environmental health threats. Produce educational
materials about how to mitigate climate-health impacts.
D-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
South Africa
C
Campus Sustainability
UCT’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy has a goal of a net zero carbon, water and waste-to-landfill campus by
2050 or sooner, led by a Director of Sustainability. Waste recycling is promoted; and sustainable water management
is practised, but without effective monitoring and evaluation. Renewable energy use is low and green building
standards are not prevalent. A pilot orientation course is being transformed into a ‘sustainability literacy’ course for
all faculties.
Recommendations:
Increase energy efficiency and solar power on new green building projects.
Increase staff training about promotion of waste recycling.
Implement and evaluate the pilot orientation course on sustainability.
C-
The FHS provides little support and no funding for PH and SH-related student projects.
Recommendations:
Offer opportunities for quality improvement (QI) and community-based sustainability projects.
Collaborate with student leaders for sustainability in curricula development and campus operations.
Planetary health (PH) and sustainable healthcare (SH) topics are included in the FHS medical (MBChB)
and health and rehabilitation sciences (HRS) programmes. Chronic curriculum overload; ‘siloed’ learning
and timetabling; and low consciousness among educators are key barriers to integration however.
There is growing awareness of the need for SH, despite insufficient leadership; few ‘best-practice’
examples; and the general priority given to cost-cutting over an ethic of sustainability.
Recommendations:
Adopt trans-disciplinary and inter-faculty approaches towards integration of PH and SH
Incorporate indigenous ecological knowledge and values into curriculum design and delivery
Integrate PH and SH into foundational year lectures and problem-based learning (PBL) cases
Teach clinical educators about SH for more sustainable practice in clinical teaching environments
Overall
60PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Basel
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The Sustainable Future Research Network at the University of Basel coordinates interdisciplinary research
in the field of sustainability. However, Planetary Health is not a designated research field yet. The Swiss
Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) conducts research in some fields of Planetary Health.
Recommendations: The MFac could facilitate interdisciplinary research projects on Planetary Health and
offer master/doctoral thesis on the topic. The MFac should continue hosting yearly events (e.g. conference
or symposium) related to Planetary Health, maybe in collaboration with other Swiss faculties.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The MFac is a member of the Planetary Health Alliance, its European Hub and the GCCHE, but is not part
of community partnerships. In 2022 the MFac organised an event open to the community and intends to
organise yearly events for a community audience.
Recommendations: The MFac could facilitate events related to Planetary Health together with local
organisations, students and teachers in order to involve the local community. Professional postgraduate
education activities could be promoted and educational material for patients could be developed.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Switzerland
C
Campus Sustainability
Sustainability is anchored in the University's Strategy 2022-2030 and Mission Statement. The Sustainability Office
coordinates numerous projects and is currently developing a climate-neutrality strategy. Both the MFac as well as
the University Hospital of Basel source about 70 % renewable energy.
Recommendations: A systematic review regarding the integration of sustainability criteria for procurement
and events is still pending and the MFac should engage in these efforts as well. Environmental-friendly
mobility could be facilitated and incentivised and measures for sustainable building practices need to be
applied.
C+
The student organisation Health for Future at the MFac dedicated to Planetary Health works with faculty
members on courses and events. The University offers a funding program to lecturers and students to
integrate sustainability topics into their courses.
Recommendations: The MFac could increase support to students interested in sustainable initiatives for
example by creating and updating content on Planetary Health on its website (current developments,
research opportunities, funding programs, mentors, etc.). The student representatives that serve on
decision-making committees of the MFac could represent Planetary Health topics more prominently.
The Medical Faculty (MFac) of the University of Basel developed a comprehensive longitudinal Planetary
Health curriculum and started implementing courses in autumn semester 2022. Correspondingly, several
topics are still missing. Three elective courses on Planetary Health are offered for master students.
Recommendations: Teaching about strategies for communication with patients about the effects of
environmental crises should be integrated in the core curriculum as well as components of sustainable
clinical practice. Apart from frontal lectures, seminar and group sessions/project work would be valuable.
Elective courses should be made available for bachelor students.
Overall
61PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Bern
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The University of Bern has a research group with the primary focus in PH being part of the institute of
social and Preventive Medicine and a subgroup of the dedicated institute called Oeschger Centre of Climate
Change Research of the University of Bern.
Recommendations: There is still a lack of integration of vulnerable communities to the research,
information of students and society by creating a Planetary Health website with ongoing and past research
and organising conferences or symposia.
F-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The University of Bern has no community outreach related to PH.
Recommendations: We recommend creating more communication material for the community and the
medical faculty to join PH organisations such as the Planetary Health Alliance.
C-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Switzerland
C-
Campus Sustainability
Considering the university hospital and the university facilities as the medical campus, the University of
Bern has made good progress to become a more sustainable campus, including fossil fuel divestments and
using fully renewable energy on site, to setting achievable goals for carbon neutrality in the future.
Recommendations: We recommend to continue efforts and try to also focus on making lab spaces more
sustainable and introducing sustainable guidelines for events and procurement and a public compost system.
B
There is one student group dedicated to this topic: Health for Future, where student leadership is the only
driving force.
Recommendations: We recommend that the medical school offers increased support to students interested in
sustainable initiatives for example via creating a website that advertises mentors or opportunities for students
relating to PH and prioritises grants for related research e.g. creating an annual sustainability award.
University of Bern does include Planetary Health (PH) in the curriculum. The topic is integrated in
several lectures in the first year, but it lacks integration longitudinally.
Recommendations: We recommend improvements in different parts of the curriculum. On the one hand, at
the level of lectures with a better longitudinal integration, in particular at Master level, addition of topics not
covered so far, and training of lecturers on how to integrate PH into their courses. On the other hand, other
forms of teachings (such as elective courses, clinical communication courses and problem based learning
classes) should be implemented. We see a coordinating position provided by the faculty, as it is already the
case in other universities in Switzerland, as the most important point to effect these changes.
Overall
62PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Fribourg
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
D
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The University of Fribourg hosted a few conferences on topics related to PH and the interdisciplinary
research happening is a good start but it lacks a specific group or department on PH, as part of the MFac.
Recommendations: The University could give incentive to professors to initiate research in PH, to offer
master/doctoral thesis. The MFac could also join the Planetary Health Alliance and the Global Consortium
on Climate and Health Education.
F-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The University of Fribourg has no community outreach or partnership concerning PH. The affiliated
hospital offers very few educational materials accessible for patients and almost no postgraduate training.
Recommendations: The University could initiate community outreach and education on the health impact
of the climate crisis by making the already existing conferences more visible or understandable for a less
educated audience. Community partnerships could be established by providing the public with accessible
and informative ressources. The hospital should integrate postgraduate education on PH.
C-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Switzerland
D+
Campus Sustainability
The MFac has made good progress in becoming a more sustainable campus in collaboration with the whole
university, to raise awareness of these issues, including initiatives that are accessible to students.
Recommendations: There is still much room for improvement in terms of campus sustainability. Targets
and plans are already in place at the MFac, particularly in the area of procurement and construction, but we
also recommend focusing on laboratory space and improving sustainable guidelines for events and
purchasing. In the area of recycling, it would make sense to install a glass recycling programme.
C
The University of Fribourg offers general support to student-led initiatives and associations, with funds
easily granted for projects. There is no student-led initiative in PH in the MFac.
Recommendations: We recommend that the MFac offers increased support to students interested in
sustainable initiatives (e.g. adding a website that advertises mentors or opportunities for students relating to
PH or ESH) and prioritizes grants for related research. A contact person for students could be appointed for
the PH question. The students could also create a local group of the association Health for Future.
The Medical Faculty (MFac) of the University of Fribourg includes some global health concepts in its
curriculum, but lacks longitudinal integration. There are only a few classes specifically dedicated to
Planetary Health (PH), and only at the Master's level. There is a group working on a longitudinal course on
this subject, but the process is slow.
Recommendations: The MFac could address more topics concerning regional environmental threats
caused by humans; these local topics could make the concept more tangible for students and illustrate their
importance in the clinic. Their introduction in the bachelor level could initiate an early reflection. PH could
be taught from the theoretical basics (e.g. planetary boundaries) to possibilities for transformative actions,
or included in already existing lectures (cardiology, pneumology,...). The clinical aspect could be enhanced
by introducing usual questions to ask to our patients to look for specific pathologies.
Overall
63PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Geneva
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
C+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The Institute of Global Health carries out a lot of research and specialised teaching on subjects related to
PH. However, this knowledge is not easily accessible to medical students because of the distance
separating the two campuses.
Recommendations: The links between the Medical Faculty and the Institute of Global Health could be
strengthened to allow for the diffusion of knowledge.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
MFac has organised several conferences on PH in 2022, which is a step forward. More progress needs to be made
to share the knowledge more widely with the community.
Recommendations: Communication materials for the community could be developed. Geneva Medical
School could also join PH organisations such as the Planetary Health Alliance.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Switzerland
C
Campus Sustainability
University of Geneva makes an effort to have a more sustainable campus. However, aiming at carbon
neutrality by 2050 is insufficient by itself, while having no public and transparent plan of action can only
undermine trust on what will really be done. Overall, the university’s environmental transition is largely
insufficient in both its goal and its pathway.
Recommendations: We recommend that the call for tender for the campus cafeterias be conditional on a
much more extensive vegetarian and vegan offering than is currently available. We also call for more
transparency from the university on its greenhouse gas emissions and the development, in collaboration
with the student community, of a concrete plan to break the dependence on fossil fuels. In this sense, the
action of the SDG Council could be strengthened.
D+
MFac supports student groups dedicated to PH, like Health for Future Switzerland. Student leadership is
however still needed for PH projects to be implemented.
Recommendations: We recommend that the Medical School creates a page "Health and Environment" on its
website which would explain its commitment to this topic and bring together the teaching and research in progress
at UNIGE to allow cross-faculty dissemination. An annual grant could also be
The Medical Faculty of Geneva (MFac) is providing the basis for a Planetary Health (PH) curriculum,
particularly through the implementation by the dedicated working group since 2021. Some topics are still to
be integrated, like the clinical management of different environmental diseases and concrete examples to
reduce its environmental impact in practice.
Recommendations: We recommend to continue the longitudinal integration of new learning objectives and
courses, in particular at Master level. Other forms of teaching could also be implemented in the future like
workshops or group work. In order to facilitate the coordination of the working group, a position provided
by the faculty would be of great help. We also advise to increase coordination with other faculties to provide
students with sustainability education that meets the challenges.
Overall
64PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Lausanne
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The MFac has held a few conferences/symposiums on planetary health, mainly directed towards health
professionals and researchers. Research is being conducted on PH.
Recommendations: More funding could go into PH research, notably by creating a dedicated department or
institute. Further PH research opportunities could be offered by tutors to medical students at the master and doctoral
level, ranging from public health to clinical research. We encourage the development of panels and speaker series,by
expanding the intended audience to medical students and the wider university community.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The University of Lausanne has little community outreach relating to PH. The CHUV does not have accessible
educational material for patients on environment and health.
Recommendations: Community partnerships with social, cultural, and sports organizations could be developed to
address planetary health, providing the public with accessible and informative resources in the form of pamphlets,
courses, and workshops (e.g., cooking skills, exercise plan, lifestyle choices, etc.). Community-level immersion
programs for medical students could be developed.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Switzerland
C
Campus Sustainability
The University of Lausanne as a whole has made substantial progress in sustainability and in communicating its
goals towards carbon neutrality. Still, improvements are to be made by the MFac in itself (which is mostly spread
throughout multiple sites that are separate from the main university campus), specifically in identifying its own
carbon emissions contributions and how to reduce them.
Recommendations: Research should focus on how to make lab spaces more sustainable and on transport options
students/staff use to access classes as well as their internships in remote areas/peripheral hospitals. Sustainability
guidelines should be drawn up for supply procurement and events hosted at the medical school.
B
The platform for health and sustainability collaborates with Health for future Lausanne, a student-led association
dedicated to health and sustainability which receives funding from the Lausanne medical students’ association.
Recommendations: The school could create a formal student liaison position representing sustainability
interests,serving on the medical school’s decision-making council.
The Medical Faculty (MFac) of University of Lausanne’s core and optional curriculum introduces planetary health
(PH) concepts. However, there is a limited amount of time devoted to the topic, with the same few lectures repeatedly
cited throughout the report card and brief mentions in other core curriculum lectures. PH is best explored in one
dedicated elective course available for 3rd year students.The faculty intends to make major improvements to the
curriculum with efforts undertaken by the platform for health and sustainability launched in 2022.
Recommendations: Lectures and small group sessions should be introduced longitudinally to cover the following
topics: strategies on how to have conversations with patients about climate change and health, how one’s clinical
practice will have to be adapted (in specialties and general medicine) and the components of sustainable clinical
practice. Further recommendations on insufficiently incorporated topics are included in question 21. The 3rd year
elective course could be made available to other year groups and other health care students (to foster
interprofessional exchanges on PH) or adapted into a one week summer/winter school.
Overall
65PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Zurich
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
D+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The UZH launched in 2022 the Institute for One Health Research (IOHR), that focuses on zoonoses, drug
resistance and integrated approaches to metabolic disease research in humans and animals. However,
there is no research on other PH aspects, such as the impact of climate change and ecological destruction (e.g. loss
of biodiversity) on human health.
Recommendations: The MeF could launch interdisciplinary research projects on planetary health, offer
master/doctoral thesis on the topic and join the Planetary Health Alliance.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Both UZH and MeF have little community outreach relating to PH. The University Hospital Zurich (USZ)
doesn’t provide any information material for patients.
Recommendations: The MeF could contribute to educating the public around the health impacts of the
climate crisis through the UZH’s communication channels. They could organise a conference directly
related to PH. More community partnerships relating to PH could be established.
D-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
Switzerland
D
Campus Sustainability
The MeF has not developed a strategy for achieving carbon neutrality until 2030. There are no guidelines
for sustainable healthcare or sustainable research at the MeF. The UZH has made progress towards
becoming a more sustainable campus, such as increasing the portion of renewable energy on site.
Recommendations: The MeF could create a sustainability commission with the aim of developing a
strategy for climate neutrality of the faculty, including affiliated research (lab spaces etc.), in accordance
with the UZH's goal by 2030. The MeF could advocate for sustainable healthcare towards its teaching
hospitals and for healthy and sustainable diets in the cafeterias and catering of both UZH and USZ.
C
There is one student group (Health For Future Zurich) dedicated to the topic who work with faculty
members and the students’ council. The UZH supports student groups dedicated to sustainability, however there is
no financial support from the MeF for planetary health initiatives.
Recommendations: The MeF could define an official contact person for PH education in the faculty with
sufficient capacity to closely collaborate with students and faculty members on the topic. The MeF could
create a webpage on the MeF-page dedicated to PH, highlighting possible mentors, grants and opportunities for
related research for students.
The University of Zurich (UZH) Medical School (MeF) partially covers aspects of Planetary Health (PH) in
the curriculum in a stand-alone lecture in the third year during the thematic block (TB) Public and Global
Health. However, it lacks the horizontal and longitudinal integration in the curriculum.
Recommendations: PH could be taught from the theoretical basics (planetary boundaries, health
co-benefits etc.) to possibilities for transformative actions in the core curriculum (longitudinal integration).
It could be linked to existing learning content across TBs (horizontal integration). Apart from frontal
lectures, seminar and group sessions/project work would be valuable. Introducing conversations about PH
into conversations with patients could be introduced in clinical skills in 3rd-5th year. Interactive elective
courses should be made available. The MeF could join existing initiatives such as the Planetary Health
Academy and the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
Overall
66PHRC APRIL 2023
Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
A-
Planetary Health Curriculum
B-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The medical school has the Wolfson Institute of Population Health that has faculty members whose research
focuses on planetary health. The medical school has partook and hosted many conferences about planetary
health and has big plans for future events.
Recommendations: The medical school should create a website that is focussed on planetary health and
show updated ongoing research that is being completed by the university and around the world. The
medical school should aim to join the Planetary Health Alliance
B
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The medical school partners with community organisations to promote planetary and environmental health,
conducting research and drawing attention to the health impacts of climate change for those in the local
area. Hospitals within the Barts trust have made important steps towards having opportunities for education
on sustainable healthcare and planetary health available for employees.
Recommendations: More opportunities should be made available for students to be directly involved in
working with communities for planetary health initiatives. The medical school and its affiliated hospitals
should ensure accessible materials on climate change and health impacts are in place for patients.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
B
Campus Sustainability
QMUL has placed goals to achieve a more sustainable campus, with initiatives to encourage plant based
food choices, as well as sustainable forms of transport. There is little specific to the medical school.
Recommendations: Work towards divestment in fossil fuels and creating an achievable net zero goal. It is
necessary for BL to have its own Sustainability representative to coordinate with the wider University.
C
Sustain@BL is the primary student-led initiative at Barts and the London. It receives good support and can
liaise with faculty members in order to promote events as desired. However, it has not been a very active
society this year, running only two main events so far.Various activities were run during Sustainability Week,
including a Decarbonise the NHS talk on BL campus.BL students are also invited to join Queen Mary
sustainability society events on the Mile End campus.There are very limited research and project opportunities
for students in the medical school to get involved in planetary health and sustainable healthcare.While there is
a sustainability board, the BL sustainability representative position remains vacant.
Recommendations: Increased programs to empower students to engage in projects related to sustainability.
More support, funding and encouragement for sustainability in healthcare focussed events.
The medical school embeds planetary health into the curriculum well in both core and elective modules.
This year there has been greater focus on climate change and healthcare sustainability in year three.
Recommendations: The curriculum would benefit from more teaching on planetary health, healthcare
sustainability and climate change in first and second year. This could be achieved by integrating this into
lectures, or by introducing public/global health modules similar to those running in third and fourth year.
Overall
67PHRC APRIL 2023
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
A-
Planetary Health Curriculum
A+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
BSMS continues to score excellently for research. This is primarily thanks to its sustainable healthcare
group, annual conference and dedicated webpage. BSMS has a dedicated Sustainable Healthcare Group and
the group’s academic contacts and research activities are centralised in a comprehensive webpage. BSMS
also co-hosts the Sustainable Healthcare Academic Research and Enterprise (SHARE) Conference annually.
Recommendations: The medical school should establish further links with environmental justice
communities who can provide input in the medical school’s research agenda.
B-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
There has been some recent improvement in community outreach at BSMS. Specifically, regarding
widening participation and the affiliated hospital trust “Environment week”.
Recommendations: BSMS should carry this momentum forwards to foster partnerships with community
organisations, and advocate for creation of educational resources for patients regarding environmental
health exposure and the health impacts of the climate crisis.
A
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
B+
Campus Sustainability
The University of Sussex and the University of Brighton, BSMS’s parent institutions, have both made good
progress to improve their campus sustainability, including fossil fuel divestment, utilising sustainable
building practices, and incorporating sustainability criteria into their supply procurement. However, such
changes are still greatly limited.
Recommendations: Both universities need to take further steps to improve their campus sustainability. As a first
step, we recommend that sustainability criteria be formed and made a requirement for all events.
Establishing a clear programme and/or initiative in lab sustainability would also improve this criteria for
BSMS.
B-
Overall, there is good support for student-led initiatives at BSMS and the wider institution. Student
Sustainability Representatives are present to ensure sustainability can be incorporated into various aspects of the
course.
Recommendations: BSMS offer increased support to students, for example by establishing dedicated
funding for relevant student-led research.
Throughout the curriculum, Planetary health and sustainable healthcare is covered in varying degrees of
detail. Core content in years 1 and 4 is notable for its breadth and depth of coverage, with multiple sessions
in these years that are dedicated to learning about planetary health, climate change and its intersection with
healthcare.
Recommendations: It should be noted that the bulk of the points scored can be attributed to a small number of core
sessions. Our recommendation, like last year's report, would be to focus on incorporation of
planetary health more longitudinally. The obvious targets for this would be years 3 and 5 where there is a
relative lack of planetary health content.
Overall
68PHRC APRIL 2023
Imperial College London
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Imperial College London has dedicated researchers, affiliations with The Grantham Institute, and online
resources for Planetary Health.
Recommendation: To enhance interdisciplinary research, Imperial College London should consider joining
the Planetary Health Alliance or the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education. Additionally, the
College could host a conference to bring together experts and researchers from various fields to discuss
Planetary Health.
B-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Imperial College School of Medicine prioritises education on Planetary Health within its iBSc course, hosts
a sustainability week for all students and staff, and offers lectures on Planetary Health for post-graduate
students. The Imperial College Healthcare Trust provides online resources on the relationship between air
pollution and poor health outcomes.
Recommendation: To increase community outreach and advocacy, it is recommended that Imperial
College London should make more resources available online through the Imperial College Healthcare
Trust. These resources should educate patients on the link between climate change and health effects,
helping to raise awareness about Planetary Health and encouraging individuals to take action to reduce their impact
on the environment.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C+
Campus Sustainability
Imperial College School of Medicine, along with the wider College, has made excellent progress in
becoming a more sustainable campus. This includes the introduction of multiple sustainability campaigns,
reducing the use of fossil fuels, and employing staff dedicated to sustainability. The College has shown a
particular commitment to food and catering sustainability.
Recommendation: While there is some room for improvement in campus sustainability, it may be
challenging given the quantity of energy-exhaustive research that takes place in the medical school.
Imperial College London has campaigns in place to encourage environmentally friendly travel, but further
emphasis is recommended.
B-
Imperial College London provides numerous opportunities for students to pitch ideas and receive funding
for their environmental projects. This includes, but is not limited to, The Enterprise Labs, The Venture
Catalyst Challenge and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme.
Recommendations: The need for a centralised web page where medical students can find mentors, current
events and advice on how to get started with research into this field.
TImperial College London offers some planetary health teaching in elective courses, such as the Global
Health iBsc, and the new Lifestyle Medicine and Prevention module for early years.
Recommendation: Imperial College London should increase the amount of planetary health teaching
within the core curriculum and implement it longitudinally throughout the program to ensure students have
a comprehensive understanding of planetary health and its importance.
Overall
69PHRC APRIL 2023
Keele University
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
A
Planetary Health Curriculum
A-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Keele University as a whole has a strong research focus on sustainability and factors that affect planetary
health. From sustainable energy to food security, the sustainability research at Keele is very varied. Also,
the medical school has several members of staff undergoing sustainable research within prescribing in
primary care.
Recommendations: The research undertaken at Keele should have a process by which communities
disproportionately impacted by climate change and environmental injustice give input or make decisions
about the research agenda.
A
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Keele Medical School has meaningful links with several community organisations that form community
placements for students. Keele is involved with many different community organisations aimed at
promoting sustainability and planetary health to our local community. There are also Student Union events
such as Green Festival focusing on the university community. Since the last report card, the hospital trusts
have developed resources on patient exposures.
Recommendations: A community facing event regarding planetary health run by the medical school would be a
great addition to the medical school’s research focused events. Whilst community facing events
regarding sustainability and planetary health are run by the university, the medical school is not involved in
the planning or running of these.
A-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
A
Campus Sustainability
At Keele University, sustainability is very important and this is evident throughout the current projects and
initiatives on our main university campus. It is hard to suggest improvements, with a clear carbon neutral
goal and entirely renewable energy. Transport has been considered, with medical placements accessible by public
transport.
Recommendations: Whilst there are Green Event Guidelines, these could be enforced for student led
events.
A+
Funding is available for student projects throughout Keele University, which medical students are eligible to apply.
Since the 2020/21 report, the medical school has developed a sustainability focused webpage.
Recommendations: A student-led planetary health group should be formed. This is being set up for
2023/24.
The Keele Curriculum has strong integration of the effects of pollution, extreme weather and the effect on
the pattern of infectious disease, as well as health inequalities, with these sessions being delivered in a
variety of ways. The importance of planetary health is revisited every year allowing students to build on
their learning and to introduce them to new planetary health concepts.
Recommendations: There is a lack of teaching about introducing conversations about planetary health into
conversations with patients. This could be introduced in clinical skills, or early years GP teaching. There is
also no discussion of the impact of surgery on the environment.
Overall
70PHRC APRIL 2023
Lancaster University Medical School
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Strengths: Individual faculty members at the medical school conduct research related to planetary health or
healthcare sustainability. There is also an occupational and environmental health department; Lancaster
EnvironmentCentre (LEC).
Recommendation:
Initiate collaboration between LEC and the medical school to focus on interdisciplinary planetary health
research. Work with the university and the local community to generate interest and communication around
research.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Strengths: The year 2 project teaches school students in the community about healthy eating and promotes low-
carbon and plant-based diets.
Recommendations:
Initiate partnerships with community organisations in Lancaster to promote planetary and environmental
health.Set up regular communications with students around planetary and sustainable healthcare
Encourage and collaborate with associated hospitals to create educational materials for patients around
climate change, environmental exposures, and health.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C
Campus Sustainability
Strengths: Lancaster University continues to demonstrate a positive commitment to sustainability, with
extensive information on their plans available on their website. They have declared a climate emergency
and have taken steps to increase the contribution of renewable energy to their energy mix.
Recommendations: Our recommendations for the University remain the same from our 2021 Report.
C
Strengths: SSMs offer research opportunities into planetary health for students. The University continues to
promote climate awareness through student-led initiatives.
Recommendations:
Involve students more in decision-making around sustainability best practicesCreate a medical school-specific
webpage for planetary health and sustainable healthcare projects.
Begin encouraging and supporting student-led sustainability Quality Improvement (QI) projects.
Strengths: Planetary health is well integrated longitudinally into the curriculum through workshops and
lectures. Elective courses in the form of Study Skills Modules (SSMs) encourage students to engage with
the topic.
Recommendations:
Develop existing workshops to discuss areas of planetary health missing from the curriculum (see below for details)
Initiate a programme to offer incentives for faculty/department to develop new planetary health/Education for
Sustainable Healthcare (ESH) courses and incorporate planetary health/ESH into existing courses.
Overall
71PHRC APRIL 2023
Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
C-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
NUMed has a dedicated team focused on planetary health and sustainable healthcare who are involved in
organising events regarding planetary health. Research opportunities are also made available to the
students, however, these opportunities are largely dependent on the students’ individual initiatives.
Recommendations: It will be highly beneficial for NUMed to dedicate grants and specified support and/or
facilities for researches in planetary health on campus. Such support should be promoted to the students at
the beginning, or earlier, of the academic year, to increase participation.
C-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
NUMed has a dedicated team focused on planetary health and sustainable healthcare who are involved in
organising events regarding planetary health. Research opportunities are also made available to the
students,however, these opportunities are largely dependent on the students’ individual initiatives.
Recommendations: It will be highly beneficial for NUMed to dedicate grants and specified support and/or cilities for
researches in planetary health on campus. Such support should be promoted to the students at the beginning, or
earlier, of the academic year, to increase participation.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C
Campus Sustainability
NUMed has made progress in becoming a more sustainable campus. A student-staff team called the
Environment and Sustainability Campus Committee (ESCC) has been set up to advocate for sustainable
policies and implement green practices. They’ve made good progress by opening an Eco Lounge,
organising waste recycling workshops, and by implementing campaigns to reduce single-use packaging
waste.
Recommendations: We recommend sourcing a part of our campus’ energy from renewable energy sources. It is
best to establish a plan for a stated goal in reducing the institution’s CO2 emissions, and to have a designated staff
member whose primary role is to oversee future sustainability interventions.
D
NUMed supports student groups dedicated towards planetary health, namely through encouraging student
participation in research, supporting events dedicated towards planetary health, or through funding the Planetary
Health Society. The students in the Planetary Health Society also work closely with faculty mentors to raise
awareness on the topic within the university.
Recommendations: Encouragement and support from NUMed in annual co-curricular activities where
students can gain experience towards sustainable agriculture, wilderness or outdoor programs, local
volunteer opportunities to build community resilience to the effects of climate change, and many more, will
greatly increase its reach and impact in the university community, while also ensuring the continuity of such
experiences in the future.
NUMed does include planetary health in the curriculum, but it lacks integration longitudinally. In second
and fifth year, various aspects of planetary health are discussed in lectures and in seminar work (ILAs).
Recommendations: There is a lack of teaching about introducing the effects of anthropogenic toxins on
human health. This could be explored in lectures and seminars.
Overall
72PHRC APRIL 2023
Newcastle University
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Newcastle University has both dedicated faculty members who have their primary research focus in
planetary health, and a dedicated department for interdisciplinary research aiming to increase sustainability,
One Planet.
Recommendations: One Planet could potentially be better utilised by the medical school in terms of
sustainable healthcare. Newcastle Medical School could also consider organising a conference directly
related to this, or set up a specific newsletter or dedicated webpage for planetary health news.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Newcastle University has numerous links to community outreach projects through the Students Union,
including many environmental projects, although the medical school is not involved in these and there are
none that directly relate to health.
Recommendations: Members of the medical school could utilise these links with community outreach
projects to focus on developing community outreach projects relating to planetary health.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
B-
Campus Sustainability
Newcastle University has ambitious sustainability plans, with a dedicated Office of Sustainability, with a
plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Recommendations: There potentially need to be clearer plans for the Medical School specifically in terms
of focusing on lab sustainability and the energy efficiency of the building itself. The institution could also
introduce sustainable guidelines for events hosted across the university.
B
Newcastle University has various opportunities for medical students to do research related to planetary
health, and a compulsory sustainability QI project for final years. There are also various student-led
societies relating to planetary health and sustainability, such as Students for Global Health, which have
faculty support.
Recommendations: The medical school could develop a specific webpage or newsletter for PH to make
this information more easily accessible and easier to locate.
Newcastle University has a considerable amount of coverage and integration of planetary health concepts
throughout bothe the core and elective curriculum. A substantial amount of teaching is dedicated to
planetary health and integrated throughout all years via a spiral curriculum.
Recommendations: The inclusion of specific planetary health topics, such as over-prescribing as a cause of climate
health harm, to be included by expanding on existing teaching.
Overall
73PHRC APRIL 2023
Oxford University Medical School
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
There remains a disconnect between Planetary Health (PH) researchers and the student body. Students
are often unaware that PH research options are available (eg. for Final Honour Schools projects).
Recommendations: We recommend that the medical school creates a centralised website for PH to help
link students to PH researchers within the division and advertise funding opportunities. We also
recommend the medical school joins the Planetary Health Alliance to encourage interorganisational research.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
There has been interest from several local community groups in joining teaching sessions for the medical
school. In addition, individual doctors and medical professionals within the trust are working to deliver
post-graduate teaching on planetary health topics.
Recommendations: We recommend that community groups, including local environmental groups, are
invited to help deliver a workshop on how charities and community organisations can promote public
health. This could be integrated into the Community Medicine rotation or Patient-Doctor course.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
B-
Campus Sustainability
In November 2021 the Medical Sciences Division officially declared that climate change is a health
emergency. However, it has yet been made clear what concrete actions will be taken in light of the
announcement. At the institution level a divestment from fossil fuel commitment has been made and they
are currently running a member consultation aiming for biodiversity net gain and net zero carbon by 2035,
to improve on their current target of a 50% reduction by 2030.
Recommendations: We recommend that the medical school requires all events to abide by sustainability
criteria, and would like to encourage the medical school to actively promote and take part in sustainability
initiatives adopted by the central University of Oxford.
B
There has been little improvement in this section from last year. Opportunities could include teaching on or funding
support for Sustainability QI projects.
Recommendations: As for Interdisciplinary Research, we recommend the creation of a centralised
webpage for planetary health within Oxford University Medical School.
The curriculum score has continued to increase from last year, reflecting further integration of planetary
health themes throughout the preclinical and clinical courses. Thanks to persistent effort from students and
preclinical lecturers, the standard-entry medicine (SEM) score has been brought in line with the
graduate-entry (GEM) score this year. We would like to particularly thank the ESH lead Dr SanYuMay Tun
for her work in this area, with her new sessions on Planetary Health boosting this score area.
Recommendations: We recommend that the Primary Care department, which has inherited lots of the
teaching time from the Public Health course in 5th year, ensures that ESH is well-integrated to prevent a
drop in score next year. The psychiatry course in 5th year should also work to address the mental health
effects of climate change in their teaching.
Overall
74PHRC APRIL 2023
Peninsula Medical School
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
A
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Within Peninsula Medical School, the Sustainable Earth Institute and Global Health Collaborative run many
projects relating to planetary health. The medical school is a member of the Global Consortium on Climate
and Health Education but not of the Planetary Health Alliance.
Recommendations: Peninsula Medical School could organise a conference directly related to Planetary
Health. They could also join the Planetary Health Alliance.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Peninsula Medical School’s student newsletter sometimes contains planetary health and sustainable
healthcare topics, and the University of Plymouth’s internal communications often includes these topics too.
Recommendations: Peninsula Medical School could offer community-facing courses or events relating to
planetary health, and more community partnerships relating to planetary health in student selected units.
They could also collaborate with affiliated hospitals to provide post-graduate teaching on planetary health
and educational materials for patients.
A-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
B
Campus Sustainability
Peninsula Medical School recognises sustainability as a key principle in decisions about procurement of
supplies and campus food and beverage selections, with investment in making lab spaces more resource
conserving. They also aim for further improvement with an approved plan for carbon neutrality by 2030 and
steps are being taken to implement a sustainable investment platform for organisation of medical school
events.
Recommendations: Improvements can be made by moving completely away from investing in fossil fuel
companies and guaranteeing onward investments into renewable energy companies and campus initiatives.
Peninsula Medical School could also set guidelines and policies for events hosted by the medical school to adhere
to sustainability criteria.
A-
There has been little improvement in this section from last year. Opportunities could include teaching on or funding
support for Sustainability QI projects.
Recommendations: As for Interdisciplinary Research, we recommend the creation of a centralised
webpage for planetary health within Oxford University Medical School.
Peninsula Medical School’s curriculum covers many metrics in depth in the core curriculum. However,
some topics are covered in one session across the course or not at all e.g., reproductive health effects of
environmental toxins, importance of Indigenous knowledge, and benefits of a plant-based diet.
Recommendations: Peninsula Medical School has a spiral curriculum and therefore we recommend that
these topics are incorporated into existing sessions across all year groups
Overall
75PHRC APRIL 2023
Queen’s University Belfast
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B+
Planetary Health Curriculum
B+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Queen’s University Belfast has a large number of researchers engaged with research into planetary health
research and healthcare sustainability, some through SECA. The university has also hosted a number of
planetary health events in the last year.
Recommendations: The university should continue to support faculty members who have a primary
research focus on planetary health, and should try to involve members of the community when making
decisions on research agendas.
B
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Queen’s University Belfast has improved their score in this metric from last year, and continues to partner
with community organisations to provide planetary health-related events.
Recommendations: The medical school would benefit from ongoing integration with community
organisations and working with local hospital trusts to provide more information for patients on
environmental health exposures and the effects of climate change on health.
A
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
B+
Campus Sustainability
Queen’s University Belfast has prioritised sustainability through building practices, transportation options,
recycling, food and beverage selections, procurement and lab spaces.
Recommendations: The university is still lacking in terms of its commitment to carbon reduction and
neutrality, renewable energy and divestment from fossil fuels. We hope that the new Net Zero strategy will
tackle these issues and improve transparency and publicly-available information.
C+
Queen’s University Belfast offers a large array of opportunities for student-led initiatives in planetary health and
environmentalism, and provides a great deal of support for students wishing to get involved.
Recommendations: The medical school is slowly directing more resources towards support for student-led
initiatives, and we encourage them to update their website to include information on planetary health
initiatives and prioritise grants for planetary health-related research.
Queen’s University Belfast focuses on planetary health content in its new C25 curriculum, integrating
longitudinally into core lectures, tutorials and case-based discussion.
Recommendations: Continue to integrate planetary health and climate change into the core C25 curriculum through
lectures, tutorials and cases. Content could be covered in greater depth in lectures and we zecommend that the
university ensures that projects such as the mandatory SusQI SSC and Carbon Literacy programme are brought to
fruition.
Overall
76PHRC APRIL 2023
St George’s, University of London
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
D-
Interdisciplinary Research
There are faculty members at St George’s with a primary or secondary focus on planetary health. Research
focused primarily on outdoor air and noise pollution in London, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa
Recommendations: Join an international planetary health organisation such as the Planetary Health
Alliance and/or the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education. Turn the ‘Environment and
Sustainability’ webpage into a central hub for highlighting planetary health research at SGUL.
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
St George’s University of London is trying to reduce their own impact on the environment as an institution
and focusing on in-curriculum before expanding their efforts out into the community.
Recommendations: Introduce a dedicated section of the student/staff newsletter to planetary health issues.
C-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C-
Campus Sustainability
St George’s Medical School has maintained an admirable effort towards campus sustainability, especially in the
provision of sustainable options for students with regards to waste disposal and transport.atements
released committing to further campus sustainability and carbon neutrality are an encouraging indication to
future developments.
Recommendations: The provision of guidelines for medical school events and food and beverages is a key
milestone for future improvement. Furthermore, introduction of compost bins would be a welcome
development of the current waste disposal system. Continuing forward with the recruitment for an associate
dean for sustainability and the aims of its ‘Strategic Vision for 2030’ will also see St George’s improve.
C+
SGUL has many active student groups; Ethical & Environmental Union Officers and societies such as
EcoSoc, Vegan Society and Students for Global Helath who are dedicated to various aspects of planetary
health. There is a staff/student environmental working group who meet every month. There are few
student-led sustainability initiatives offered to students directly by SGUL, and they are not funded.
Recommendations: SGUL could introduce the option of carrying out a sustainability QI project as part of
the curriculum, or offer funding for extracurricular student-led planetary health projects.
St George’s, University of London (SGUL) has good coverage of planetary health topics in the curriculum,
but these are specific sessions with titles referencing climate change which may deter students from
attending if they feel it is not relevant to their learning. The University is making institutional changes with
student partnerships and actively hiring roles to tackle the climate crisis.
Recommendations: Integrate planetary health themes longitudinally using the spiral curriculum and scope
of PPS (Patients, Populations and Society) by creating learning objectives and encouraging lecturers to
briefly comment on the climate crisis in the context of their taught material. It would be wonderful to see
earlier years' students timetabled sessions to work with Environmental Health MOOCs delivered by experts
in the field. However, the intersection of marginalized groups and their disproportionate harm due to the
climate crisis must specifically be covered, to score higher in future assessments.
Overall
77PHRC APRIL 2023
Swansea University
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B+
Planetary Health Curriculum
F+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
There is no dedicated department or group focused solely on planetary health. However, if students want to
get involved, there are opportunities within their own time or within set blocks called Learning
Opportunities within the Research Setting (LORS).
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
There is very little outreach or advocacy within the institution.
There is opportunity to increase this even if it was just publishing a newsletter highlighting how students
and faculty could get involved.
C-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C
Campus Sustainability
Overall, campus sustainability is excellent both within the school of medicine and as a whole. The
university is very keen on making this even better with new guidance coming out regularly. The university
is entirely divested from fossil fuels and tries hard to create their own renewable energy where possible.
A
The medical school encourages societies and student-led initiatives that focus on sustainable healthcare,
however there needs to be more financial support to support student interest. This however, has improved from
last year with faculty members being employed in planetary health and more faculty involvement in societies. A
full-time employed sustainability lead in the medical school has significantly affected the progress of sustainable
teaching and practices on the course.
Within the curriculum there are lots of on-going changes due to the curriculum review. This has involved
many new additions within planetary health, especially in the Integrated Clinical Method (ICM) sessions.
The addition of the future medics fortnight has allowed the medical school to deliver more teaching in
planetary health as well as provide lectures on topics that they have struggled to fit into the condensed 4
year course.
Recommendations: There is a lack of teaching about how marginalised groups are most affected by
climate change. This could be discussed in ICM and on placement, especially during our Community Based
Learning (CBL) teaching sessions.
Overall
78PHRC APRIL 2023
The University of Glasgow School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The Centre for Sustainable Solutions continues its commendable work as a research hub for resources and
partnerships for staff and students to implement sustainable solutions. The medical school also have several
members with research interests in planetary health and healthcare sustainability.
Recommendations: The medical school can become more engaged with creating dialogues with
communities affected by climate change that can inform future planetary health research. To improve this
relationship we would like to see events organized by the medical school to encourage public discourse
surrounding planetary health and the research that is undertaken.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The university has fostered an innovative partnership with the Glasgow City Council which has led to the
launch of GALLANT to produce sustainable solutions in Glasgow that will improve public health. There
are continuing professional development courses available on planetary and occupational health topics.
Recommendations: Although we appreciate that the University has continued its efforts to engage with the public,
the medical school has not used this momentum to pioneer its own connections with patients and the community.
Next year this can be achieved through organising regular events on the topic and creating easily accessible patient
resources at affiliated teaching hospitals about PH.
A-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C+
Campus Sustainability
Overall, campus sustainability is excellent both within the school of medicine and as a whole. The
university is very keen on making this even better with new guidance coming out regularly. The university
is entirely divested from fossil fuels and tries hard to create their own renewable energy where possible.
C+
The University of Glasgow’s student body are greatly involved in sustainability, with many intersectional
and interdisciplinary events being hosted throughout all domains, from the arts to the sciences. Amongst
these, while planetary health may not always be the main focus, it is nonetheless included. The University is
largely supportive of these initiatives, yet efforts remain predominately “bottom-up”.
Recommendations: Support for student-led initiatives mostly comes from the wider University rather than the
Medical School specifically. We recommend the Medical School to develop a website that centralises information
around PH or ESH, including opportunities and mentors.
Since the appointment of a “Global and Planetary Health” Vertical Theme lead, education on PH has
greatly improved at the University of Glasgow over the last year, with the addition of several lectures on the
topic. It would nonetheless benefit from being integrated more longitudinally.
Recommendations: Include the health effects of climate change in relevant lectures throughout the
curriculum and strategies to make the NHS more sustainable, with using local examples relevant to
Glasgow. For clinical years, introduce teaching on how to have conversations with patients around PH.
Overall
79PHRC APRIL 2023
University College London
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B+
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
While the level of longitudinal integration can still be improved, UCLMS is constantly striving to embed planetary
health teaching widely across its curriculum, with the goal of exploring topics in depth in the relevant lectures. While
the majority of planetary health learning is found in pre-clinical years through for example the Year 1 Citizenship
Toolkit module, there is an overarching Intended Learning Outcome for
every year of the MBBS stating “Appreciate the impact of climate change and sustainability in healthcare”.
B
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Since last year, community outreach by the FMS has improved in two main ways, namely the introduction of
further opportunities for continuing professional development with regards to planetary health, and in improving
communications with students about climate and sustainability news. In order to improve further, the FMS could
look into helping its partnered hospitals reach their goals of increased community engagement by working on
the provision of planetary health educational materials.
A
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
A-
Campus Sustainability
Year on year UCL has been continually improving the sustainability of its campus, taking on projects and
initiatives that show UCL is trying to lead the way in reducing an institution’s environmental impact. They have
achieved ISO14001 certification in recognition of this commitment, and they appear on their way to achieving
net zero carbon buildings by 2024. One main area for improvement though, would be to introduce compulsory,
rather than recommended, guidelines for making events more sustainable.
A+
UCL supports and encourages student-led initiatives through funding, offering and/or advertising opportunities
related to sustainability and planetary health. A wide range of different event types are present for UCL
members to develop their understanding of planetary health and sustainability, and it is clear by the support
given from UCL Careers through ‘Careers in Sustainability’ workshops, that the institution is keen on
supporting and preparing students for integrating sustainability in their lives beyond UCL. A focus for future
years would be to provide paid research opportunities for planetary health/sustainable healthcare projects.
While the level of longitudinal integration can still be improved, UCLMS is constantly striving to embed planetary
health teaching widely across its curriculum, with the goal of exploring topics in depth in the relevant lectures.While
the majority of planetary health learning is found in pre-clinical years through for example the Year 1 Citizenship
Toolkit module, there is an overarching Intended Learning Outcome for every year of the MBBS stating
“Appreciate the impact of climate change and sustainability in healthcare”.
C
B
B
B
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
B-
B+
Overall
80PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Aberdeen
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
Planetary Health Curriculum
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The medical school has multiple societies that promote planetary health through events. Some societies that
relate to planetary health are Students for Global Health, MedAid Society and the Sustainable Medicine society.
There is a large amount of outreach work done by the Rowett Institute. They undertake a lot of community events
in the city and across Scotland and publish material to promote a better understanding of the research they
undertake and its influence on policy.
Recommendations: Create more community based events and have more café med and sci events focused on
planetary health and sustainable medicine. Also, there could be more educational material accessible for patients
on environmental health topics.
Support for Student-led Initiatives
Campus Sustainability
The main medical school campus building has achieved the BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and draws its heat
and electricity from Combined Heat and Power Station operated by the NHS. Aberdeen University has a
committed steering group that focuses on campus sustainability and is working towards net zero emissions
by 2040.
Recommendations: Improve transport links with more frequent buses and buses to the other hospitals used
by the medical schools
The medical school offers students grants to support students interested in sustainability initiatives and has
research opportunities for students if the students seek out these opportunities.
Recommendations: It would be good if there could be more information for students on how to do a
sustainable QI and a webpage to centralise information on planetary health. Also, the University could help
facilitate connections between research mentors and students who have interest in Planetary Heath.
Planetary Health topics are gradually being implemented more into the curriculum. However, the current
detail is quite brief and is only explored further in some Student Selected Components.
Recommendations: Include more teaching on sustainability in the curriculum. Even one lecture slide in
some relevant lectures to introduce it as a theme throughout.
At the University there is research being done in different areas of planetary health and healthcare sustainability
with clinicians who have a focus on planetary health. However, there is no specific institute for interdisciplinary
planetary health research. The medical school now has a sustainability steering group which was created in
January 2023. The University of Aberdeen has set out its long term strategy (for 2040) which places Sustainability
and Interdisciplinary at the centre of its research priorities. It has established Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing as one
of five key Interdisciplinary Research Challenges and appointed a Dean (a professor from the School of Medicine,
Medical Sciences and Nutrition (SMMSN) ) to lead this.
Recommendations: Give students more information about different research opportunities available for them to do
with sustainability.
Overall
81PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Birmingham
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
B-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UoB Medical School hosts conferences and symposiums, promoting collaboration. It lacks a process for climate
change/environmental injustice input from the wider community and has no website to centralise existing/past
research on health & the environment.
Recommendations: The University should create an accessible website to centralise planetary health research, as
well as a process for community input or decision-making on the research agenda..
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
UoB Medical School partners with organisations on sustainability and hosts events/workshops on planetary health.
The University Hospitals Birmingham Trust is developing an e-learning course on climate change. The Integrated
Care Board website offers info/resources on environment/sustainability in the NHS.
Recommendations: The university should join a planetary health or education for sustainable healthcare
organisation, expand the range of planetary health events, and increase access to educational materials
on environmental health exposures, climate change and health impacts.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C-
Campus Sustainability
UoB has committed to multiple initiatives to promote sustainability on campus, including dedicated staff, a
Sustainability Steering Group, and a Committee. It has also joined the UN Race to Zero to reach net zero Carbon
for Scopes 1 & 2 by 2035, and Scope 3 by 2045.
Recommendations: The university can improve by providing more eco-friendly transport options for placement,
retrofit structures to be energy efficient, and increase engagement with sustainable food policy.
C
The University of Birmingham provides numerous ways for students to participate in sustainability. Its website is
dedicated to these opportunities, and the Guild of Students has an Ethical and Environmental Officer. Medical
students can join the Earth Resus Team, part of MedSoc, and there are research projects and placements
available.
Recommendations: The university could improve by providing further grants for sustainability initiatives and
increasing the promotion for talks and events, exhibitions, and student-led green initiatives such as the “Grow with
Joe” community compost project and the Wayfarers Hiking Society.
The University of Birmingham (UoB) Medical School’s core curriculum has limited coverage of the relationship
between health, the changing climate and sustainable healthcare. There is no member of faculty specifically
responsible for overseeing the incorporation of planetary health and sustainable healthcare as a theme throughout
the course.
Recommendations: UoB Medical School should consider additional integration of planetary health and sustainable
healthcare themes into its curriculum, increasing both lectures & small group teaching..
Overall
82PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Bristol
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute and the Cabot Institute conducts research related to Planetary Health
within the University of Bristol. The University of Bristol also holds multiple symposiums and conferences
related to planetary health.
Recommendations: Bristol Medical school could gear their research agenda more towards Planetary
Health as it is not currently the main focus. The Bristol Medical School should consider
PHA or GCCHE membership
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The University of Bristol engages well with the community but could do more to help educate patients
about more sustainable healthcare practices and the health effects of climate change.
Recommendations: To partner with more community organisations. To include opt-in regular planetary
health related articles within the bulletins (medical student society and medical school) and to create
planetary healthcare and sustainable healthcare educational materials for patients.
C-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C+
Campus Sustainability
The University of Bristol puts substantial effort in trying to make the campus more sustainable such as
divesting from fossil fuels, photovoltaic panels, waste management programs and more.
Recommendations: The University of Bristol could set more stringent sustainability guidelines for
procurement and events. They have begun retrofitting buildings and should continue this practice..
B+
Support for student-led initiatives from Bristol Medical School is strong and they are actively trying to
improve ESH in the curriculum. These efforts are propelled by Prof. Thompson and Prof. Tilling, whom act
as the Sustainability Co-leads for the Medical School. The Medical School has also opted to fund a
student-led sustainability champion role.
Recommendations: Support for student-led activity is plenty. However, collaboration with the Galenicals
(the medical student society) to create a sub society of medical students passionate about sustainable
healthcare and planetary health could prove advantageous.
University of Bristol includes planetary health in the core curriculum appropriately. In the first and second
years of the medical curriculum, various aspects of planetary health are discussed in standalone lectures.
Elective student choice projects which focus on key aspects of planetary health are also offered and funded
by the medical school.
Recommendations: Creation of a lecture focusing on the cardiorespiratory effects of pollution discussing
the most polluted points in Bristol. The effect of planetary health on marginalised populations could also be
further emphasised in the course. Furthermore, material regarding how to have conversations about
planetary health and the co-benefits with patients could be integrated.
Overall
83PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Buckingham
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
D
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UBMS has scored poorly in the interdisciplinary research category as there are many areas that need
improving,however the University’s small size impacts its ability for this research. There are current efforts to
establish a public information forum to inform students, as well as faculty staff members regarding PH and climate
change. In addition, UBMS is a member of the Global Consortium on Climate Health Education.
UBMS has developed a patient involvement forum, where planetary health is an item on the agenda. MKUH had a
conference focusing on planetary health, students were welcome to attend.
C
Community Outreach and Advocacy
UBMS sometimes includes sustainable healthcare topics within newsletter and social media posts, increasing the
prevalence in their online presence. There are accessible resources for some of the affiliated hospitals (e.g MKUH)
and GP practices for patients, as well as students to access.
Students are required to complete online hospital e-learning modules that include sustainability within healthcare.
C-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
D+
Campus Sustainability
New buildings on campus are sustainably built however older buildings have not been retrofitted. UBMS has a
committee that incorporates sustainability into their function. In addition there are departmental recycling initiatives.
An entire module spanning 18 months in the early years of the course, known as Narrative medicine, has been
changed from face to face to online/over the phone consultations, in part to be more environmentally friendly.
Although UBMS has a few initiatives and has made environmentally friendly decisions in some aspects, overall it
scored poorly in the benchmarking in regard to campus sustainability.
F
Students at UBMS are encouraged and supported when taking part in projects such as QI projects and audits.
UBMS informs all students about research opportunities and students are encouraged to take on research in
planetary health. PH was incorporated in co-curricular Global health and extreme medicine SSC modules. There
are currently two students representing planetary health at UBMS and there are efforts put in place to grow the
number of representatives.
The University of Buckingham Medical School (UBMS) has yet to include Planetary Health (PH) as a standalone
entity within the curriculum, however it is incorporated within various modules such as respiratory, gastrointestinal
system, CSFC and in the health, psychology and diversity module in phase I. PH is incorporated in the perioperative
block in phase II. In addition, PH has been incorporated in the Global Health student selected component (SSC) in
phase II.
There needs to be efforts of incorporating PH in the cardiovascular and reproductive health modules in phase I.
Overall
84PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Cambridge
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B+
Planetary Health Curriculum
C-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Whilst the School of Clinical Medicine has a few individuals working on related research, neither the
clinical school nor institution have dedicated research groups or departments. Many of the criteria were met
instead by university societies.
Recommendations: There is opportunity for a planetary health research position or group, possibly
working in collaboration with Cambridge Zero to continue symposia and develop a website to centralise
research. Efforts should be made to create a process for impacted community members to advise or make
decisions on the research agenda. The clinical school should also look to engage researchers in healthcare
sustainability research.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The School of Clinical Medicine has no communications team to engage with local organisations. While
there are events planned to engage with planetary health, these are primarily academic-facing.
Recommendations: Existing organisations involving clinical students (CUSPE, Healthy Planet, SfGH)
already act with local organisations - the School of Clinical Medicine could partner with these organisations
and continue to promote them. Developing community links is also recommended.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C
Campus Sustainability
The School of Clinical Medicine has put good measures in place to ensure the teaching facilities and
general medical school campus reach high standards regarding sustainability.
Recommendations: Continue sustainability working group meetings to discuss suitable swaps and new
initiatives as well as pursuing fossil fuel divestment. Liaising with site-technicians can coordinate
technology and infrastructure upgrades and to promote greater use of recycling facilities. The School can
encourage students to make use of public transport through provision of financial support.
B+
The School of Clinical Medicine has a student representative on its Climate Change and Sustainability
Working Group, but there is generally not much energy dedicated towards supporting student projects.
Student projects can be conducted as part of the Living Lab, although there appears not to be many medical
students involved with this.
Recommendations: To promote initiatives in sustainability and quality improvement, the medical school
could collaborate with research groups from various University departments to publicise student-selected
projects in this area. In addition, promotion of existing SSCs in this area should continue.
The University of Cambridge includes teaching on planetary health and sustainable healthcare, but these are
focused in standalone lectures within the clinical curriculum, with only a single lecture in Year 1 outside of this.
Recommendations: Further integration into both the clinical and preclinical course content where relevant
would take pressure off existing lectures to cover a diverse range of topics, especially with the anticipated
challenges to health the climate crisis poses. These are most relevant in preclinical courses covering
pathology, homeostasis and biochemistry and within clinical communication teaching.
Overall
85PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Leicester
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The University of Leicester has webpages and resources to guide students into researching sustainability,
however these are not med school specific.
Recommendations: Leicester Medical School could build their own resources to aid students in
researching sustainability. They could also join the Planetary Health Alliance and the Global Consortium on
Climate and Health Education.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
University of Leicester Medical School has little community outreach relating to planetary health. Leicester
Teaching Hospitals does have some accessible educational materials for patients.
Recommendations: More community partnerships relating to planetary health. A medical school website
page featuring sustainable healthcare communications. Post-graduate courses on PH and/or sustainable
healthcare.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C
Campus Sustainability
The University of Leicester Medical school has made good progress in becoming a sustainable campus
including fossil fuel divestment, using fully renewable energy on site, and setting carbon neutrality goals.
The Medical School building is also the largest PassiveHaus, built to minimise the school’s carbon
footprint.
Recommendations: Educate students and staff on ways to maximise usage of PassiveHaus building in
order to maximise efficiency. Compost bins and sustainable event guidelines should be implemented.
C+
The University of Leicester has one student group dedicated to planetary health- The Sustainable
Medicine society. This is supported well by the student union and faculty within the medical school. In
addition the University has opportunities for students to participate in co-curricular planetary health
programs through various societies (Sustainable Medicine, Go Green, Nutritank, Hiking, Planet Change,
Students for Global Health).
Recommendations: The medical school could create opportunities for students to participate in
co-curricular planetary health programs through SSCs, volunteering programs and seminars run by faculty.
University of Leicester includes various aspects of Sustainable healthcare into the new, reformed curriculum
featuring specific LOs about sustainability/planetary health. They also offer elective opportunities to
develop this understanding as SSCs.
Recommendations: The evaluated topics are often only briefly discussed so could be covered in more
detail.
Overall
86PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Liverpool
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UoL Medical School faculty has made an active effort in increasing awareness and research in PH, by
hiring more staff, student surveys on transport and creating their own webpage on PH. However there is
disjointedness with the medical student community and the LUHFT Sustainability Team.
Recommendations: University of Liverpool Medical School could organise a conference directly related to
Planetary Health, with help from affiliated departments in the University. They could also join the Planetary
Health Alliance and the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
C
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The university’s affiliated hospitals provide accessible educational materials for patients regarding
environmental exposures although information about climate change and its impacts is limited. A wide
range of post graduate courses, though this could be increased. However, the medical school itself does not
actively promote planetary health and organise community-facing events/courses or regularly provide
updates regarding planetary health in university communications.
Recommendations: More community partnerships relating to planetary health in SSCs, increased
promotion of PH and active consideration into information provision to communities.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C+
Campus Sustainability
There is an overarching theme within the campus sustainability findings that the medical school has
insufficient published information and or action plans for multiple realms of sustainability measures. They
have however made progress appointing a new sustainability officer who is undertaking a dedicated project
to address the carbon footprint of placement transport.
Recommendations: The medical school should publish their own specific plan to reduce their carbon
footprint in alignment with the central university, with a Net Zero plan and target included in this. They
should also consider creating eco-friendly guidelines for events or spaces shared with other departments.
C
The support from the University is encouraging, with a plethora of sustainability focused events being held
throughout the year for all students. Since the last report, the medical school has initiated creating a
sustainability webpage and has worked to facilitate student participation in sustainability projects and
although these efforts can be improved.
Recommendations: Recommendations include offering financial support and awards for work in
sustainability (essays/research/QIP projects), initiating a specific research program dedicated to planetary
health, alongside relaunching the student-staff focus groups within the medical school, and advocating for
the presence of a student liaison for sustainability.
University of Liverpool does include planetary health(PH) in the curriculum and incorporates it
longitudinally, but it lacks in depth lectures and specific content regarding PH and sustainability.
Recommendations: There is a lack of student-selected courses in ESH or PH, nor is there content
regarding a few different areas including mental health, impacts on marginalised communities (e.g.
homeless, BAME communities). The depth of other areas is also a significant area for improvement.
Overall
87PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Manchester
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
There are several researchers within the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH) carrying out
research with respect to climate change and health, with university-wide collaborations overseen by the
Manchester Environmental Research Institute.
Recommendations: The University of Manchester medical school could join a national or international
planetary health or ESH organization, such as the Planetary Health Alliance or Global Consortium on
Climate and Health Education. Although the university has a comprehensive Environmental Sustainability
website, it could be improved for ease of use. The medical school or FBMH could also create a more
detailed webpage, perhaps detailing improvements and opportunities for students within the faculty.
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Although the University of Manchester has a strong reputation for engaging the public, there is very little
evidence that the medical school is involved in these partnerships.
Recommendations: Involvement of the medical school in creating and running community partnerships
relating to planetary health.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C
Campus Sustainability
The University of Manchester Environmental Sustainability Team is well-organised and has far-reaching
influence in all aspects of campus life, including carbon neutrality, renewables utilisation, transportation,
recycling, campus events, procurement, and divestment.
Recommendations: The medical school could benefit from designating a specific person who would be
responsible for improving and monitoring sustainability within the medical school, in collaboration with the
wider Environmental Sustainability Team. Currently, there is a staff member within the medical school who
has voluntarily set up a climate committee, but this is not part of their official job role.
A-
The University of Manchester has several student-orientated pathways that promote research into planetary
health. The medical school has vastly improved support for student-led planetary health initiatives, with students
from a number of societies (e.g. Students for Global Health) taking an active role in committees that are discussing
how planetary health and ESH can be incorporated into the MBChB curriculum.
Recommendations: The MBChB programme could collaborate with other university departments (e.g.
MERI), facilitating connections between research mentors and students that have an interest in planetary
health. These opportunities could be publicised to students via a faculty webpage or in email news bulletins.
The University of Manchester MBChB curriculum offers a small amount of formal teaching that covers
some aspects of planetary health and ESH, however, this is spread sporadically throughout the years and
lacks meaningful structure. There have, however, been some improvements, with students now having the
opportunity to study planetary health and ESH topics as part of the Personal Excellence Pathway. .
Recommendations: Planetary health and ESH could be introduced as part of Personal Professional
Development, encouraging students to consider their own environmental impact as well as the role of
doctors in planetary health and ESH.
Overall
88PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Sheffield
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
B-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
PH research is taking place within the medical school via the School of Health and Related Research
(ScHARR), which has links to other centres conducting sustainable research such as the Institute of
Sustainable Food.
Recommendations: The medical school could consider how to involve communities who are being
disproportionately affected by climate change into decisions about the research agenda, and they could set
up a website for planetary health news..
C
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The medical school has some community outreach relating to PH, with SSC options in phase 2b and 3a
enabling students to work with community organisations, though beyond this there is not much community
outreach.
Recommendations: The medical school could host community-facing events about planetary health,
especially topics which may be relevant to the local community. There could also be engagement in
professional education activities for graduates to ensure their planetary health knowledge remains up to
date.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
B-
Campus Sustainability
The university and the medical school have both made some progress towards campus sustainability,
including significant action on utilising renewable energy and divesting from fossil fuels. However, despite
promising targets being set across more sectors, including waste, transportation and food, there is significant work
to be done to meet these.
Recommendations: Targets to improve sustainability in areas such as transportation and waste need to be met.
Examples could include introducing more sustainable travel options for students going on placements, introducing
food waste recycling, and enforcing stronger sustainability guidelines for food, procurement, and events.
C+
There are multiple student-led groups which are supported by the university to engage in PH activities, suchas
Healthy Planet Society and Students for Global Health. Furthermore, multiple societies in the wider university work
on sustainability issues or engagement with nature.
Recommendations: Further support could be put in place for students interested in conducting PH-related
research, including providing information about available opportunities and mentors and providing grants to
conduct such research.
The University of Sheffield includes Planetary Health (PH) topics throughout the curriculum.
Public health teaching in particular includes brief mentions of many of the key PH topics.
Recommendations: Further integration of PH topics into the curriculum may be beneficial,
including discussing environmental impacts of doctors’ actions outside of lectures dedicated
specifically to the topic.
Overall
89PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Southampton
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
A
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The University of Southampton does have staff whose primary research in on planetary health, although the
institution lacks a coordinated way in which this research is disseminated to students.
Recommendations: The University of Southampton could create a webpage to centralise planetary health
research and to coordinate more communication between research teams.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
University of Southampton Medical School has little community outreach relating to planetary health.
There are opportunities to take part in the Social Impact scheme, however there seems to be no scheme
dedicated entirely to planetary health. Conferences have been run, but these were aimed mostly at
prospective students, and not the wider public.
Recommendations: More community partnerships relating to planetary health in SSCs.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
B-
Campus Sustainability
The University of Southampton Medical School has made good progress in becoming a more sustainable
campus. In particular initiatives to make food and beverage more sustainable, sustainable travel options and a
recycling and compost system.
Recommendations: We suggest that the University publish more accessible energy usage figures on their
public facing web pages, as well as what measure are in place to make old buildings more sustainable and
energy efficient.
B+
The University of Southampton Medical School supports students with planetary health initiatives. There is the
student led Sustainable Medicine Society that focuses on planetary health that is supported by the
university. There is also a planetary health group that actively works with the medical school staff on
numerous projects, including developing education material for other students.
Recommendations: Support for student-led initiatives is generally good.
University of Southampton does include planetary health in the curriculum, but it lacks integration
longitudinally. In first and second year, various aspects of planetary health are discussed in lectures and in
seminar work (ILAs).
Recommendations: There is a lack of teaching about introducing conversations about planetary health into
conversations with patients. This could be introduced in clinical skills, or early years GP teaching.
Overall
90PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Warwick
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Summary: The University offers a broad range of interdisciplinary research opportunities, however there
are limited interactions with WMS. There is a lack of participatory research opportunities for individuals
most affected by climate change to shape the research agenda within the university or WMS.
Recommendations: We recommend developing programmes for greater collaboration between the Global
Sustainable Development faculty and WMS to facilitate future interdisciplinary research.
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Summary: The University conducts significant community outreach work however, this has not yet been
mirrored by WMS. All WMS hospital’s have published an up to date Green Plan, but none offer patient
education regarding planetary health or have any commitments in place to improve patient education.
Recommendations: We recommend that WMS-specific outreach projects are developed. Furthermore,
research could be undertaken to highlight areas for improvement in each of the associated hospitals’ Green Plans.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
UK
C+
Campus Sustainability
Summary: The University has an active Energy and Sustainability Team whilst WMS currently has a small
staff-led ‘Green Team’, an extensive recycling program, and some labs within the school are involved in a
lab sustainability program. However, specific sustainability guidelines and efforts to increase sustainable
transport options within WMS have not yet been developed.
Recommendations: We recommend WMS develops school-specific sustainability guidelines and
requirements for events. WMS could engage further in efforts to make sustainable food available. Finally,
we recommend that WMS implements strategies to encourage sustainable transport options.
B+
Summary: Support for student-led initiatives mostly comes from University rather than WMS. However,
there are a number of student groups within WMS who champion sustainability and outdoor adventures.
Medical student advocacy for sustainability is supported through collaborative decision-making forums.
Recommendations: Students are setting up a sustainability society to create a hub for student sustainability within
WMS. We recommend that there is a sustainability student representative appointed to the SSLC. Finally, a WMS
specific webpage dedicated to sustainability research would encourage more student involvement in planetary
health.
Summary: Warwick Medical School (WMS) currently offers an optional module on planetary health, and
planetary health can be integrated into elective placements. The impacts of climate change on health and
healthcare systems, and exploring environmental exposures within a patient’s history are integrated into the
curriculum, however there is currently no strategic oversight.
Recommendations: We recommend integration of planetary health themes into the curriculum. We hope to identify
a member of staff to lead on curricular integration and badging of teaching related to planetary
health. Their first task will be to review our curriculum against the ESHC framework and make
recommendations for additional integrated teaching.
Overall
91PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
B-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UCCOM is conducting ground-breaking research on the environment and health. However, much of this
research is not integrated around the subject of planetary health or specifically highlighted for addressing
the adverse health impacts of climate change.
Recommendations: UCCOM could join the Planetary Health Alliance and the Global Consortium on
Climate and Health Education and encourage more research on how our changing climate affects Ohioans.
We would also recommend adding a health and sustainability focused organization into the possible
community partners for the M1 Service-Learning project.
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
UCCOM has limited outreach regarding planetary health. While the University of Cincinnati (UC) has
partnerships and leadership able to foster outreach and advocacy, UCCOM does not directly participate in
these efforts.
Recommendations: UCCOM could create specific partnerships with organizations that currently work with
UC, such as green umbrella. To foster these partnerships, UCCOM could designate a liaison for the medical school
that connects with the Office of Sustainability at UC. Medical students occasionally receive
information on topics related to sustainability, and this liaison could help provide our student body with more
frequent updates.
D
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
D
Campus Sustainability
UCCOM has made progress to become a more sustainable campus in conjunction with the wider University. The
LEED Gold certification of the Care-Crawley building is a huge accomplishment and other health sciences buildings
are continually being upgraded to become more sustainable.
Recommendations: UCCOM could begin working with UC to develop a sustainability plan that prioritized
financial divestment from fossil fuels, waste reduction, and access to healthier foods on campus.
D-
The University of Cincinnati and the medical school support student groups dedicated to planetary health
(The Medical Student Sustainability Club) both financially and with administrative resources.
Recommendations: Support for student-led initiatives mostly comes from the wider University rather than
the medical school. We recommend that the medical school offers increased support to students interested in
sustainability initiatives. One option would be to create a website that advertises mentors or opportunities for
students relating to PH or ESH and prioritizes grants for related research.
UCCOM is beginning to include planetary health education in fourth-year elective coursework, but as of
now there is little to no integration of this information into the core curriculum.
Recommendations: Planetary health should be a part of the core curriculum across the preclinical years, in
addition to clinical elective work. As a first step, lectures and panel discussions could be added to the
Physician and Society courses in the M1 and M2 years, with eventual integration of environmental health
topics into relevant organ system blocks.
Overall
92PHRC APRIL 2023
Creighton University School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The SOM has connections to interdisciplinary planetary health research through Creighton’s Masters of
Public Health. However, it is not clear how many faculty members research planetary health issues and
students’ knowledge of this potential collaboration is limited.Creighton SOM is supportive of and helps sponsor
the Global Health Conference Midwest, a key platform for PH education and research advancement.
Recommendations: With the addition of the Research Chair position in the SOM’s Student Government this
year, there is opportunity to establish a stronger relationship with faculty in the MPH program.
C-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Students in the SOM volunteer at a variety of community organizations that promote planetary and
environmental health, however, the school is not in a formal partnership with these organizations.
Recommendations: Creighton can advocate for its hospital affiliates to offer patients accessible materials
on the health impacts of climate change, such as education on the symptoms of heat stroke during severe
heat waves. A particular opportunity for this would be during the Magis Free Clinic for patients without
insurance. Formal partnerships with community organizations focused on planetary health would be
beneficial for students and the community.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
C
Campus Sustainability
Creighton’s Office of Sustainability is leading a slow but deliberate movement toward Creighton’s
sustainability goals. It plans to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2028 and reach carbon neutrality by
2050. We encourage the school to reset its carbon neutrality goal to sooner than 2050.
There is a need for more sustainable building practices, particularly in the new medical school building.
Recommendations: The SOM lacks sustainability practices seen around Creighton, such as composting.
The SOM should reconcile these differences and develop its own rigorous sustainability standards.
D+
The SOM created a Planetary Health and Sustainability Task Force (TF) in response to the 2020 PHRC. TheTF
houses a branch for student-initiated PH projects. Overall, the SOM has avenues for support and funds.Lack of
awareness of programs and few PH-focused faculty mentors limit sustainability initiatives.
Recommendations: Institutional attention on PH and online publication of efforts would help engagement.
Creighton School of Medicine (SOM) established a Planetary Health & Sustainability Horizontally
Integrated Discipline in 2021. This track is intended to provide longitudinal education on Planetary Health
(PH) and Sustainability. There have only been two lectures presented in this discipline.
Creighton SOM briefly covers the effects of climate change and health epidemiology in a few of the M1
and M2 system-based blocks. However, this could be covered in greater depth and extended to all blocks.
Recommendations: The SOM can improve by ensuring that PH topics are integrated into all curricular
tracks as well as clerkship years. Specifically, there are opportune Case Based Learning sessions that could
incorporate PH-related issues and sustainable treatment options. These efforts will promote longitudinal learning
and awareness of the pathophysiology as well as social processes implicated in PH.
Overall
93PHRC APRIL 2023
Creighton University SOM- Phoenix Regional Campus
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Creighton University SOM PRC does have current efforts to expand research in the realm of planetary
health and is part of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
Recommendations: Identify and engage with faculty who are able to mentor students in planetary health
research. It would be useful to host a local conference within the institution specific to planetary health.
Additional involvement of community members with input on research topics is needed.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Creighton University SOM PRC has little community outreach and engagement relating to planetary health.
Creighton clinical affiliates do not offer accessible and meaningful information on the health impacts of climate
change and environmental exposures.The university has a strong focus on community engagement, however this
does not include a current focus on climate health. The expansion of relationships with the community is needed.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
C
Campus Sustainability
Creighton University as an institution has seen improvement towards sustainability goals. There is a
dedicated Office of Sustainability, however these initiatives are not housed on the Phoenix campus and this
improvement is not reflected on the Phoenix Campus.
Recommendations: Incorporate renewable energy and composting in the health science building. We also
encourage more in depth partnership with the Office of Sustainability and a clear outlining of sustainability
goals for the Phoenix campus.
D+
Creighton University SOM PRC has a student founded and led Planetary Health and Sustainability
Task Force, as well as Sustainability Chair positions on class student government. Each of these were
initiated and carried out by students.
There are ample opportunities for student initiatives and funding for academic projects and research within
the medical school. The awareness and ease of use and collaboration with faculty members are limiting
factors to expansion in sustainability initiatives.
Creighton University School of Medicine Phoenix Regional Campus (SOM PRC) does include planetary
health in the curriculum. The majority of planetary health topics are discussed within the gold track
curriculum lectures of components I and II, including one student interest selective.
There is room for improvement in this area as the majority of planetary health information came from two
lectures and one selective during component II only.
Recommendations: Currently, a majority of the planetary health related topics have been briefly addressed
in a single gold track curriculum lecture. We recommend a more longitudinal integration of these topics as
well as an increase in lectures covering these topics more in depth. Specifically, case based learning could
include questions related to planetary health and indigenous populations. A lecture in each organ system
that outlines the effects of climate on health outcomes specific to that system would be beneficial.
Overall
94PHRC APRIL 2023
Indiana University School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
IUSM is a member of Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education and of the Association for the
Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
USM lacks an institute for interdisciplinary Planetary Health research that emphasizes the impacts of
anthropogenic environmental changes on health. IUSM may draw from existing centers and groups such as
Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, IU School of Public Health, Paul H. O’Neill School of
Public and Environmental Affairs, Center for Urban Health, Sustainable Development Goals Working
Group, Environmental Resilience Institute, and its partnership with Moi University.
Recommendations: The medical school should provide funded planetary health research opportunities for
students and could start by offering planetary health research projects through their summer research
program [Indiana University Medical Student Program for Research and Scholarship (IMPRS)].
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Indiana University has a centralized Office of Sustainability website that links the sustainability efforts at
every IU campus. There is an opportunity to add a section for future Planetary Health initiatives on the
website.The institution collaborates with local governments and organizations, but the medical school is not directly
involved in these interactions nor facilitates collaborations by itself.
Recommendations: IUSM should partner with local communities affected by climate change and pollution to share
information about environmental health threats, advocate together for change, and provide opportunities for medical
students to be a part of this work.
B
Support for Student-led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
C
Campus Sustainability
IU has implemented robust strategies to encourage and provide environmentally-friendly transportation
options for students and to reduce the environmental impact of commuting. IU has a dedicated Office of
Sustainability and a Climate Action Planning Committee, but has yet to divest
from fossil fuels or to release a formal plan for carbon neutrality.
Recommendations: IUSM has many opportunities to improve its sustainability practices: divest from fossil
fuels, re-implement composting, use renewable energy for campus buildings, and implement programs to
make labs more environmentally sustainable.
C
IUSM has a local chapter of Medical Students for a Sustainable Future supported by faculty.
Recommendations: It would be beneficial for IUSM to have a student liaison representing sustainability
interests who serves on a decision-making council.
IUSM integrates social determinants of health into its core curriculum. Students gain an understanding that
environmental exposures have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.
Recommendations: Planetary Health connections in the curriculum should be made more explicit, with
more dedicated time. The medical school should identify Planetary Health as a priority theme throughout
the curriculum and include that material in learning objectives and test questions for each course.
Overall
95PHRC APRIL 2023
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
ILoyola’s Public Health and School for Environmental Sustainability programs may have many climate
related research opportunities, but these projects are not made available for students in the medical school.
The medical school itself offers no research opportunities specifically concerning sustainability.
Recommendations: Loyola SSOM could work closely with other Loyola graduate schools to facilitate
interdisciplinary opportunities. The medical school could also join the Planetary Health Alliance and the
Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
C
Community Outreach and Advocacy
ILoyola SSOM is involved with very few community-focused environmental justice programs and
opportunities for community engagement.
Recommendations: Opportunities exist for interdisciplinary collaboration to initiate more community
outreach events regarding planetary health and environmental issues in our surrounding community. We
should establish a working relationship with Loyola Medicine and Trinity Health to provide climate health
related education material to patients.
C-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
C
Campus Sustainability
In 2022, Loyola University as a whole has made impressive progress in regards to institutional
sustainability. We hope we can build on these advancements within the medical school to meet
sustainability goals and lessen the healthcare sector's impact on the climate crisis.
Recommendations: There is still much to improve with the SSOM campus sustainability. Goals and plans
are already in place at the Medical School, especially in transportation and building, but we also
recommend focusing on making lab spaces more sustainable and improve/introduce sustainable guidelines
for events and procurement.
B
IOverall, the administration has been supportive of student led initiatives to bring broader awareness to
planetary health. The school was very supportive in helping the student organization GEMS initiate a
for-credit elective focusing on planetary health within the institution.
Recommendations: We recommend Stritch continue this support to increase student opportunities by
providing grant opportunities or a student fellowship program. This could also be done with improved
collaboration across other graduate schools and programs currently doing work related to planetary health.
LUC Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) continued to improve the for-credit elective CCGH-250 focused
on planetary health. There are several standalone lectures in the preclinical curriculum that address topics
related to climate change and health, but no longitudinal integration.
Recommendations: Topics of planetary health should be incorporated into the core curriculum more
substantially, and such material should be included in learning objectives and test questions. The Patient
Centered Medicine courses could instruct students on how to counsel patients regarding climate change
health effects in clinical encounters.
Overall
96PHRC APRIL 2023
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
C-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Mayo Clinic has engaged in some research activities pertaining to planetary health and hosted a conference
that included discussion of the subject in 2020. However, there is not a clearly sustained focus on planetary
health research.
Recommendations: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine could organize a conference directly related to
Planetary Health. They could also join the Planetary Health Alliance and the Global Consortium on Climate
and Health Education.
B-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine has negligible community outreach relating to planetary health. As an
institution, Mayo Clinic has organized a handful of community-facing events about environmentalism, and
there are some patient education handouts that are marginally related to this topic.
Recommendations: Include more community partnerships related to planetary health, specifically at the
medical school level.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
C-
Campus Sustainability
The Mayo Clinic institution has adopted several initiatives for improved campus sustainability, primarily
focused around reducing energy consumption and unnecessary waste. However, there is limited investment in
renewable energy and no current plans for carbon neutrality. No staff represent the medical school specifically in the
area of sustainability.
Recommendations: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine could appoint a sustainability representative
within the medical school and establish medical school specific sustainability guidelines for events and
procurement. We recommend that the Mayo Clinic institution adopt more aggressive climate goals,
including goals for carbon neutrality and encourage advocacy and movement toward oil and gas divestiture.
D
The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine itself provides very little support for student-led sustainability
related initiatives. On the institutional level, there are programs such as the Green Advocate program that
allow employees of the Mayo Clinic to become involved in sustainability efforts around the clinic; however,
these are poorly publicized.
Recommendations: MCASOM could distribute an email at the beginning of the academic year informing
new and current students about the Green Advocate program. Additionally, the school could include links to
Mayo’s sustainability efforts and research opportunities directly on the medical school webpage.
The effects of climate change on health are briefly mentioned throughout the curriculum, which is where
many of the points for this section were gained. However, in depth coverage of these issues is not provided,
and the inclusion of climate change material would be much more effective if distributed throughout the
organ blocks rather than in the longitudinal FRAMES curriculum.
Recommendations: We recommend adding additional depth to the curriculum to expand on the effects of
climate change on human health, and incorporating this content into specific organ blocks..
Overall
97PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Minnesota Medical School
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Since our last report, the medical school has joined the GCCHE and increased institutional support for
planetary health conferences. This is exciting progress.
Recommendations: There is a lack of faculty within the medical school doing research at the intersection
of climate, sustainability, and health despite the existence of such projects in the past. We recommend
increased efforts to recruit faculty within this field and collaboration across disciplines.
B-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The UMN incorporates community engagement into their climate health programming, particularly through
the Institute on the Environment (IonE). The School of Nursing offers many climate learning opportunities
for providers. The Medical School is increasing community engagement through educational opportunities
for staff, students, and patients.
Recommendations: Continue expanding opportunities for community engagement and interdisciplinary
collaboration. Increase community-facing programs and educational materials using examples detailed
throughout this document regarding the health impacts of climate change. Center community perspectives
in the development of these programs and materials.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
C
Campus Sustainability
The UMN has stated its commitment to sustainability in the MPact 2025 Systemwide Strategic Plan and is
creating a new 2023 Climate Action Plan. However, there is a lack of medical school-specific policies and
guidelines, which is a missed opportunity to support the University’s overall sustainability goals.
Recommendations: We recommend that the medical school align itself better with the broader University's
sustainability goals in the pending Climate Action Plan. The medical school can work closely with the Office of
Sustainability to provide specific implementation and education about these plans to medical students, staff, and
faculty, as well as to oversee specific sustainability goals for the medical school.
C
There is a lot of momentum among UMN students with student-led PH initiatives, which do have some
support from the UMN. However, within the medical school, the students generally lack institutional
assistance to propel these initiatives forward and often have to go to great lengths to seek out support.
Recommendations: We recommend strengthening support and availability for student-led PH initiatives,
which could include a centralized PH webpage/tab that students can access for information about activities and
potential mentors. We encourage a greater focus on developing co-curricular or interdisciplinary PH programs and
events to promote exposure to PH specifically within the medical school.
The University of Minnesota does include planetary health (PH) in the curriculum, but it lacks integration
longitudinally. PH is not a learning objective in any core curriculum and is often covered at a surface level.
Recommendations: Considering the curriculum updates in 2023, we recommend the medical school begins
incorporating The Climate Change and Health curriculum that was created by climate champions at UMN.
We also encourage them to use this report to assess the progress of their curriculum changes and involve
students, such as MS4SF, to ensure the new curriculum is addressing the health impacts of climate change.
Overall
98PHRC APRIL 2023
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
F
Planetary Health Curriculum
D+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The University of Missouri-Columbia has several avenues for faculty and students to get involved with
interdisciplinary planetary health research, but the School of Medicine is largely excluded. Moreover, this
interdisciplinary research is not highlighted with conferences or seminars focused on planetary health.
Recommendations: Join a planetary health alliance. Host guest lectures and events so more students are
exposed to planetary health research. Encourage collaborations between School of Medicine faculty and
interdisciplinary groups focused on planetary health research. Encourage medical students to conduct their
own planetary health research with physicians and present it at a dedicated planetary health conference.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and MU Health do not have community-facing
events and do not offer educational materials on planetary health for CME or to inform patients. With the
School of Medicine’s support, Medical Students for a Sustainable Future (MS4SF) sends out regular
communications related to planetary health and partners with the City of Columbia’s Sustainability Office.
Recommendations: Create educational pamphlets for patients about environmental exposure and climate
change health impacts that can be made available on the MU School of Medicine website and affiliated MU
Health online resources. Consider making local MS4SF events open to the public.
A-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
D+
Campus Sustainability
The University of Missouri-Columbia’s primary medical education building received Platinum LEED
certification and prioritized the use of locally sourced materials in its construction. The university has
explicit goals for carbon neutrality detailed in the Office of Sustainability’s Climate Action Plan.
Recommendations: Establish sustainability guidelines for medical school events and for the procurement
of food and drink at MU Health cafeterias. Advocate for the divestment of fossil fuel industries from the
University of Missouri-Columbia’s endowment portfolio and for increased utilization of renewable energy.
C+
The University of Missouri-Columbia has research opportunities available for students interested in
planetary health, but it does not provide grants or fellowships specific to sustainability initiatives. The
university is supportive of student sustainability groups and hosts a variety of co-curricular planetary health
events, but the medical school curriculum board lacks members who represent sustainability interests.
Recommendations: Offer funding specifically for student-led planetary health initiatives. Appoint a student to
the curriculum board who can ensure that planetary health and sustainability concepts are incorporated.
The University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine has one lecture that includes planetary health
during the Child Health Core Rotation on the Columbia campus. There are also required learning objectives
from which students may elect to explore the effects of environmental factors on disease, but the lack of
specific direction to address these topics leaves planetary health as an elective component of the curriculum.
Recommendations: Explicitly include environmental risk factors in learning objectives and lectures.
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Overall
99PHRC APRIL 2023
Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B-
Planetary Health Curriculum
A-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Strengths: Northwestern University’s Institute for Sustainability & Energy is an excellent hub for
interdisciplinary research and education on environmental health with an accessible and open platform,
conducive to collaboration.
Recommendations: There are opportunities to promote interdisciplinary research collaboration between
ISEN and the Feinberg School of Medicine on planetary and environmental health topics
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Recommendations: There is currently little community engagement on topics relating to planetary health.
There are opportunities to 1) partner with local Chicago organizations on planetary health initiatives 2) offer
public talks and events related to planetary health 3) create CME courses related to planetary health
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
C+
Campus Sustainability
Strengths: Northwestern University has the explicit goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Sustainable
building practices are utilized for new buildings on the medical school campus, and the majority of old
buildings on the medical school campus have been retrofitted to be more sustainable.
Recommendations: There is still much to improve with Feinberg campus sustainability. There are
opportunities to 1) provide receptacles for composting in medical school buildings 2) create strong
sustainability guidelines for Feinberg events, which should include robust guidelines for food and beverage
selections, including reducing meat and decreasing plastic packaging
C
Strengths: The Feinberg School of Medicine has a student group (Climate Action Group) dedicated to
community engagement and discussing the health effects of climate change. The Resnick Family Social
Impact Program funds student sustainability-related initiatives, though this is not targeted toward medical
students.
Recommendations: There are opportunities to get medical students involved with sustainability-related
initiatives. There are opportunities to 1) provide medical students with funding to carry out QI projects on
sustainability 2) create a more specific and up-to-date web page that features opportunities for students to
get involved with planetary health initiatives/research at the medical school
Strengths: Feinberg promotes understanding of planetary health as an important determinant of individual
and community health. Feinberg is also willing to translate student feedback into action at the curricular
level.
Recommendations: There are opportunities to 1) distribute and more evenly integrate environmental health
content across all the phases of the curriculum 2) add more planetary health-related topics to the curriculum (e.g.
the effect of extreme heat on cardiovascular outcomes, the neuropsychological effects of
environmental degradation) 3) design and offer elective courses on planetary and environmental health for
interested students
Overall
100PHRC APRIL 2023
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org
B-
Planetary Health Curriculum
A-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
OSUCOM has several faculty researchers in climate health and the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center
but lacks a centralized department forming interdisciplinary projects or a partnership with the Byrd Center.
Our CCTS Community Engagement Program allows a forum for community member advocacy.
Recommendations: OSUCOM could work to make climate focused research more accessible to medical
students and centralize their work on a more visible, unified website. OSUCOM should continue to support
the Climate Change and Health: Implications for Clinical Practice conference annually.
B-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
OSUCOM offered the Climate Change and Health: Implications for Clinical Practice conference as
available to the public. OSUWMC website offers articles about climate health that are free to patients.
Recommendations: OSUCOM could establish partnerships with community organizations focused on
planetary health. OSUCOM should include climate focused information in regular communications to
faculty and students and create internal Planetary health courses for CME credits.
A
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
B
Campus Sustainability
OSUWMC aligns with university goals and has a dedicated sustainability program including: full-time
Sustainability Program Manager, a Commodity Manager, and an energy engineer. Highlights in the 2022
fiscal year include: 4.7% reduction in energy usage in OSUWMC and OSUCOM buildings, 29% of the
electricity supplied to the medical center at main campus and off-site medical center locations was carbon
neutral, 37% waste diversion, and expansion of our Green Team.
Recommendations: Sustainability needs to be embedded into the core of operational decision-making in
order to accomplish carbon neutrality by 2050, and can’t just be for a few people to accomplish.
C
OSUCOM supports student groups dedicated to planetary health, particularly the registered student group,
Sustainability in Medicine (SiM). SiM works closely with faculty to expand student engagement in
sustainability and is a registered affiliate with Medical Students for a Sustainable Future. At OSUWMC,
students can join the Green Team, the Interprofessional Council, and the President & Provosts Council on
Sustainability.
Recommendations: OSUCOM should continue to work closely with Sustainability in Medicine. We also
recommend that SiM continues to build partnerships with other student organizations to ensure maximum
participation by students. OSUCOM should create a website to promote ongoing programs, including, but
not limited to, one-off volunteer opportunities, planetary health events, wilderness outings, etc.
The Ohio State University College of Medicine (OSUCOM) currently has some planetary health-focused
curriculum, but is working with students on major curriculum changes. There are many existing lectures
that allow for seamless integration of climate health and social determinants of health materials.
Recommendations: Planetary health can be further integrated into M1-M2 through lectures, e-modules,
and Community service projects. In M3-M4, it can be included in case based small group discussions.
Overall
101PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
F
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
OU houses many researchers from different fields interested in planetary health and sustainable healthcare;
however, there is a lack of centralized organization for this interest and interdisciplinary opportunity.
Recommendations: There is great opportunity for OUCOM and its students to work more closely with the
College of Public Health and the Norman Undergraduate Campus in the research of sustainability within
healthcare. Additionally, Oklahoma provides an ample environment to learn more about sustainability,
planetary health, and environmental justice from communities outside of our academic institution.
C-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
OUCOM provides support and opportunity for various community outreach projects through the
Environmental and Sustainable Health Interest Group (ESHIG), a MS4SF Affiliate organization, and
campus wide events such as the annual Big Event, supporting environmental projects such as Closer to
Earth and OKC Beautiful. However, there is much room for improvement outside of the efforts of ESHIG.
Recommendations: Optional CME courses for sustainable healthcare, campuswide communications on
environmentalism efforts, online patient-centered resources on the health impacts of climate change
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
D
Campus Sustainability
OUCOM is supportive of efforts towards increased campus sustainability. Some programs in place such as
campus recycling serve this purpose. However, there is room for improvement in multiple areas listed
below.
Recommendations: More sustainable transportation services (such as bike rentals, electric vehicles, etc.),
campus-wide composting program, meat-free days in the cafeteria, more transparency with supply
procurement guidelines and increasing efforts towards sustainable sourcing in this area, more sustainability
requirements for campus events, divestment from fossil fuels.
D
OUCOM supports ESHIG monetarily and through faculty mentorship. Additionally, OUCOM has
supported students devoting time towards Quality Improvement projects involving healthcare sustainability.
Recommendations: Opportunities for research and QI projects involving planetary health and sustainability within
healthcare could be made more accessible to medical students earlier on in their education. Students interested in
applying for funding for sustainability research should look into collaborating with other departments within the
institution of OU, as there seems to be potential for grants and other monetary support from OU Health and OU’s
undergraduate programs.
The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (OUCOM) does not significantly include planetary health in the
curriculum. The OU-Tulsa School of Community Medicine does include some planetary health topics in one
course.
Recommendations: There is a lack of planetary health content throughout the core and elective curriculum.
During the upcoming curriculum reform, the medical school should formalize planetary health as a component of
its educational program and learning objectives.
102PHRC APRIL 2023
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Overall
Planetary Health Curriculum
F+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Chicago Medical School does not have anyone involved in planetary health research. Rosalind Franklin
University (RFU) recently opened a research department focusing on the socio-structural determinants of
health and bases their research agenda on the needs of the surrounding community.
Recommendations: CMS could organize frequent Grand Round presentations or host a symposium on
planetary health. They could also join the Planetary Health Alliance, the Midwest Climate Collaborative,
and the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
CMS has conducted efforts to establish community partnerships to promote the health of the local
community, but does not yet have outreach relating to planetary health.
Recommendations: Greater support of planetary health and sustainable healthcare can be completed by
establishing community partnerships, school courses and events, regular coverage of planetary health and
sustainable healthcare, involvement of alumni, partnerships with local healthcare facilities, and educational
materials for patients with regards to climate change and health impacts.
D
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
D
Campus Sustainability
RFU has made good progress to become more sustainable by maintaining a conventional recycling
program, procuring sustainable food and beverages, implementing sustainable building practices, and
providing environmentally-friendly transportation options.
Recommendations: RFU can focus on making lab spaces more sustainable, setting achievable goals for
fossil fuel divestment, and introducing sustainable guidelines for events and supply procurement.
D
CMS provides support for student-led initiatives as a whole through research support and student interest
group support. There can be more direction specifically aimed at sustainability-focused projects and
funding.
Recommendations: CMS can offer increased support to students by designing a specific website that
showcases opportunities for students related to planetary health as well as by creating a student liaison
position to represent sustainability interests on the student council.
Chicago Medical School (CMS) briefly includes planetary health in several courses in the core curriculum.
CMS has made efforts to include information on pollution and environmental risk factors in several of its
courses. However, there is room for improvement when it comes to connecting these topics to climate
change and planetary health as a whole.
Recommendations: There are opportunities to make a direct connection between climate change,
environmental risk factors, and patient outcomes in core curriculum courses. Many courses mention how
environmental risk factors impact the development of certain pathologies, however these topics are rarely
connected to planetary health and how these risk factors have been evolving over time. Additionally, the
Essentials of Clinical Reasoning, Clinical Epidemiology, and Clinical Foundations of Medicine courses can
further explore the impacts that environmental changes have on patient health.
Overall
103PHRC APRIL 2023
Rush Medical College
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
There is an informal consortium of interdisciplinary planetary health researchers associated with RMC and
and Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) that has grown considerably in the past year; however, they
are not funded or supported directly to do this work, nor are they recognized as a true operating research
team by the institution.
Recommendations: RMC and RUMC should create spaces for faculty working on planetary health
research to be recognized and funded. Summer research funding for RMC students should be specifically
designated for students working on planetary health projects.
C-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
RMC has multiple meaningful partnerships with community stake-holders, including student and faculty
involvement in planetary health education initiatives and multiple city gardening programs. Rush has
recently started utilizing Patient Pass to provide educational materials to patients with some that address
environmental impacts on health, however they do not address the impact of climate change on health.
Recommendations: The medical college should work to actively encourage students to participate in
planetary health related initiatives in order to maintain key relationships with community stake-holders. The
institution would benefit from the addition of a centralized planetary health information page to its website
with a focus on the impact of climate change on human health and sustainable healthcare practices.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Midwest
C
Campus Sustainability
The institution’s Office of Sustainability is steadily making progress towards a more sustainable campus,
from establishing environmentally-friendly transportation options to the beginnings of recycling and
compost programs.
Recommendations: Current goals include reducing the institution’s CO2 emissions and developing
sustainable food and beverage guidelines.
D+
RMC supports student planetary health endeavors through the Office of Student Life and Engagement. The
Planetary Health Club is an interdisciplinary health student organization established in 2023. Rush Students for
Social Responsibility is a medical student organization established in 2020.
Recommendations: RMC could further support student initiatives via the addition of planetary
health-focused awards and research opportunities for students. We additionally suggest the creation of a
student liaison position to represent sustainability interests on the Rush University Student Council.
Since last year’s report, Rush Medical College (RMC) has made progress incorporating planetary health
into its core curriculum. However, this improvement mostly comes from a single session in the M2 year.
Designated faculty and students are now advocating for curricular change.
Recommendations: Curricular materials should be modified so that planetary health is integrated
longitudinally into the preclinical and clinical curriculum. Existing relationships between Rush University
and the surrounding community should be leveraged to teach these topics. Students, faculty, and staff are
continuing discussions with leadership to make necessary change toward a planetary health-focused future.
Overall
104PHRC APRIL 2023
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
D-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Einstein is home to a handful of researchers primarily engaged in PH research. Development of a website for
environmental and global health is currently underway, which will improve student access to these resources.
Recommendations: Einstein could consider holding a conference related to PH, joining a national or
international PH organization, and implementing a process in which community members impacted by
environmental injustice can provide input regarding the environmental research agenda. Instituting an
interdisciplinary department could be a longer term goal.
C+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The preclinical Service Learning course allows students to work with several PH-related organizations within the
Bronx. Student groups partner with community organizations to promote environmental health as well. Einstein’s
affiliated hospitals have online educational materials about environmental health exposures.
Recommendations: Einstein or affiliated hospitals should develop educational materials about the health effects
of climate change and offer them as well as already existing resources in printed form. Einstein should consider
offering PH courses for post-graduate providers and regularly communicate with students about efforts and
updates regarding PH and sustainable healthcare.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
D
Einstein has several student groups dedicated to planetary health. Einstein Sustainability Club (ESC) works closely
with faculty to make curriculum changes and integrate sustainability initiatives and opportunities into education and
student life. In addition, Einstein offers opportunities for students to participate in co-curricularplanetary health
programs, such as One Health or the Global Health Fellowship.
Recommendations: There is no formal support for student-led initiatives nor any online resources dedicated to
facilitating student success in PH projects. We recommend that the medical school increase support for students
interested in sustainable initiatives, perhaps by creating a website that connects students with available PH
mentors or opportunities, and/or prioritizing grants for related research.
Inclusion of planetary health (PH) topics in the preclinical core curriculum at Einstein was greatly increased by
introducing PH-focused lectures into the Health Systems and Health Equity course, as well as by integrating
climate change/health impact material into a number of foundational and organ system courses.
Recommendations: Although there was some successful integration of PH topics into lectures, these topics
could be discussed in greater depth; this would require more commitment from course directors and lecturers.
Einstein’s Introduction to Clinical Medicine course provides an opportunity to include important topics in the core
curriculum, such as environmental history taking and discussing the effects of climate change with patients.
Einstein has an Office of Energy and Sustainability dedicated to improving the environmental impact of campus
practices. Shuttle transportation and recycling services in student housing are two well-established efforts that can
serve as foundations for more comprehensive sustainability programs.
Recommendations: There is still much to improve with regards campus sustainability. While there are some goals
already in place, we strongly recommend introducing sustainable guidelines for events and daily campus life.
Overall
105PHRC APRIL 2023
Boston University
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D+
Planetary Health Curriculum
B-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) Center for Climate and Health has a robust
program focusing on interdisciplinary research in planetary health.
Recommendations: BUSM could collaborate with the Office of Sustainability and the BUSPH to centralize
resources related to health and the environment in a medical school specific context. This could include
information for researchers at the medical school as well as medical students interested in participating in
planetary health research. Additionally, the medical school should consider joining the Planetary Health
Alliance and/or the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Boston University as a whole has connections with sustainability organizations in the community and
BUSM prides itself on community outreach, but has few partnerships specifically focused on planetary health.
Recommendations: BUSM could partner with more environmental organizations in the region to offer
students volunteer and activism opportunities in this arena.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
Sustainability is a main area of focus for Boston University, which has a robust Climate Action Plan with
goals to be carbon neutral by 2040 as well as a Zero Waste Plan. Major successes have included a
commitment to divest from fossil fuels and procurement guidelines that focus on sustainable purchasing.
Recommendations: The Office of Sustainability could expand its presence on the medical campus. More
specifically, BUSM should continue to create, implement and enforce guidelines for sustainability for our
student groups and food vendors on campus.
B+
The medical school is supportive of student-led initiatives and engaged in helping develop improved content
around planetary health. Student groups seeking funding for their activities or research have appropriate avenues
to do so.
Recommendations: The Medical Campus Sustainability Intern role could be expanded to encompass
issues of planetary health and sustainability in the medical curriculum. Furthermore, faculty advisors could
encourage student groups such as the Climate Action Group, the Wilderness Medicine Elective, and the
Global Health Equity Program to host events that connect climate and health.
The Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) Planetary Health Curriculum contains sessions on impacts of
environmental health on patients in the setting of asthma and other cardiopulmonary illnesses, with a focus on
environmental justice. The Medical School is in the midst of transitioning to a redesigned curriculum and there are
ongoing efforts to incorporate more longitudinal planetary health education into the new curriculum.
Recommendations: BUSM should continue the work of reaching out to lecturers and clinical educators about
including relevant planetary health or sustainability information in their lessons. The material on environmental
health could be expanded to teach more broadly about the health impacts of climate change, including information
on mental health and natural disasters. Finally, the medical school could collaborate with the School of Public
Health to offer relevant electives or lectures.
Overall
106PHRC APRIL 2023
Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Alpert Medical School (AMS) has several faculty focused on planetary health research. This is the second
year the Ruth Sauber Medical Education Fund for Planetary Health was offered to students to pursue a
year-long research project with a faculty member. The medical school does not have a department
supporting environmental research or mechanisms for community input.
Recommendations: AMS can better support planetary health research by increasing collaborations with
the Institute at Brown for Environment & Society, the School of Public Health, and the Office of
Sustainability. Furthermore, working with local k-12 schools and community centers can incorporate
community input into research initiatives.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
AMS has made only slight progress in planetary health community outreach and advocacy this year, such as the
tree-planting event with the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program. This event only happened one time per
semester and did not facilitate longitudinal relationships between students and the organization.
Recommendations: The AMS ECo club should try to strengthen its partnership with Providence
Neighborhood Planting Program and also engage in other meaningful partnerships with RI organizations,
such as Sunrise Providence, to provide more student service opportunities. AMS should also consider
working with student organizations at the Brown University campus, such as the radio show “Possibly,” to
maximize community impact. Furthermore, AMS and its hospital affiliate Lifespan should consider
distributing Rhode Island Department of Health resources on climate change so patients have access to
information regarding planetary health.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
C
Support for student-led initiatives, such as the AMS ECo club and the Planetary Health Curricular
Integration Committee, is strong at AMS. However, there is not a central platform or website for students to easily
find information on planetary health activities or resources.
Recommendations: Opportunities for funding and planetary health events should be better advertised to get more
students to be involved.
While the core curriculum at Brown includes a range of planetary health content, these topics are usually
briefly mentioned. The curriculum also has no clearly defined longitudinal objectives regarding planetary
health. This year Brown created a Planetary Health Curricular Integration Committee to promote, develop
and implement Planetary Health content throughout the medical school curriculum, empowering students
and faculty to act on issues pertaining to Planetary Health. This is a large first step in creating a linear and
longitudinal Planetary Health core curriculum.
Recommendations: Brown has made progress in its curriculum and should aim to longitudinally integrate
the health and environmental impacts of climate change in its curriculum as well as challenge students to
think critically and act on issues of planetary health and injustice. The importance of the subject should be
emphasized and connected to not just social medicine but also to scientific and clinical based knowledge.
Brown University continues to progress towards its goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. A notable development
this year includes the recent Rhode Island-based solar farm opening in late 2022. AMS remains disconnected
from the Office of Sustainability.
Recommendations: There is still much to improve with the campus sustainability. Goals and plans are already
in place at the Medical School, especially in transportation and building, but we also recommend focusing on
making lab spaces more sustainable and improving/introducing sustainable guidelines for events and
procurement.
Overall
107PHRC APRIL 2023
Columbia University VP&S
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
A
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Columbia University has several strong interdisciplinary research efforts, including the Earth Institute and the
Climate School. The Mailman School of Public Health is particularly strong in the area of environmental health
research and is a tremendous resource. The medical school should work to become more well integrated into the
network of interdisciplinary resources and should make these resources more readily available to medical
students.
Recommendations: The medical school should create a resource that centralizes these environmental health
research opportunities and outlines the ways in which medical students could get involved. Also, community
involvement in the environmental research conducted by the university should be prioritized.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
While there are many initiatives throughout Columbia University, there is currently no infrastructure for medical
students to get involved in most outreach and advocacy efforts. The medical school should work to strengthen
connections across the university and make these initiatives more readily accessible and better publicized for
medical students.
Recommendations: The medical school should seek to develop stronger collaborations with community
organizations and involve students in these efforts as a requirement given the immense environmental
determinants in the Washington Heights community.
B-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
C+
The administration is supportive of and enthusiastic about student efforts, however this enthusiasm is general and
not focused on planetary health initiatives. Recent improvements include a centralized list for potential
collaborators in planetary health and a new student chapter of Health Students for a Sustainable Future.
Recommendations: A specific research or outreach program should be developed for students interested in
leading planetary health initiatives with funding.
Integration of planetary health topics into the medical school core curriculum is limited, but continues to expand.
The main sources of information are through several lectures in the Introduction to Global and Population Health
elective course open to first-year medical students, through one module in “Environmental Health'' in the Internal
Medicine section of the Public Health Commute (a series of modules meant to be completed during the Major
Clinical Year) and finally through brief, passing mentions in lecture slides. Case based learning slide decks that
incorporate climate health have been created to be implemented in the upcoming year.
Recommendations: The Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) should continue to expand
planetary health topics in its curriculum. Areas of implementation may include Public Health Commute lecture
slides, Foundations of Clinical Medicine course, The Body: In Health and Disease course, and M&P week.
Columbia University has taken concrete steps towards sustainability, with particular strengths including
transportation, renewable energy, commitment to building new buildings up to LEED standards, and committing
to carbon neutrality.
Recommendations: The medical school can continue to develop its composting plan with and declare a start
date for its availability to students. Furthermore, recycling bins should be required at all school events, and
student organization should be incentivized to have 0 waste events.
Overall
108PHRC APRIL 2023
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
B-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Dartmouth lacks an institute for planetary health research, yet has some research underway in this area.
Research related to PH (i.e. waste audits, impacts of air pollution, or climate change modeling) is led by
independent researchers in various departments and is not centralized or easily accessible.
Recommendations: The medical school should commit to recruitment of researchers interested in PH and
identify researchers at the institution who are already doing work in this area. Forming a centralized website
for projects related to PH and healthcare sustainability would help to increase transparency in this area.
C
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Healthcare sustainability is not transparent within the medical school or at our affiliated hospitals, but the
MS4SF chapter at Geisel is working to expand connections within sustainability across the campus. We
hosted a public Earth Day celebration to bridge the gap between climate change and health in our
community in April 2022. Several Grand Rounds speakers at DHMC also focused on PH topics in 2022.
Recommendations: Continued administrative support of student involvement in healthcare sustainability
efforts and direct partnership with community organizations such as NH Healthcare Workers for Climate
Action to further educate about planetary health within the Dartmouth community is needed.
A-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C+
Campus Sustainability
D
Dartmouth College has a number of established resources available to undergraduates and medical
students,including funding for projects and sustainability initiatives. Most medical students are unaware of these
opportunities, however, and Geisel does not have active relationships with departments hosting these grants.
Recommendations: The medical school administration could further support student initiatives by ensuring
medical students are aware of existing opportunities and developing a student fellowship dedicated to PH.
Planetary health (PH) is inadequately covered in the core curriculum, but efforts are being made to
incorporate it. Electives focused on planetary health have been proposed at Geisel, which is an exciting
development. Ways that climate change is impacting specific health outcomes is where Geisel has focused
its curricular attention, but the overall environmental impact of the healthcare system itself and aspects of
sustainable clinical practice require incorporation.
Recommendations: Topic areas where planetary health could be incorporated are noted in the score
explanations. Discussing aspects of planetary health with patients should be added to the On Doctoring
Curriculum. PH connections should be added to core course objectives.
Dartmouth College has a well integrated Sustainability Office that is involved in green construction,
sustainable food and supply procurement, initiatives related to divestment, and community engagement
around sustainability. However, they operate separately from the medical school.
Recommendations: Geisel could benefit from enhanced communication with the Sustainability Office to
increase green practices including sustainable purchasing, transportation initiatives, laboratory
sustainability, and waste management.
Overall
109PHRC APRIL 2023
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
A
Interdisciplinary Research
The Icahn School of Medicine is a member of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, and
is home to multiple hubs and departments dedicated to interdisciplinary planetary health research. It
organizes this research and associated conferences in a centralized website.
Recommendations: While the Icahn School of Medicine has relationships with Community Based
Organizations in East Harlem, community members can be given increased agency and decision-making
power in the institution’s ongoing research and projects relating to the environment.
B
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai has made good progress in community outreach relating to
planetary health. NYSCHECK and PEHSU at ISMMS have promoted planetary health to New Yorkers
through public-facing brochures on several environmental health and climate change topics (Prescriptions
for Prevention). During InFocus courses during the first year of medical school and clinical electives, students are
able to work directly with community partners on environmental justice crisis issues, such as asthma, air pollution,
and mold exposures. Since 2019, the Mount Sinai Institute for Exposomic Research has hosted the Clinical Climate
Change Conference, an annual continuing medical education conference that focuses on the latest planetary
health-related research and ways to advance patient health and education.
Recommendations: ISMMS should continue to integrate more community partnerships relating to
planetary health. There is room for improvement in hosting events or courses related to planetary health for medical
education and student training. In addition, ISMMS should consider sending out more
communication regarding planetary health to trainees, faculty, and other members of the school/hospital.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
B-
Campus Sustainability
B
The Icahn School of Medicine has several student groups relating to planetary health, sustainability, and/or
wilderness appreciation: the Greening/Sustainability Committee of Student Council; WildMed; the One Health and
Emerging Pathogens Interest Group; and our chapter of MS4SF. Students can attend planetary health-related
events, such as the annual Climate Change Conference. Sinai has relevant web pages about planetary health
research and programs, which medical students can pursue; however, dedicated programming and funding for
medical student research and projects on planetary health appear to be lacking.
Recommendations: More funding and programming for medical student research and projects on planetary health
is needed. Sinai could also benefit from more opportunities relating to food systems, environmental justice, art
events about environmentalism, and environmental volunteering.
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai does include some climate curriculum in the pre-clinical
years. A large portion of the climate curriculum was included within several stand-alone lectures.
Longitudinal climate curriculum was sporadically present. There is a lack of comprehensive coverage of
climate-related topics.
Recommendations: There is a lack of clinical opportunities for students to practice discussing/engaging
with climate health topics. There is also no discussion regarding sustainable clinical practices. This could be
introduced in the clinical years or by furthering partnerships with community organizations. Better visibility
of climate change topics is necessary; this could be achieved by incorporating climate topics into
assessment materials and clinical vignettes.
The Icahn School of Medicine has implemented many initiatives to improve supply procurement, conserve
energy in existing buildings, and reduce waste in clinical and laboratory settings. The institution has taken
steps toward further systemic changes by divesting from fossil-fuel investments and setting goals for carbon
neutrality.
Recommendations: Areas needing the most improvement include increased usage of renewable energy throughout
the healthcare system as well as further implementation of composting within the hospital and cafeteria. Further, we
suggest that the medical school create sustainability guidelines relating to purchases for its catered events.
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
Overall
110PHRC APRIL 2023
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
B+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
JHSOM does not have departments dedicated to research in planetary health, but the institution as a whole does.
However, there are individual faculty who do research related to this field that students can find via a directory
search.
Recommendations: The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine could partner directly with the already
established centers within the entire institution to work on research and initiatives that focus on planetary
health. JHSOM can also establish a central database to find research dedicated to relevant research topics.
C
Community Outreach and Advocacy
JHSOM has multiple community partners with an environmental health focus and a moderate degree of student
engagement with these partners. The medical school does not host planetary health-related events or courses for
the community. No planetary health-related CME courses are hosted for healthcare providers. JHSOM has several
accessible educational materials online for patients.
Recommendations: There is a need for more community-facing events and CME courses relating to planetary
health, especially given the prevalence of environmental justice issues in the surrounding city.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
C
JHSOM provide some financial support and mentorship to students interested in planetary health. The Planetary
Health Alliance, a student organisation dedicated to this topic, receives funding from the Medical Student Senate
and has a faculty mentor. In addition, the University offers several opportunities for students to participate in co-
curricular planetary health programs through SOURCE, the School of Public Health, and TIME courses.
Recommendations: Co-curricular opportunities mostly come from the wider university rather than the Medical
School.We recommend that the medical school offer increased support to students interested in sustainable
initiatives. For example, the school could create a website that advertises mentors or opportunities for students
relating to planetary health or education for sustainable healthcare and prioritises grants for related research.
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHSOM) M.D. curriculum currently lacks integration of planetary
health and climate change material into its core curriculum. However, there are relevant learning objectives during
short elective courses such as the Disaster Medicine 3-day elective. There is also a selective course within the
Foundations of Public Health course led by students that primarily focuses on planetary health. Currently, the EM
department is working on incorporating planetary health into pre-clinical and clerkship activities.
Recommendations: Course directors for various course blocks could integrate case studies featuring
environmental hazards into their lectures or small group sessions. There is also a lack of emphasis on introducing
planetary health into conversations with patients, such as taking an environmental health exposure history. This
could be introduced in clinical skills courses, such as Clinical Foundations of Medicine or the Longitudinal
Ambulatory Clerkship.
JHSOM does not have readily available information regarding its own sustainability and has not taken many steps
to improve its carbon footprint. However, the JHSOM has recently hired a sustainability project manager. Some of
the steps the school has taken include composting and recycling programs, initiatives to make lab spaces more
environmentally sustainable, and partial divestment from fossil fuels.
Recommendations: The JHUSOM sustainability project manager should improve campus sustainability and make
this information publicly available. The 2030 JHU Sustainability Plan should explicitly state a goal to reduce the
institution’s carbon footprint as well as the medical school’s, and take actions to work towards that goal.
Overall
111PHRC APRIL 2023
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
A
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Rutgers University has had several climate-related symposiums and showcases in the past year. However,
they were not directly aimed at medical students therefore engagement was limited.
Recommendations: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School could organise a conference or showcase
directly related to Planetary Health. We also encourage RWJMS to join the Planetary Health Alliance.
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School’s community outreach and advocacy relating to planetary health has been
limited in a direct capacity. However, there are programs and groups at the institution that work with community
organisations in assessing and building resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Recommendations: We recommend the medical school develop direct outreach to the local community as well as
partner with organisations that are already connected to the community.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
C-
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School has a funded student interest group dedicated to the topic of
planetary health or climate change related health outcomes called Medical Students for a Sustainable
Future. The school has supported students directly adding to the core curriculum through this organisation.
Recommendations: We recommend that planetary health options be incorporated into the experiential
learning portion of the core curriculum to help provide opportunities for students to engage in
environmental justice and learn about sustainable healthcare.
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School does include planetary health in the curriculum, but it lacks
integration longitudinally. In first and second year, various aspects of planetary health are discussed in
lectures.
Recommendations: While student-initiatives are underway to incorporate planetary health concepts into
the necessary sections of the curriculum, there is a lack of direct clinical teaching. For example, how
students may discuss climate-related topics with their patients. This could be introduced during an OSCE
(Objective Structured Clinical Exam).
Campus sustainability is incorporated via the University-wide climate action plan to become carbon neutral by
2040.
Recommendations: We recommend efforts to incorporate the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
into the Climate Action Plan set forth by Rutgers University. At the medical school level, we recommend
developing sustainability guidelines for events and begin efforts to make lab spaces and supply procurement more
sustainable.
Overall
112PHRC APRIL 2023
Tufts University School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Both Tufts University and The Friedman School of Nutrition have broader research emphasis on sustainability and
planetary health. The Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) Maine track has some faculty who focus on these
issues, but the Boston campus lacks opportunities dedicated to medical students.
Recommendations: The comprehensive offerings at the undergraduate institution could make an effort to better
highlight sustainability research in the medical school, raising the profile of this research and hopefully making it
more accessible to medical school students.
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Tufts University School of Medicine has little community outreach relating to planetary health.
Recommendations: Tufts has the solid foundation of the Community Service Learning program to build upon - a
required service learning opportunity for most medical students. This presents the opportunity to develop an
opportunity tailored to planetary health and community engagement.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
D
Tufts University School of Medicine offers support for students if they take initiatives. There are grants available if
students pursue them, select research mentors that can be sought out (primarily on the Maine campus) and
funding for the sustainability club’s meetings. There is also an unofficially Sustainability chair. However, many of
these initiatives are purely student led and not institutionalized.
Recommendations: We hope to solidify the Sustainability Chair position by making them an official member of the
Student Council. It’s also recommended that planetary / environmental health becomes a tag for research offerings
so it is easier for students to identify opportunities in this realm. Finally, we hope to find and engage official faculty
sponsorship for our student club and initiatives.
In the preclinical years, environmental pollutants, changing disease dynamics, and sustainable diets are all
mentioned but the impact of climate change and anticipated future exacerbations are not mentioned. Additionally,
an entire lecture on Climate Health is included in the Threads course.
Recommendations: . In the appropriate organ blocks, a slide or two should be prioritized to explore how the
systems will be treated in our changing world. Additionally, a session on engaging patients regarding planetary
health and associated health issues should be included prior to beginning rotations.
Tufts University broadly has made great strides in progressing towards a more sustainable campus. New
construction is thoughtful, they have partially divested from fossil fuels, Tufts University School of Medical has
made good progress to become a more sustainable campus in conjunction with the wider University, including
fossil fuel divestment and using fully renewable energy on site, to setting achievable goals for carbon neutrality in
the future.
Recommendations: We hope to continue focusing on making lab spaces more sustainable and improve/introduce
sustainable guidelines for events and procurement.
Overall
113PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B-
Planetary Health Curriculum
C-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UConn SOM does not have dedicated departments for interdisciplinary research regarding planetary health.
There are conferences regarding planetary health but they are not directed towards medical students.
Recommendations: UConn SOM should organize a conference related to Planetary Health. They could
also officially join the Planetary Health Alliance, the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education,
and set up a website with planetary health news with specific discussions relating to the medical field.
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
UConn SOM does not have much in the line of community outreach and advocacy. Few resources are
available to patients, institution staff only receive some singular presentations, and there are no ongoing
partnerships or educational materials.
Recommendations: We recommend that UConn SOM build community partnerships relating to planetary
health and that the hospital system focuses on emphasizing planetary health in patient educational materials.
C-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C-
Campus Sustainability
D+
UConn supports student groups dedicated to planetary health. There is one medical group (Sustainability at
UConn Health) that works closely with a faculty mentor and allies within the medical school. In addition,
UConn offers opportunities for students to participate in planetary health-related research or QI projects.
However, these opportunities must be explicitly sought out by students and there is no central website to
find information relating to planetary health opportunities for medical students.
Recommendations: Offer increased support to students interested in sustainable initiatives. For example, a
specific website that advertises mentors or opportunities for students relating to Planetary Health and prioritizes
grants for related research. One option for integrating more co-curricular planetary health programs/initiatives is to
collaborate more with the DPH, as they have speakers and courses that address the health implications of
environmental hazards and climate change.
The University of Connecticut School of Medicine (UConn SOM) does include planetary health in the
curriculum and is actively working on ways to integrate more planetary health topics into the curriculum
longitudinally. There are students and faculty currently working on integrating these important topics
further into two of the first and second year courses, Case Oriented Essentials (COrE) and Vertically
Integrated Teams Aligned in Learning (VITAL).
Recommendations: Continue to work planetary health topics into the curriculum longitudinally in addition
to incorporating sustainable clinical practices into the core curriculum and increase administrative support
for its integration.
UConn SOM has made some efforts to be a sustainable campus. In conjunction with the wider University,
sustainable building practices are utilized for new buildings and the majority of old buildings have been
retrofitted to be more sustainable. The new food service company, Morrison Healthcare, has sustainability
guidelines for food and beverages. The potential for composting in the cafeteria has been discussed as a
possibility in the future, but this does not appear to be actively pursued at this time. Additionally, the
medical school offers environmentally-friendly transportation options.
Recommendations: A designated staff member and/or committee in charge of medical school and/or
hospital sustainability would be an asset in the plans to improve campus/hospital sustainability. We also
recommend a more ambitious CO2 emission reduction goal and divesting from fossil-fuel companies. We
also recommend focusing on making lab spaces more sustainable, introducing composting on campus, and
improving/introducing sustainable guidelines for events and supply procurement.
Overall
114PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
D
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
The University of Maryland SoM lacks significant planetary health research, has zero institutional research grant
support, and has no dedicated planetary health research department or website. The SoM does not collaborate with
either environmental justice groups or local communities to set an environmental health research agenda.
Recommendations: Join the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education and create a dedicated planetary
health webpage collating relevant faculty researchers and intramural environmental health publications. Prioritize
environmental health research in seed grant programs, encourage recruitment of planetary health researchers and
educators, and partner with local environmental justice groups to identify high-priority research needs.
F-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
D
The University of Maryland SoM has improved on the longitudinal integration of planetary health content in the core
curriculum, at the expense of a critical broad-stroke lecture on climate change and human health previously delivered to
second-year medical students. Pre-clerkship electives this past year have covered climate change to a much greater
degree than the previous year, and promisingly, these electives have prioritized exploring the intersectionality of climate
change with other social justice topics.
Recommendations: Prioritize longitudinal integration of planetary health into the pre-clerkship curriculum through
methodical inclusion of bite-sized planetary health content into every relevant course block. Strategic action is needed to
fill the gap left by the redacted climate & health standalone lecture. Continue weaving planetary health into existing pre-
clerkship electives. Consider establishing a standalone climate change & health elective if sufficient momentum exists.
The University of Maryland SoM currently maintains no partnerships with organizations whose primary concern is
planetary health and education. Notably, the institution has plans to incorporate environmental service learning
opportunities in the future to the Practice of Medicine service learning requirement - however, no opportunities currently
exist. There is currently no easily accessible resource provided by the School of Medicine to its students and the general
public regarding climate, environmental health, environmental exposures.
Recommendations: Continue to build out preliminary planetary health service learning options through the Practice of
Medicine course. Local organizations such as the Baltimore Tree Trust, Friends of Great Kids Farms, 4MyCiTy, and
South Baltimore Land Trust can provide educational space and communication for the local community to learn more
about planetary health and climate change.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
The University of Maryland SoM does not actively promote environmental health research or offer funding specifically
for sustainability-focused projects. While student-led groups exist, such as Medical Students for a Sustainable Future
and the Wilderness Medicine Interest Group, there is no SoM-led initiative or centralized resource dedicated to
promoting planetary health.
Recommendations: Host an Environmental Health Research roundtable through the Office of Student Research.
Expand funding and opportunities for students to create and implement sustainability QA/QC efforts in the campus
community. Create a centralized resource/database/website for students interested in pursuing planetary health-
focused projects and initiatives.
C-
Campus Sustainability
The UMB Office of Sustainability has collated existing sustainability projects on campus and has made great strides to
align UMB with new statewide guidance for higher education institutions and improve campus commitment to energy
efficiency and waste reduction. Still, the University System of Maryland has not fully divested from fossil fuels and
institutional investment in climate change resilience and mitigation needs improvement.
Recommendation: Scale up fossil fuel divestment and explore strategic investment in institutional waste reduction
strategies. Collaborate with the Baltimore Office of Sustainability to explore equitable strategies to improve low-
emission infrastructure in and around campus. Continued funding towards the UMB Office of Sustainability is critical to
ensure momentum on campus-wide sustainability efforts.
Overall
115PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Massachusetts
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
C-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UMass Chan Medical School has continued partnerships with Practice Greenhealth and the Global Consortium on
Climate Change and Health Education. The school encourages students to participate in research, but there are no
specific research fellowships dedicated to planetary health.
Recommendations: UMass Chan should consider developing an interdisciplinary climate and health research center
in collaboration with the other UMass campuses.
B-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
UMass Chan meaningfully partnered with ReGreen Springfield and Elders Climate Action MA during the population
health clerkships allowing students to develop climate advocacy skills and to learn more about environmental
justice in their community.
Recommendations: UMass should continue to foster and grow partnerships with climate-minded organizations in
addition to developing a community facing climate and health course for the local community.
B+
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
C
UMass Chan has a funded student and faculty supported organization, UMMS Coalition for Climate Action, They
also have invited students to join a curricular Climate Change Taskforce. UMass also supports a thriving, student-
run community garden and a student-run elective focused on Climate Action
Recommendations The UMass Chan Student Body Committee should develop a student sustainability liaison
position on their governing body.
The Office of Sustainability at UMass Chan Medical School works to support student-led initiatives around climate
and health, increasing the number of electric vehicle charging stations and facilitating the distribution of community
farm shares to students.
Recommendations: The UMass system should prioritize divesting from all indirect fossil fuel holdings in the
coming year. The school should implement a sustainable event guide for events held on campus
Although some climate change and planetary health topics are integrated into the medical school curriculum, these
topics are concentrated in the first and second years of medical school and leave out many topics. Implementation of
planetary health content has been largely student driven.
Recommendations: UMass Chan should update its website to allow students to join existing curricular projects and
explore the current state of climate and health curriculum integration at UMass Chan. UMass Chan should prioritize
the integration of the impact of climate change on marginalized and indigenous communities, global climate, and
health inequities. They should recruit and assign faculty specifically to oversee the creation and implementation of
planetary health into the core curriculum.
Overall
116PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Pittsburgh
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
D+
Interdisciplinary Research
Pitt Med is a member of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education. We also have individual faculty
members at the medical school exclusively doing research related to planetary health and have many scientists
across the public health department doing the same.
Recommendations: Organize a planetary healthcare conference that includes community voices to allow them to
engage with designing research projects and developing plans that maximize community benefit.
B
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Students attend neighborhood tours in areas experiencing climate injustice and meet community leaders of local
nonprofits, including community gardens. Pitt Students for One Health is a student organization that partners with
Tree Pittsburgh, Repair the World Pittsburgh, City of Pittsburgh Volunteer Clean Up, and the Pittsburgh East End
Cooperative Garden.
Recommendations: Grow these community partnerships to include staff and faculty across the UPMC hospitals
and increase availability of educational seminars within the medical school on how to best serve our communities
through the lens of planetary health.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
B-
The institution offers numerous grants in sustainability projects for individual students, student groups, building
innovations, and events. There are also student organizations that cover the topics of planetary health
engagement, scholarship, and advocacy including Pitt Students for One Health, Global Health and Underserved
Populations Group, and the Social Medicine Fellows Program.
Recommendations: We recommend the medical school offer increased support to students interested in
sustainable initiatives by creating a subsection of the Pitt Sustainability website that advertises mentors or
opportunities for students and prioritizes grants for planetary health research.
Pitt Med does include planetary health in the curriculum, especially through a Climate Change elective course. This
course covers many major planetary health topics (air pollution, healthcare carbon footprint, local environment, and
mental health). The core curriculum also covers discussion of some fundamental topics including non-pharmaceutical
health management and the impact of the environment on marginalized communities.
Recommendations: Introduce a thread of planetary health themes through problem-based learning scenarios,
history taking (environmental exposure), patient and community panels through Social Medicine, and in-clerkship
didactics.
The Pitt Office of Sustainability has a wealth of resources available for the medical school to utilize to inform
sustainable practices. The medical school building has had updates with these guidelines in mind and the new
West Wing building under construction has LEED certification.
Recommendations: Recruit faculty and students from the medical school who can directly implement the Pitt
Sustainability Plan, Pitt Green Host program, establish a composting program, and encourage participation in the
Pitt Green Labs Program.
Overall
117PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Rochester
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
D+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
There are individuals whose research is focused on healthcare sustainability or PH, but there is no
overarching department they are housed under to direct overall research goals, funding, or directions.
Though there is a process for community members to advise climate research, the medical school should
create a process that allows them to directly vote on research to improve engagement.
While there are seminars on subjects related to planetary health, there should be further effort on creating
formal research conferences that allow for project submissions and student presentations.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
URSMD faculty are involved in community outreach and advocacy, however, this involvement is
primarily limited to 2-3 clinicians who are connected to several broader medical centres and community groups
in Rochester to promote PH engagement and education.
Besides these 2-3 incredible faculty members, medical school administration, faculty, and staff are largely
uninvolved in community outreach efforts related to PH.
Medical students at URSMD, unless connected to the above 2-3 clinicians, have few opportunities to
engage in community outreach and advocacy initiatives related to PH.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Northeast
C
Campus Sustainability
D+
URSMD funds and supports a student interest group focused on PH. However, there are no students
representing sustainability interests on an institutional decision-making council.
PH research projects are able to be funded through broader research support initiatives.
However, there are not any funding opportunities that specifically promote PH research.
Various events, projects, and programs organised by students, faculty, and community members have
covered a range of PH topics. No medical-school specific webpage exists to display PH activities or mentors.
University of Rochester includes planetary health in the curriculum, but it lacks integration longitudinally.
Recommendations: There is a lack of teaching about introducing conversations about planetary health into
conversations with patients. This could be introduced in clinical skills, or early years ICM/FBP teaching.
Also, integration of planetary health should be included in more aspects of pre-clinicals
URSMD has made some progress towards more sustainable practices. However, many of these changes
have been implemented sporadically, and more universal application of sustainable practices is needed.
Both the University of Rochester and URSMD have robust programs available to individual students
and faculty such as carpooling, biking, and recycling. Several of the Medical Center dining locations
incorporate some sustainability criteria into their food and beverage selections as well.
URSMD lacks an Office of Sustainability and has not made a formal commitment to carbon neutrality.
Recommendations: There is significant work to do to improve sustainability at URSMD. Goals and plans
should include collaboration with the undergraduate campus to create a broad-reaching sustainability
movement and have maximal impact. Most staffing and programming relating to sustainability is
recommended to help the student body increase their awareness about the importance of improving
sustainable practices at the school. With a larger population in support of these changes, the school has a
strong chance at improving sustainability on an institutional level.
Overall
118PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
D+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Although it is not the primary focus of his research, there have been multiple publications by Dr. Manish
Joshi over the effects of climate change on respiratory health.
Recommendations: UAMS could offer more opportunity for community involvement in deciding new
research topics, as well as hosting a Planetary Health symposium or the College of Medicine becoming a
member of an international planetary health organization.
B-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences provides several educational resources to its patients and
the surrounding community on climate change and health; however, the College of Medicine could be more
involved in these efforts.
Recommendations: The College of Medicine could be a member of a community organization and provide events
or courses geared toward educating the community to promote planetary health.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Southeast
C
Campus Sustainability
D
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences encourages students to become involved in planetary
health. The student-led "Climate Health Interest Group” organizes several opportunities for students to
become involved in, such as educational lecture series and volunteer opportunities at the local gardens, ect.
Recommendations: The Climate Health Interest Group could work to provide cultural events related to
planetary health to students for the College of Medicine. The COM administration could provide a position
for a student-liaison to be able to advocate for planetary health integration into the curriculum when
decision-making for curriculum changes occurs.
UAMS faculty has incorporated several topics discussing planetary health in relation to medicine
throughout the first and second year curriculum. There has also been recent approval for a fourth year
Climate Change and Health elective that will be available for students in the upcoming year.
Recommendations: There is a lack of teaching about introducing conversations about planetary health into
conversations with patients as well as sustainable clinical practice, indigenous knowledge, and the carbon
footprint in the healthcare system. These topics could be integrated into the third year curriculum as
students become more exposed to the healthcare environment.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has made great progress recently in sustainability efforts
with a new $150 million energy project that will significantly reduce energy use and the carbon footprint as
well as provide more sustainable infrastructure throughout the campus, but it does not include renewable
energy use.
Recommendations: There is still room to improve with the campus sustainability, such as providing
sustainability guidelines with the food and beverages provided at UAMS, supply procurement, events
hosted by the College of Medicine, and lab spaces. There could also be more transparency with UAMS
fossil-fuel investment companies and efforts to divest.
Overall
119PHRC APRIL 2023
Emory University School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
A
Planetary Health Curriculum
A+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Interdisciplinary collaboration remains central to Emory University’s vision. This year, Emory University’s
Provost launched the school-wide Emory Climate Research Initiative (ECRI) to advance climate change
research and teaching and to support Emory’s interdisciplinary response to the global crisis.
Recommendations: The School of Medicine could consider a centralized platform for those interested in
engaging in sustainability and planetary health efforts and research.
A
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Emory has continued to bolster its community-facing courses through the installment of a new series,
“Community Conversations: Emory Talks Climate Action,” in addition to its pre-existing “Climate Talks”
series and the podcast, “AmpliFIRE: Raising Voices Against Rising Temperatures.”
Recommendations: Students and faculty should work to identify or create locally-relevant planetary health
educational materials for distribution to patients across Emory-affiliated hospitals and clinics.
A
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Southeast
A
Campus Sustainability
B
Students interested in promoting and engaging in planetary health initiatives are well-supported at Emory. A
number of mechanisms are in place to support funding for student-led projects, access to mentors and
research opportunities, involvement in co-curricular student organizations, and participation in campus
advocacy and curricular reform.
Recommendations: Renewed focus on student engagement in the broader (local, state, global) community (e.g.
through volunteer opportunities, networking with local leaders, and community engagement) as well as hospital
and healthcare sustainability initiatives will maximize the reach and impact of student efforts.
Emory University School of Medicine is in its third year of implementing a faculty and student co-created
climate change & environmental health pre-clinical curriculum, with learning points disseminated across
lectures and small group sessions. This is the first year of implementation of a longitudinal “Thread” that
spans all 4 years. Emory continues to expand the scope of the curriculum through emphasis on practical
applications across topics/specialties, including exposure history workshops and small group teaching.
Recommendations: The curricular focus is shifting from specific topic areas to teaching modalities and
assessment strategies as identified here. Nevertheless, content regarding climate and mental health and the
importance of Indigenous knowledge and value systems can be enhanced in the coming years.
Emory has cultivated widespread acceptance of sustainability on campus, including at the medical school. Emory
ranked #4 for top green colleges in 2023 according to the Princeton Review, and is aiming for a 50% energy
reduction per square foot for Emory College and 25% for Emory Healthcare by 2025. Since November 2021, the
School of Medicine Anatomy Lab has been recognized as a Bronze Level Green Lab.
Recommendations: Notably absent from the White House/HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge, Emory and Emory
Healthcare should sign the pledge and ensure sufficient dedicated resources to bolster sustainability and resilience
across its immense healthcare operations, elevating sustainability as a leadership priority.
Overall
120PHRC APRIL 2023
George Washington School of Medicine and
Health Sciences
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
B
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
In 2022, The George Washington University launched the Climate and Health Institute which seeks to
promote cross-disciplinary research and collaboration to better equip current and future public health
professionals to navigate the population level impacts of climate change.
Recommendations: The Climate and Health Institute can better include diverse student voices in their work
as they seek to strengthen to future public health workforce
C-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The GW Climate and Health Institute conducts community-based research to better understand the disparate
impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations
Recommendations: We recommend GW to expand its profile of community partners, emphasizing under
resourced areas or areas disproportionately impacted by climate change to ensure every voice is heard.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Southeast
C
Campus Sustainability
D+
With the approval of the Climate Change and Human Health Curriculum theme, GW has demonstrated its
support and endorsement of student-lead initiatives. We are encouraged that with this recognition,
student-led initiatives will be both readily supported and provided with a framework for feasible
implementation.
Recommendations: This newly approved theme can serve as a catalyst and platform for ease of new
student-led initiatives.
The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences recently approved to integrate
a “Climate Change and Human Health” curriculum theme that will be dispersed longitudinally throughout
the 4 years of training.
Recommendations: GW will continue to work on Implementation Strategy planning to launch this theme
starting in the fall of 2023.
The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences has made good progress to become a
more sustainable campus in conjunction with the wider University. Efforts span from fossil fuel divestment
and using fully renewable energy on site to setting achievable goals for carbon neutrality in the future.
Recommendations: There is still much to improve with the campus sustainability. Goals include expanding the
promotion of university wide opportunities and initiatives to include the medical school.
Overall
121PHRC APRIL 2023
University of North Carolina
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
B+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Strengths: UNC SOM and other departments have researchers engaged in planetary health and it impacts
human disease and health.
Recommendations: UNC SOM, which is closely linked to UNC Health, could encourage research on
healthcare sustainability and UNC’s carbon footprint, perhaps by increasing funding opportunities. In
solidarity with institutions committing to prioritize planetary health, UNC SOM could join the Global
Consortium on Climate and Health Education. UNC SOM could also include community member feedback
to guide research decisions regarding planetary health and sustainability.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Strengths: UNC Health has a robust Environmental Health Learning Center (EHLC) as part of its online
Health Library for patients.
Recommendations: UNC SOM could collaborate with Gillings School of Global Public Health and their
partnered local organizations (such as CleanAIRE NC) to advocate for environmental health and to create
education materials and organize events for the Triangle area community. The SOM could create a list of
planetary health materials that qualify as CME credits.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Southeast
C
Campus Sustainability
C
Strengths: UNC’s Climate Leadership and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) has received funding
from the Office of Global Health Education (OGHE). UNC Family Medicine Center worked with students
to conduct a waste audit of the clinic in November 2022. Since the last report, faculty have supported three
medical students in developing a Scholarly Concentration on planetary health.
Recommendations: UNC SOM could encourage clinical students to coordinate planetary health-related QI
projects during their third year. Students would benefit from an organized, accessible website detailing
ongoing research projects/mentors and related grant opportunities specifically addressing planetary health.
Strengths: The University of North Carolina School of Medicine (UNC SOM) includes planetary health in
each preclinical block, as well as elective courses, but lacks specific topics and depth of materials.
Recommendations: UNC SOM could include planetary health in its core competencies and offer planetary
health-specific electives. Education could include the significant health-care associated carbon footprint,
waste production, and over-prescribing of pharmaceuticals.
Strengths: UNC’s work with the Three Zeroes Initiative and Sustainable Carolina has improved its
sustainability. The local public transit system is widely used and now includes electric buses. Recycling and
composting bins are reasonably accessible to students. Green Labs has implemented several initiatives to reduce
waste in UNC laboratories. The university has seen a 40% decrease in emissions since 2007.
Recommendations: UNC SOM could join Sustainable Carolina’s council to help improve the school’s
sustainability. Older SOM buildings could be retrofitted to be more eco-friendly, perhaps by adding
compost bins. The med school cafeteria (Beach Café) could increase the number of restaurants that source locally
grown food. UNC could invest in renewable energy and divest from coal supplied by Duke Energy
Overall
122PHRC APRIL 2023
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Several Vanderbilt University Medical school faculty, including Dr. Eva Parker, are dedicated to planetary health
issues in their research and broader careers.
Recommendations: Vanderbilt University Medical school could organize a conference directly related to
Planetary Health. They could also join the Planetary Health Alliance and the Global Consortium on Climate and Health
Education and connect with communities affected by climate change to inform research priorities.
C
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Medical students have spearheaded recent efforts to engage with the broader community on issues of planetary
health, and the Ecology and Health elective requires engagement with community partners such as the Urban
Green Lab and Nashville Food Project. In addition, Vanderbilt University regularly hosts events related to issues of
climate change and planetary health, which are open to the broader public.
Recommendations: We suggest that the medical school partner with Vanderbilt University’s Sustainability and
Environmental Management Office (SEMO) to identify additional opportunities for community outreach on the issue
of planetary health and provide regular coverage on opportunities for student involvement.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Southeast
C
Campus Sustainability
C
Vanderbilt University Medical School supports student-led sustainability efforts through the Social Mission
Committee. The administration was particularly supportive of the creation of the new advanced elective,
Ecology and Health: Climate, Food and Justice” and has recently been supportive of incorporating suggestions from
our climate health curriculum proposal into the core MD curriculum.
Recommendations: Support for student-led initiatives in sustainability should be encouraged in additional areas of
the medical school experience, including in completion of the research immersion and quality improvement projects
that are required for graduation. As part of the Social Mission Committee’s ongoing effort to identify health equity
related research opportunities for students, there should also be inclusion of research topics related to planetary
health. Finally, the medical school should consider adding a “sustainability representative” to CCO, our student
government.
The new elective course for medical students, “Ecology and Health: Climate, Food and Justice” covers a broad range
of planetary health topics, and the core MD curriculum has begun to incorporate some planetary health into a few
lectures. A group of students has developed and proposed a curriculum map that addresses climate
change/planetary health topics where they are most relevant throughout the four-year
MD curriculum
Recommendations: We have presented our climate health curriculum proposal to our medical school Deans, and
we suggest working with block directors throughout the core MD curriculum to integrate our proposed lectures and
content into the four years of medical school.
Vanderbilt University has made great progress in sustainability goals through SustainVU.
Recommendations: The medical school should implement the FutureVU Sustainability recommendations for food
and beverage purchase and event planning and provide compost binds in Eskind Biomedical Library (EBL).
Overall
123PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
A-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
UVASOM and the broader university have a multitude of resources for students to engage with PH research, however
the resources within the medical school are still growing. Medical school faculty who are engaged in PH research are
continuing their efforts. In the last year, UVA has also continued to host climate
change-related conferences that allow for interdisciplinary discussions and increased awareness of PH.
Recommendations: Recruit and encourage participation of community stakeholders in research.
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
UVASOM’s main PH-related community outreach work with the Charlottesville City Schoolyard Garden is
still on hold due to COVID. No organization at UVA currently offers community-focused courses or events
about climate change, nor do UVA students receive regular PH communication from the SOM or the Office
of Sustainability.
Recommendations: Develop new community-facing educational events and re-initiate the partnership with the
Charlottesville City Schoolyard Garden. Using Inova Hospital in Fairfax as an example, publish
educational materials about climate and public health.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Southeast
C+
Campus Sustainability
B-
The student body at the University of Virginia is energized toward climate action, and overall the institution
offers readily available support. Last year, the Student Clinicians for Climate Action at UVA launched our
website which contains contact information and details about our climate-related projects. The organization
has organized a variety of events tailored to various aspects of sustainability.
Recommendations: Integrate medical school initiatives and medical student leadership with the larger
university.
A major advancement since the previous PHRC was the addition of a climate change focused lecture in the
Pulmonary unit of the core curriculum titled “Climate Change and Pulmonary Disease”. In addition, the
required Bedside to Community course now addresses environmental justice and the impact of climate
change on overall health. Despite these improvements, there is a lack of Planetary Health (PH) coverage in
the majority of the pre-clinical core curriculum.
Recommendations: Include at least one testable learning objective on PH in each pre-clinical system.
Incorporate how to approach conversations about planetary health into conversations with patients in the
clinical setting during Foundations of Clinical Medicine course, or the inter-clerkship intercessions.
The UVA Office of Sustainability has a dedicated project coordinator overlooking the health system. UVA has a plan
in place with goals to be carbon neutral by 2030, and fossil-free by 2050. Despite not having a composting program,
there is a well-established recycling program. Where UVA primarily falls short is that only 20% of its electricity comes
from renewable resources, and there are no sustainability guidelines in place for medical school events.
Recommendations: Implement a series of sustainability guidelines that medical school events must follow, and
focus efforts to increase the percentage of utilized energy derived from renewable sources.
Overall
124PHRC APRIL 2023
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D-
Planetary Health Curriculum
D-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
There are biology, ecology, and planetary health researchers based on VCU’s undergraduate campus but
none directly affiliated with the medical school. Some students have independently sought out projects
adjacent to planetary health with guidance from SOM faculty.
Recommendations: A feasible start would be to connect faculty and students interested in planetary health
research through a centralised database.
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
While community outreach efforts are regularly made on VCU’s undergraduate campus, those efforts do not extend
to the medical school or the health system.
Recommendations: We recommend that VCU introduce and implement greater medical school involvement in
community-facing events, better availability of educational materials for patients on environmental toxins and the
health impacts of climate change, and CME credits for providers regarding climate change.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
Virginia Commonwealth University
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Southeast
D
Campus Sustainability
D
Support for students involves funding for research projects, faculty involvement (including the local branch
of MS4SF), and volunteering opportunities through the larger undergraduate campus. In addition, the newly formed
Sustainability Plan Committee includes significant student representation.
Recommendations: There is no incentive for students to take valuable time away from their education to
engage in sustainability/QI projects with the health system. Funding, or even curricular credit, would
change that. In addition, funding earmarked specifically for planetary health research projects would spur
the development of those projects.
The School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University includes health impacts of climate change in
the core curriculum, but this topic is primarily covered in a new, stand-alone lecture, with sparse mentions
scattered throughout various courses. Climate change is not addressed in mandatory or elective clinical
education.
Recommendations: Continue integrating climate change into pre-clinical courses as well as honing its
inclusion in the longitudinal preclinical curriculum. Adopt and refine a clinical elective with the goal of
implementing a longitudinal track throughout the clinical years. Introduce training on taking an
environmental history.
VCU School of Medicine offers recycling options, has employed green building design in the recent
medical school facility, and promotes sustainable transportation. Additionally, VCU Health has a newly
appointed Sustainability Director, who is working to oversee sustainability efforts.
Recommendations: No meaningful efforts have been made to divest from fossil fuels. In addition, there are no
sustainability guidelines or procurement requirements for events, no efforts to make lab spaces more sustainable,
and no efforts to retrofit old buildings. A simple way to start would be to implement
sustainability guidelines for events.
Overall
125PHRC APRIL 2023
West Virginia University School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C-
Planetary Health Curriculum
The West Virginia University School of Medicine does include planetary health in its curriculum. However,
holistically, greater emphasis needs to be placed on included topics and there needs to be an increased
integration of planetary health topics in the core curriculum, rather than electives.
Recommendations: Lecturers that briefly mention key concepts should transition into generating testable
content. Metrics that could easily be incorporated into existing lectures, such as the planetary and health
co-benefits of a plant-based diet, should also be added.
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
D-
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The West Virginia University School of Medicine does include planetary health in its curriculum. However,
holistically, greater emphasis needs to be placed on included topics and there needs to be an increased
integration of planetary health topics in the core curriculum, rather than electives.
Recommendations: Lecturers that briefly mention key concepts should transition into generating testable
content. Metrics that could easily be incorporated into existing lectures, such as the planetary and health
co-benefits of a plant-based diet, should also be added.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
The West Virginia University School of Medicine does include planetary health in its curriculum. However,
holistically, greater emphasis needs to be placed on included topics and there needs to be an increased
integration of planetary health topics in the core curriculum, rather than electives.
Recommendations: Lecturers that briefly mention key concepts should transition into generating testable
content. Metrics that could easily be incorporated into existing lectures, such as the planetary and health
co-benefits of a plant-based diet, should also be added.
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - Southeast
C-
Campus Sustainability
The West Virginia University School of Medicine does include planetary health in its curriculum. However,
holistically, greater emphasis needs to be placed on included topics and there needs to be an increased
integration of planetary health topics in the core curriculum, rather than electives.
Recommendations: Lecturers that briefly mention key concepts should transition into generating testable
content. Metrics that could easily be incorporated into existing lectures, such as the planetary and health
co-benefits of a plant-based diet, should also be added.
D
The West Virginia University School of Medicine does include planetary health in its curriculum. However,
holistically, greater emphasis needs to be placed on included topics and there needs to be an increased
integration of planetary health topics in the core curriculum, rather than electives.
Recommendations: Lecturers that briefly mention key concepts should transition into generating testable
content. Metrics that could easily be incorporated into existing lectures, such as the planetary and health
co-benefits of a plant-based diet, should also be added.
C+
The Joint Medical Program (JMP) case-based curriculum is driven by student-inquiry and allows for the
integration of many concepts of environmental health with the basic science and clinical curriculum. The
JMP also offers many electives via the UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health and UCSF School of
Medicine whose primary focus is on sustainability and planetary health. However, the core curriculum falls
short on topics related to the impact of climate change on health and healthcare systems.
Recommendations: During the summer of 2022, developments to the JMP’s curriculum improvement structure,
such as the PBL working committee, offered opportunities for student and faculty advocacy. We recommend
continuing to use student working groups to increase coverage of planetary health concepts, especially as they
pertain to environmental justice and antiracism, within the PBL course, Clinical Skills course, and Master’s Seminars
infrastructures. Faculty members are currently working on a longitudinal curriculum on climate change that will
hopefully be implemented in the fall of 2023
A+
A
A-
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - West
B+
B+
Overall
126PHRC APRIL 2023
UC Berkeley - UCSF Joint Medical Program
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
Planetary Health Curriculum
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
Community Outreach and Advocacy
JMP students have many opportunities to engage in community outreach and advocacy efforts associated
with environmental justice. In addition, the UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health offers many community
advocacy opportunities related to planetary health.
Recommendations: Environmental justice advocacy opportunities and sustainability updates should be
regularly included in the weekly Berkeley Public Health Digest and JMP newsletters.
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
The JMP, UC Berkeley, and UCSF community offers institutional support for student-led planetary health
initiatives, including funding, fellowships, and programming. JMP students can receive funding for
planetary health projects via UC Berkeley’s Green Initiative Fund at UC Berkeley, UCSF’s Environmental
Research and Translation for Health (EaRTH), and many more.
Recommendations: We recommend a funded and faculty-mentored student organization within the JMP
dedicated to planetary health and sustainability, as well as a formal JMP student liaison position dedicated
to curriculum reform and sustainability best practices.
Campus Sustainability
UC Berkeley and UCSF have made a pledge to emit net zero greenhouse gases from carbon emission
sources by 2025. These campuses also have an Office of Sustainability focused on green energy, utilities,
infrastructure, and food.
Recommendations: The Office of Sustainability at UC Berkeley and UCSF should engage in efforts to
increase food and beverage sustainability. The JMP should also require sustainability measures, possibly
using UC Berkeley’s green event resources for events.
The JMP is housed within the UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, which offers many mentorship and
financial opportunities for JMP students in pursuit of their Master’s Thesis.
Recommendations: We recommend the JMP faculty to continue to encourage students to pursue their
research or Master’s Thesis on planetary health.
Overall
127PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B-
Planetary Health Curriculum
In 2021 CUSOM officially launched the new Trek Curriculum which integrated planetary health
throughout the core curriculum. Both planetary health effects and clinical skills are discussed in lectures,
especially in the gastrointestinal and pulmonary block. Elective coursework and enrollment at the Fort
Collins branch campus, which emphasizes the concept of One Health, offer deeper dives. In the new
2022-2023 clerkship curriculum, students learn how to collect environmental exposure histories and have a
team-based learning case highlighting respiratory diseases related to environmental exposures.
Recommendations: The main workshop wherein students engage directly with planetary health concepts
was eliminated from the first year curriculum. This should be reimplemented in future years’ curriculum.
A
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
B
Community Outreach and Advocacy
CUSOM does not currently have many opportunities for community outreach related to planetary health,
but curricular reform could change this. All students must now complete a Service Learning project with “Climate
Change and Health Equity” being a possible focus area.
Recommendations: Plan more community outreach opportunities for planetary health and centralize
information we do have such that students can more easily find it.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
CUSOM supports multiple student groups dedicated to planetary health and hosts yearly sustainability
solutions challenges that reward innovative student projects. The branch campus in Fort Collins is built
upon the One Health concept. After publication of last year’s PHRC, starting this last year, each medical
school class will have two elected sustainability representatives that sit on the Medical Student Council.
Recommendations: A website for students on the topic of climate and health is in the process of being built which
will help improve awareness and provide resources for students interested in the topic. CUSOM has a great
opportunity to incorporate more speaker events or artistic displays that touch on the topic of climate health at the
bioethics and humanities pavilion in the center of the medical campus.
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - West
B
Campus Sustainability
CUSOM has some basic campus sustainability measures in place including public transportation, basic
single stream recycling and initiatives for environmentally sustainable lab spaces. New buildings are built
sustainably, but old buildings have not been retrofitted or upgraded. Campus emissions reduction goals
align with state targets, but don’t aim for carbon neutrality and there are no sustainability guidelines for
events.
Recommendations: Pursuing renewable energy on campus and moving the institution’s endowment
portfolio away from fossil fuels are larger, but necessary, moves towards campus sustainability.
C-
CUSOM has faculty dedicated to interdisciplinary research and hosts webinars regarding planetary health.
The CU Consortium for Climate Change & Health organizes research happening in the field across the
various campuses associated with CU but is not directly aimed at medical students.
Recommendations: CUSOM could reach out to communities most affected by climate change to gather
their input on how best to utilize our resources.
Overall
128PHRC APRIL 2023
UC Davis School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
UC Davis School of Medicine does include planetary health in the curriculum, but it lacks integration
longitudinally within the core curriculum. A majority of planetary topics are covered in a 3rd or 4th year elective.
Recommendations: There is a lack of teaching about introducing conversations about planetary health into
conversations with patients. This could be introduced in clinical skills or in preclinical lectures.
A
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
C+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
UC Davis School of Medicine engages the community in academic contexts but opportunities for medical
students to directly engage with communities impacted by climate change are very limited.
Recommendations: Inclusion of regular updates regarding planetary health and sustainability initiatives,
such as a newsletter, within the UC Davis Health system in which students can participate. Form
connections with community leaders and organizations involved in this work and facilitate meaningful
partnerships.
A
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
The UC Davis main campus offers a variety of sustainability initiatives and encourages students to engage
in topics they are passionate about. However, these initiatives do not typically involve the medical school
and are not advertised to medical students.
Recommendations: Support for student-led initiatives mostly comes from the wider University rather than
the Medical School. We recommend the medical school offer increased support to students interested in
sustainable initiatives or creating more accessible opportunities close to the medical campus.
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - West
B
Campus Sustainability
UC Davis Health has been recognized as a leader in striving toward sustainable healthcare in energy and
sustainable food systems including the largest farm-to-fork food system in our hospital.
Recommendations: There is still much to improve with campus sustainability. Goals and plans are already
in place at the Medical School to strive toward carbon neutrality, but we also recommend improving
campus wide composting, recycling, and transportation programs.
B+
The UC Davis School of Medicine is a part of various initiatives to research topics regarding planetary
health both within and outside of the medical campus.
Recommendations: Involve those most impacted by climate change in research design committees and
allot them decision making power.
Overall
129PHRC APRIL 2023
UC Irvine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D
Planetary Health Curriculum
Aspects of planetary health are discussed in lectures during Clinical Foundations (CF), but lacks integration
longitudinally. A structured elective on climate change and health was approved by the education
committee, but was not offered due to lack of student enrollment.
Recommendations: Incorporated teaching about having planetary health conversations with patients and
expanding education on how climate change affects human health in all aspects the CF curriculum. UC
Irvine should ensure it offers the novel climate and health elective, now planned for Spring 2024.
C
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
F
Community Outreach and Advocacy
UC Irvine School of Medicine has very limited community outreach relating to planetary health.
Recommendations: Many grassroots organizations in Orange County provide critical services to patients at UCI
(i.e., Project Kinship, Latino Health Access, and Hope Community Services). However, many
clinicians are unaware of these organizations. UC Irvine should consider building a strong planetary health
presence through the student organization Medical Students for a Sustainable Future.
D
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
The UC Irvine School of Medicine has provided some administrative support for student-led initiatives in
planetary health, but does not offer financial support and does not provide structured opportunities for
students. Existing frameworks for planetary health at UCI School of Medicine are quite nascent, and will
not only require wider student participation to effect change, but also faculty and institutional leadership.
Recommendations: Beyond building the presence of student groups like Medical Education for a
Sustainable Future, UCI should consider creating a track for students interested in this work – similar to
UCI’s LEAD-ABC (Leadership Education to Advance Diversity - African, Black, and Caribbean),
Integrative Health, or PRIME-LC (Program in Medical Education - Latino Community).
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - West
D+
Campus Sustainability
UC Irvine as an institution is progress-oriented in campus sustainability, largely due to University of
California’s Sustainable Practices Policy and UC Irvine’s Climate and Action Plan (developed in 2007).
However, the medical school itself has little involvement in advancing campus sustainability.
Recommendations: Despite progress attributed to the UC Sustainable Practices Policy (SPP), there is still
much to improve regarding campus sustainability at the medical center. UC Irvine should strive to achieve
more by spearheading initiatives like establishing sustainability guidelines for on-campus events.
B
UC Irvine hosted a series of webinars related to planetary health and sustainability in 2021.
Recommendations: There are interested students and faculty at UC Irvine who have become more
interested in working in this space. However, many of these clinicians are not active in research. Utilizing
these connections to find who is interested in this research, and how they can contribute, will be critical to
amplifying UC Irvine’s potential as an institution at the forefront of the climate and health space.
Overall
130PHRC APRIL 2023
Oregon Health and Science University
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
A-
Planetary Health Curriculum
OHSU does include planetary health in the curriculum and it is becoming more integrated longitudinally. In
first and second year, various aspects of planetary health are discussed in a few lectures. There is also some
discussion of planetary health in clinical phase intersessions. Specifically, a new required lecture in the Family
Medicine Core rotation gives a very thorough and in-depth discussion of many of the impacts of
climate change and human health, healthcare’s carbon footprint, and climate injustice. The
interprofessional education elective course called Climate Change and Human Health that is available to all
OHSU students covers planetary health in depth and is currently in its second year.
Recommendations: There is a lack of teaching about introducing conversations about planetary health into
conversations with patients. This could be introduced in clinical skills, or early years GP teaching.
C-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
D+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
OHSU SOM offers few community-facing courses or events regarding planetary health. There have been a few from
the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health.
Recommendations: OHSU SOM could create accessible educational materials for patients about environmental
health exposures and the health impacts of climate change.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
OHSU supports the student group OHSU Students for a Sustainable Future which is dedicated to planetary
health and receives faculty leadership and student government funding.
Recommendations: OHSU could create grant funding for students to lead sustainability initiatives and provide
support to connect students with planetary health research mentors.
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - West
C
Campus Sustainability
OHSU has made good strides towards becoming a sustainable institution and medical school by offering
financial incentives to take alternative transportation to campus, providing recycling and composting
services, and sourcing cafeteria food from sustainable sources. They have also responded positively to a
student-lead divestment campaign and begun to partially divest from fossil fuels. This past fall, they
publicly announced a goal of reducing carbon emissions.
Recommendations: OHSU could create a structured and funded Office of Sustainability to lead efforts in
establishing sustainability goals and implementing interventions to achieve those goals. Areas for
improvement would be specific event sustainability guidelines and recommendations for lab spaces on
sustainable practices. OHSU could also establish more ambitious carbon footprint reduction goals.
C-
OHSU as an institution houses the Oregon Institute for Occupational Health but this is not a part of the
medical school. There are researchers at this institute, the School of Public Health, and at OHSU hospital
who do planetary health research, including a few researchers who are faculty of the medical school.
Recommendations: OHSU SOM could direct resources to creating an interdisciplinary research group that
focuses on planetary health research and create an associated website to centrally present their work to the public.
Overall
131PHRC APRIL 2023
University of California, San Francisco
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
B
Planetary Health Curriculum
The UCSF School of Medicine students and faculty have made admirable advancements in integrating
planetary and environmental health topics into the core curriculum. This includes the new Climate Change
and Health small group, which highlights the relationship between air quality and respiratory health and
emphasizes how differential exposure to air pollution perpetuates health inequities.
Recommendations: Continue efforts to integrate planetary health and climate change throughout the
Foundations 1 core curriculum, with special emphasis on the topics mentioned in metric #17.
A+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
B
Community Outreach and Advocacy
Although UCSF has the infrastructure to communicate climate change impacts on human health, neither the
University nor the School of Medicine uses their platform to its full potential to advocate for the
environment. There are currently limited opportunities in terms of community outreach and advocacy
designed for medical students interested in climate change and its health impact.
Recommendations: Increase engagement in community partnerships that support planetary health
initiatives and improve communication on sustainability issues to the student body. Encourage medical
student participation by designing sustainable community outreach and advocacy programs for students in
partnership with the aforementioned programs at UCSF.
A-
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
The administration is supportive of student-led PH initiatives, offering time, funding, and enthusiasm for
student work. The Environmental Scholars Program and Carbon Neutrality Initiative fellowship are funded
opportunities for students to engage in planetary health at UCSF.
Recommendations: Introduce a position for a student liaison to represent sustainability interests on a
medical school or institutional decision-making council to advocate for curriculum reform and/or
sustainability best practices.
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - West
B
Campus Sustainability
UCSF has robust waste reduction, water conservation, toxics reduction, sustainable food, green
procurement, energy efficiency, green procurement, green labs, and education/engagement efforts.
Recommendations: UCSF has committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025. Despite this, only 62% of
total energy consumption is clean and sustainability criteria only require 25% of indicated products and
services to be from sustainable sources. Efforts must be substantially expanded to meet carbon neutrality by 2025.
C+
UCSF is home to many prominent researchers in planetary health and healthcare sustainability. The EaRTH Center
and the UC Center for Climate, Health and Equity provide plentiful opportunities for environmental health
engagement, research, and funding, and also host annual events at the intersection of climate change and human
health.
Recommendations: We encourage the School of Medicine to continue to prioritize climate health research and
further amplify the voices of those disproportionately affected by climate change in symposiums and forums hosted
by the SOM.
Overall
132PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Utah
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
D+
Planetary Health Curriculum
Planetary health is lacking in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (SFESOM) core curriculum.
Preclinical lectures that discuss implications of climate change on health are rare. Beyond one course on
sustainability and medicine (MDID 6400), planetary health is rarely integrated into elective coursework.
Recommendations: Longitudinally incorporate planetary health content into the core curriculum, including
clinical years. Integrate sustainability-related topics into existing material. Appoint faculty to implement
these topics in the current comprehensive revision of the curriculum.
B-
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
SFESOM is lacking in community outreach, advocacy, and patient education on planetary health. The
institution has hosted outreach events through community and campus-wide organizations. These events
have been valuable to foster conversations within our institution and in the community, but these have not
been hosted by SFESOM specifically, and have been almost entirely student-led.
Recommendations: Connect with community organizations focused on planetary health, as is currently
being implemented with free clinics in the new curriculum. Provide education about environmental health
exposures via pamphlets and community-facing publications. Support advocacy efforts with student
mentorship in legislative efforts and internship opportunities.
B
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
SFESOM is supportive of student efforts for planetary health, and has instituted specific grants and hired
dedicated faculty. There is a hospital committee to manage these topics with student representation. There
are ample projects, presentations, organizations, and mentors that allow for student involvement.
Recommendations: Appoint a liaison from the administration to advertise and support student initiatives
and provide a database of planetary health resources that students can access to find projects and mentors.
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - West
C
Campus Sustainability
Last year, the creation of the Hospital Green Team improved sustainability efforts in the main hospital, but
there are few guidelines within SFESOM. There are no guidelines for procurement of goods, foods, or lab
spaces. Support for divestment and carbon neutrality goals by 2050 is less than ambitious.
Recommendations: Development of clear guidelines for sustainable procurement, increasing offerings for
plant-based and locally sourced foods, and lab sustainability. Additionally, increasing accessibility of public
transit and planning for the new building to be bike-friendly. We continue to recommend more ambitious
carbon neutrality goals as well as a commitment to fully divest from fossil fuel corporations.
D+
SFESOM has multiple research teams focused on air quality’s effects on respiratory health, reusable
medical devices, and the impact of recreational therapy on mental health. There is no department focused on
planetary health, and there are no centralized locations to find sustainability-related research for the school online.
No events are specifically held to showcase planetary health and sustainability research.
Recommendations: Build on existing research projects by hosting a planetary health research symposium to
showcase ongoing work, recruit medical students for projects, and invite community members to share
concerns about planetary health. Develop a dedicated web page for research, events, and green initiatives.
Overall
133PHRC APRIL 2023
University of Washington School of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C
Planetary Health Curriculum
The planetary health preclinical curriculum has made some improvements over the past year, but there is
still more work that needs to be done. A major milestone this past year was forming the Planetary Health
Workgroup, which is actively revising the current curriculum.
Recommendations: Moving forward, the curriculum should focus on emphasizing the respiratory,
cardiovascular, and reproductive effects of climate change, including pollution, extreme heat, and
industry-related toxins.
A
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
C+
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The SOM partners with local community organizations such as Washington Physicians for Social
Responsibility and makes environmental health education available to patients.
Recommendations: Opportunities exist for the SOM to partner with the Office of Sustainability to promote
community outreach and advocacy, as well as provide more regular communication to students about
planetary health and sustainable healthcare.
C
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
Over the past year, there have been numerous opportunities for students to get engaged with planetary
health, from attending talks with local physicians to planting trees in the local community. However, more
structured and integrated support for student-led initiatives could increase engagement.
Recommendations: The SOM should provide concrete support for students to either spearhead or work
with faculty on sustainability initiatives and quality improvement projects. These opportunities could be
highlighted in the Triple I (Independent Investigate Inquiry) database for first-year students.
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - West
B-
Campus Sustainability
The University of Washington is mindful of utilizing sustainable building practices for new projects, but
retrofitting existing, older buildings continues to be a challenge. The Office of Sustainability is integral to
campus and does a fantastic job of promoting sustainable practices through community events and
recycling/composting.
Recommendations: The institution should create more ambitious goals to achieve carbon neutrality and
promote stricter standards regarding sustainability for supply procurement and campus events.
B
One of the medical school’s strengths is the abundance of research opportunities related to climate change
health impacts. These are available through the UW Center for Health and Global Environment and the
Climate Impacts Group.
Recommendations: The School of Medicine (SOM) should continue engaging with the various
climate-related departments and make these experiences more easily accessible to medical students..
Overall
134PHRC APRIL 2023
Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Expanded score explanations can be found at phreportcard.org.
C+
Planetary Health Curriculum
The Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine has made significant improvements to
the planetary health pre-clerkship curriculum in the past year. This includes an introductory lecture, six
specific topic modules, and a health systems lecture, though some have not yet been delivered. Planetary
health topics are not yet integrated into the required elements of the curriculum.
Recommendations: There should be a purposeful integration of planetary health into required core
curriculum instead of optional lectures. Next steps could include adding planetary health learning objectives
to established threads and case-based-learning, or inclusion of planetary health history taking. Planetary
health integration into the clerkship years should also be considered.
C+
Interdisciplinary Research in Health and the Environment
D
Community Outreach and Advocacy
The WSU College of Medicine does partner with some community hospitals which have patient education
materials on planetary health impacts. There are also student groups which partner with community
organizations promoting environmental health. Unfortunately, the College of Medicine itself does not have
meaningful community outreach relating to planetary health.
Recommendations: There should be more community partnerships relating to planetary health, including
community-facing events, regular sustainability communications, or CME courses.
A
Support for Student-Led Initiatives
Continuing to be the area of greatest strength for the WSU College of Medicine is the support given to
student-led planetary health initiatives. There are two faculty-supported student groups, which have held
many co-curricular events. Opportunities through WSU Pullman campus include a Student Green Fund,
CEREO, and many events. The new Presidential Sustainability Task Force will include student input.
Recommendations: University-wide student opportunities should be more clearly advertised and accessible to
students in the College of Medicine and included on the new Sustainability website.
2022-2023 Summary Report
US - West
C
Campus Sustainability
The WSU College of Medicine has some sustainable practices, such as recycling and LEED certification.
However, there are insufficient carbon reduction goals, and minimal or unpublicized guidelines for campus
dining, supplies, lab spaces, or events. There are plans to start a small-scale composting option at the
campus cafe. Discussions have begun around divesting from fossil fuels, but no goals have been set.
Recommendations: There should be a campus-wide composting program, and clear guidelines should be
publicized and required for campus activities. The new Presidential Sustainability Task Force should
prioritize updating goals for carbon neutrality. Finally, discussions around divestment should continue.
C-
The WSU College of Medicine is a member of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
WSU has the Center for Environmental Research, Education, and Outreach (CEREO) and the Center for
Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources. However, there is minimal planetary health research in the
College of Medicine, and no process for communities affected by climate injustice to influence research.
Recommendations: The WSU College of Medicine could host a planetary health symposium, recruit
researchers and projects that examine the health impacts of climate change, or create a system for
communities affected by environmental injustice to influence research.
The 2022-2023 Planetary Health Report Card is the fourth iteration of the initiative,
now with more participating schools, a larger, international leadership team, and
refined metrics. Despite our extensive efforts to hone this initiative’s metrics, process,
and impact, we recognize that there are some limitations, as outlined below.
L I M I T A T I O N S
135PHRC APRIL 2023
Despite our efforts to anticipate limitations in metric international generalizability and
to refine metrics for a global audience, we recognize that the metrics were originally
developed with the U.S. medical education system in mind and as a result, there may
be some unintentional cultural bias. Notably, as German universities do not have
endowments, institutional divestment was deemed not applicable for some institutions
and therefore one metric is not included in German report cards. As we continue to
expand globally, we will work to anticipate and respond to feedback regarding
international generalizability and cultural bias.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L G E N E R A L I Z A B I L I T Y
O V E R A L L G E N E R A L I Z A B I L I T Y
While we do our best to keep our metrics specific and clear with guidelines for
evaluation and accompanying examples, the report card does have some degree of
subjectivity given that metrics are interpreted by students and staff at different
medical schools. For example, teams at different schools may have differences in their
interpretation of what constitutes content being covered “briefly” vs “in depth” in the
curriculum. Although all report cards were read and edited by members of the
leadership team to maximize consistency, this subjective element cannot be avoided
completely. In the future, we hope to formally evaluate inter-rater concordance.
136PHRC APRIL 2023
A U T H O R S & L E A D E R S H I P
C 0 - D I R E C T O R S
Isabel Waters
Co-Director
Trinity College Dublin School of Medicine,
5th Year
L E A D E R S H I P T E A M M E M B E R S
Travis Wilson
Regional Lead: Southeastern U.S.,
Emory School of Medicine, 4th Year
Hannah Chase
Partnerships Chair,
Oxford University Hospital Trust, FY1
Ericka Strickler
Regional Lead: Western U.S. and University
of California, University of California Irvine
School of Medicine, 4th Year
Taylor Diedrich
Co-Director
Indiana University School of Medicine, 3rd Year
Karly Hampshire
Co-Founder and Partnerships Chair,
University of California San Francisco
School of Medicine, 4th Year
Stella Protopapas
Regional Lead: Midwestern U.S.,
Indiana University School of Medicine, 3rd Year
Lauren Franklin
Implementation and Analytics Chair,
Keele University, Intercalating Year
Walter Banfield
Regional Lead: Northeastern U.S.,
University of Virginia School of Medicine, 4th Year
Rebecca McEwen
Communications Chair,
University of Aberdeen, 4th Year
James Lee
Regional Lead: United Kingdom,
Brighton and Sussex Medical School, 5th Year
Alex Northrop
Grants Manager,
Columbia University Vagelos
College of Physicians and Surgeons, 4th Year
Gunnar Mattson
Regional Lead: Western U.S. and
University of California San Francisco
School of Medicine, 2nd Year
Victoria England
Regional Lead: United Kingdom,
Queen’s University Belfast, 5th Year
137PHRC APRIL 2023
A U T H O R S & L E A D E R S H I P
L E A D E R S H I P T E A M M E M B E R S ( C O N T . )
Harsha Daswani
Regional Lead: Ireland,
University College Cork, 5th Year
Estelle Delamare
Regional Lead: Switzerland,
Geneva University Hospital,
1st Year Pediatrics Resident
Mitsuo Sase
Regional Lead: Japan,
Nagasaki University, 3rd Year
Filippos Koutsodimitropoulos
Regional Lead: Greece,
University of Athens,
Faculty of Medicine, 4th Year
G R A P H I C D E S I G N & E D I T O R S
Jayla Krebs
Anandita Pattnaik, MBBS
Regional Lead: India,
Policy officer at the UK Health Alliance
for Climate Change
Sıla Gürbüz
Regional Lead: Turkey,
Karadeniz Technical University
Faculty of Medicine, 5th Year
Karly Hampshire
Partnerships Co-Chair
University of California San Francisco
School of Medicine, 4th Year
Hannah Chase
Partnerships Co-Chair
FY1 at Oxford University Hospital Trust
Taylor Diedrich
PHRC Co-Director
Indiana University
School of Medicine, 3rd Year
Isabel Waters
PHRC Co-Director
Trinity College Dublin
School of Medicine, 5th Year
Benedykt Cholewa
Regional Lead: New Zealand,
University of Otago Wellington,
1st Year House Officer
Shyaka T. Modeste
Regional Lead: Rwanda,
University of Global Health Equity,3rd Year
Jim Lee
Regional Lead: United Kingdom,
Brighton and Sussex Medical School, 5th Year
Graphic Designer
138PHRC APRIL 2023
F A C U L T Y A D V I S O R Y B O A R D
A D V I S O R Y B O A R D M E M B E R S
Katherine Gundling, MD
University of California San Francisco
United States
SanYuMay Tun, MBBS, MSc, FHEA
University of Oxford
United Kingdom
Katharina Wabnitz, MD, MSc
University of Ottawa
Canada
Husein Moloo, MD MSc MPH FRCSC
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Germany
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
139PHRC APRIL 2023
Madeline Power
Loukman Ghouti
Reba McIver
Emma McDermott
Ericka Iny
Tania Morin
Justin Ballick
Laurence Robert
Ava Zardynezhad
Marlene Rong
Melody Porlier
Diana Gueorguivea Danielova
Philippe Yin
Makenna Timm
Allison Chhor
Alexie Leclerc
Liam Quartermain
Brooklyn Rawlyk
Candelaria Aristizabal Londono
Kayla Cropper
Cassidy Jones
Caitlin Wotton
Soumiya Suresh
Samuel Girgis
Abdi Absher
Ananna Arna
Zainab Sultan
Dalhousie University
McGill University
University of Alberta
University of Montreal
University of Ottawa
University of Saskatchewan
Marianna Antoniou
Isidora Βochoridou
Athanasios Kazakos
Samuel Pechlivanis-Olagoke
Theodora Papacharisi
Evangelos Goniotakis
Emmanouil Saitis
Marianina Gkoutzouri
Katerina Patrikou
Andromachi Katsikari
Vassiliki Bakola
Theodora Sotou
Areti Danelatou
Ioanna Nika
Michaela Tsochantzi
Natalia Dinopoulou
Pegy Gika
Maria Sacha
Thanos Stratogiannis
Prasoon Pattanaik
Kaushik Nath
Aristotle University
of Thessaloniki
University of Crete
University of Patras
I NDI A
Srirama Chandra Bhanja
Medical College and Hospital
C ana d a
G ree c e
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
140PHRC APRIL 2023
Dylan Dimond
Iffat Khalid
Sana Zulfiqar
Sophie Bannon
James Cole
Katherine Cheah
Hugo Pereira
Maeve Sullivan
Michaela Moriarty
Shivali Sood
Harsha Daswani
Ekanki Chawla
Ashwini Tittawella
Keerti Karunakaran
Thilashma Naidoo
Huili Askvik
William McGillberry
Tomer Vico
Maria Tom
Farzaan Zulquernain
Arushi Ganguly
Samantha Wakerlin
Andrea Young Zi Yi,
Rithvik Karthikeyan
Trinity College Dublin
University College Cork
Hannah Mosnier
Esmeralda Cecilie Perez
Gabrielle McDonagh
Darragh Harrington
Mahpara Jahan
Heather Hassett
Arielle Locke
Sophie O’Byrne
Nicki Glennon
University of Galway
Akari Deguchi
Wako Maeno
Ryosei Koura
Kouichi Omae
Hinako Kawakami
Taichi Nakamura
Mitsuo Sase
J AP A N
Nagasaki University
Khadijah Jilani
Al-Hassan Abbas
Maris Scanlon
Rich O’Conaill
Alexandra Pollak
Salman Keraidi
Lauren Hudson
Nirojan Karunananthan
Abdul Rehman Syed
Amandip Rakkar
Omadyor Ibragimov
Saim Irfan
Elaine Joy
David Killilea
University College Dublin
Linh Vu
Maddy Dimakos
Kanishka Raval
Royal College of
Surgeons in Ireland
i rel a n d
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
141PHRC APRIL 2023
Benedykt Cholewa
Benedykt Cholewa
Benedykt Cholewa
James Irlam
Celine Gravenor
Imraan Moosa
Sayuran Pillay,
Dr Zaahidah Razzak
Aya Yokwe
N ew Z e a l and
University of Otago-Christchurch
University of Otago-Dunedin
University of Otago-Wellington
S out h A f ric a
University of Cape Town
Cristian Martucci
Lena Döbeli
Thomas Bezençon
Eychmüller Julian
Buser Angeline
Möller Sophia
Scheurer Robyn
Fenzl Livia
Lea Rufener
Lola Aubry
Pauline Cottet
Angèle Clerc
Florine Currit
Hortense Bruchez
Estelle Delamare
Cora Griepl
Léo Peterschmitt
Thibaud Vermeil
Alexandra Cillero
Alessandro Dotto
Carlos de Mestral
Mael le Forestier
Léna Menoud
Bea Albermann
Michelle Fankhauser
S wit z e r l and
University of Basel
University of Bern
University of Fribourg
University of Genève
University of Lausanne
University of Zürich
Alissa Lange
Sonja Schulte
Neele Kleinertz
Kira Janßen
Linda Schlachter
Henriette Sarnowski
G erm a n y
Universität zu Köln
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
142PHRC APRIL 2023
Rhea Khosla
Zahrah Khan
Anushree Arunkumar
Leila Inabi
Kathy(Ji Yun) Bog
James Chu
James Lee
Steph Tsari
Nadia Naeem
Victoria Lee
Dearbhla Mcilroy
Mithuni Dharmasena
Yasmin Tyson
Thivya Kularajan
Suvan Suntharalingam
Nidhi Vivek
Tarush Gupta
Cass Tatley
Aoife Madden
Ivin Jose
Manuel Varghese Baby
Amanda Hertzberg
Meenakshi Veeramani
Avani Varde
Lorissa Farrell
Akshit Goel
U nit e d K ing d o m
Barts and the London School
of Medicine and Dentistry
Brighton and Sussex
Medical School
Imperial College
Lauren Franklin
Angelus Cyrus
Sheriff Okesanyo
Aryna Balandina
Josh Pettit
Malachi Castro
Becca Graley
Riya Sushil
Saskia Swannack
Brawin Kajenthra
Chieng Shin Ying
Palihawadana Arachchige Lavanya
Lan Yuen Qi
Nadia Natasha
Insha Shameem Thellachery
Sian Brown
Nuala Murray
Nathan Beckett
Roshan Karthikappallil
Chloe Freeman
Jessy Jindal
Tabitha Pring
Daniela Krouzkova
Molly Skeil
Joy Sidhom
Shivam Singhal
Keele University
School of Medicine
Lancaster University
Medical School
Newcastle University, Malaysia
Senari Wijegunathileke
Newcastle University, UK
Oxford University
Medical School
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
143PHRC APRIL 2023
Niamh McCormack
Muskaan Sharma
Alice Wright
Cullain Escott
Eleanor Harding
Katy Green
Rishika Segireddy
Sheyda Shafei
Fionán McBride
Hannah McPhee
Mhairi Cowan
Riley Westwood
Ryan McFall
Samuel Scholes
Victoria England
Julia He
Lara Egendal
Rishi Kumar
Aamaal Malik
Jim Mitchell
Rebecca Owens
Vafie Sheriff
Anusha Shivji
Meghana Vipin
Diyendra Withana
U nit e d k ing d o m
Peninsula Medical School
Queen’s University Belfast
St. George’s University
of London
Charlotte Nicholls
Tanvi Thomas
Trizzha Feliciano
Catherine Napper
Luisa Alamo-Gomez
Abby Ireland
Rebecca McEwen
Lara Parienti
Scott Purdie
Rosa Theummler
Tessa Yau
Vindhya Maripuri
Bowen Wang
Matthias Mitra
Victoria Khaukha
Aida Azlan
Audree Hassan
Alessandra Lim
Louisa Yapp
Amber Khan
Swansea University
University College London
University of Aberdeen
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Buckingham
University of Cambridge
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
144PHRC APRIL 2023
Elise McFarland
Ann-Elin Myhre
Karolina Omenzetter
Riya Philip
Hector Friend
Ewan Tait
Juliette Goodwin
Ananya Subramanian
Marzia Nazari
Anmol Landa
Kshama Patel
Monica Kulkarni
Ibtisam Waqar
Selina Aziz
Becky Thomas
Anisha Singh
Dorothy Lau
Htet Naing (Wendy)
Al Anderson
Tara O’Cleirigh
Rachel Calow
Eilidh Brown
Arya Pontula
Maxine Russi
Tilly Williamson
U nit e d k ing d o m
University of Glasgow
School of Medicine
University of Leicester
University of Liverpool
University of Manchester
Sam Segal
Jack Belsten
Naomi Abecassis
Ella Hill
Franci Van Rhyn
Yasmin Choudhury
Dahye Yoon
Kate Stenning
Hannah Layton-Joyce
Suzannah Laws
University of Sheffield
University of
Southampton
University of Warwick
Luisa Alvarez
Mohammed Bashier
Jordan Giordano
Grace McDermott
Linda Nie
Hyun Song
Joy Song
Yashraj Srivastava
Emily Yamron
Reed Junkin
Trina Swanson
Emily Wang
U nit e d s tat e s
Albert Einstein
College of Medicine
Brown University
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
145PHRC APRIL 2023
Neha Basti
Allison Monie
Margaret Barcinski
Isra El-Khateeb
Ireland Flannery
Melissa Levin
Noah Rubin-Saika
Alan Wang
Imaad Allahrakha
Christian Arcelona
Lucas Coker
Aayush Gupta
Stacey Kim
Jessica Liu
Ayesha Mohammad
Juvy Rabelas
Haris Sheikh
Rebecca Silver
Tarika Sivakumar
Austin Sovell
Adam Sparks
Kayla Talebi
Nathaniel Ung
Jason Vaysberg
U n i t e d s t a t e s
Chicago Medical School at
Rosalind Franklin University
of Medicine and Science
Nicole Oppenheim
Neil Singh Bedi
Mitali Sakharkar
Evelina Ragutshteyn
Kathleen (KC) Kelly
Candace Smith
Cheryl McSweeney MD
Molly Cohen-Osher MD
Priya Garg MD
Chobanian & Avedisian School of
Medicine Boston University
Johnathan Bailey
Melissa Wang
Columbia University Vagelos
College of Physician and
Surgeons
Anjali Vivek
Liam Townley
Nansea Ji
Samantha Lesch
Jared Kennard
Marie Dix
Clay Cashman
Natalie Bolton
Courtney Tom
Theresa Thomas
Darby Keirns
Kathleen Zhou
Won Shin
Izabella Lach
Creighton University - Omaha
Creighton University - Phoenix
Kali Smolen
Katherine Bradley
Jessinta Palack
Alex Conway
Micah Trautwein
Daniel Lutz
Daniella Azulai
Grace Palmer
Sarah Howell
Dhanya Mahesh
Geisel School of Medicine
at Dartmouth
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
146PHRC APRIL 2023
Annie Emanuels
Bria Ward
Caroline Chivily
Ian Kusher
Jack Monroe
Jillian Rankin
Lisette Corbin
Natalie David
Riya Goel
Olivia Blanchard
Lucy Greenwal
Lucy Schultz
Alicia Leong
Melissa Blum
Walter Jacob
Evelyn Gotlieb
Stephanie Song
Sara Zaat
Lily Cohen
u nit e d s tat e s
Emory University
School of Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine
at Mount Sinai
Minka Gill
Cody Whitted
Caroline Bice
Larry Chen
Alex Frank
Mirindi Kabangu
Arsalan Siddiqui
Meg Tharp
Vennela Avula
Joyce Cheng
Preetham Bachina
Melanie Alfonzo Horowitz
Akanksha Suresh
Indiana University
School of Medicine
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Iris Dingyuan Sun
Taylor Drew
Amanda Sifferlen
Richard Roden
Tom Griffin
Elizabeth Farkouh
Leonardo Garcia Cerecedo
Grace Johnson
Hannah Habrecht
Ishaan Shah
Giovanna Grigsby-Rocca
Loyola University Chicago
Stritch School of Medicine
Mayo Clinic Alix
School of Medicine
Lav Patel
Stephen Freeman
Michelle Guo
Madeline Cetlin
Ryan Lu
Ethan Houskamp
Jeffrey Poomkudy
Elise Brannen
Emma Klug
Yazmin Rustomji
Hayley Petit
Uddish Mondal
Chris Szewczyk
Aaron Greenspun
Wes Speer
Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine
Oregon Health and
Science University
Rush Medical College
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
147PHRC APRIL 2023
Elizabeth Hoang
Maria Hammett
Paula Rangel
Madison Nichols
Nickolas Alsup
Rachel Lance
Lilly Jones
MaKenzie Presley
UC Berkeley - UCSF
Joint Medical Program
UC Davis School of Medicine
University of Arkansas
for Medical Sciences
Clara Riggle
Serah Yim
Alison Chang
Valerie Kahkejian
Sara Vargo
Sheba Vincent
Leah Barnes
Allie Richards
Alexis Corcoran
Jacqueline Meystedt
Brad Woodie
Mitch Singstock
University of California, Irvine
University of California,
San Francisco
University of Cincinnati
Sukrut Sonty
Daniel Scalia
Taylor Brewer
Savita Potarazu
Elizabeth Auckley
Ariunaa Bayanjargal
Emily Fortman
Abigail Hecht
Sarah Pajka
Cassandra Pasadyn
Shuchi Sharma
Brianna VanNoy
Alicia Bao
Lily Lin
Justine Schneider
Jasmine Bagnas
Julia Duffy
U nit e d s tat e s
Rutgers Robert Wood
Johnson Medical School
The George Washington
School of Medicine and
Health Sciences
The Ohio State University
Tufts University
Rebekah Davis
Armaan Dhillon
Whitney Kelly
Monisha Lensink-Vasan
Vivian Rajeswaren
Alessandra Santiago
Lukas Sloan
Caroline Walsh
University of Colorado
School of Medicine
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
148PHRC APRIL 2023
Rebekah Davis
Armaan Dhillon
Whitney Kelly
Monisha Lensink-Vasan
Vivian Rajeswaren
Alessandra Santiago
Lukas Sloan
Caroline Walsh
U nit e d s tat e s
University of Colorado
School of Medicine
Kiran Singh-Smit
Hanako Ohta Agresta
Xenia Gia Bradley
Audrey Marie Dellert
Edward Patrick Wilson
Katherine Barber Phillips
Jessica Munck
Kyle Guzy
Donald De Alwis
Olivia Babick
Angela Geiger
Leena Khoury
Vishwanath Betapudi
Ethan McCaslin
Zahra Mousavi
University of Connecticut
School of Medicine
University of Maryland
School of Medicine
Rachael Lyons
Eden Diamond
Helen Mizrach
Cameron Both
Ryan Marano
Elizabeth Waltman
Amos Armony
Jade Refuerzo
Madi Sundlof
Melissa Walsh
Sarah Rasmussen
Lauren Vasilakos
Jameleddine Benhamida
Emma Tsai
Anam Hasan
Sanjana Molleti
Jasmine Tatah
Anna Rahrick
University of Massachusetts
Chan Medical School
University of Minnesota
- Twin Cities
Allison Long
Jay Devineni
Sarabjit Kaur
Kameron Haake
Taylor LaValle
Destri Eichman
Varun Jeevan
Jenna Ludwig
Zayd Al Rawi
University of Missouri-
Columbia School of Medicine
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
149PHRC APRIL 2023
Adelaide Cooke
Hope Gehle
Ricardo Crespo
Olivia Davis
Yuka Koyama
Emmaline Smith
Thomas Turner
U nit e d s tat e s
University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
Alice Moon
Brenna Burris-Thomas
Sarah Power
Jordan Zimmerman
Joy Suh
Anne Marie Nguyen
James Elias
Ben Petersen
Lara Colby
Aniruddh Ajith
Cynthia McMahan
Jeyani Narayan
Divya Natesan
Lee-Kai Sun
Christina White
Brianna Brooks
Tracey Freeman
University of Oklahoma
University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine
Michaela Malin
Rohila Kusampudi
Michael She
Jason Nagourney
Ellenor Chi
Taryn Hunt-Smith
Noah Shepard
Michelle Culbertson
Kenzie Keeney
Roman Kovtun
Keely Kringlen
Alexa Gathman Ries
Aly Dwight
Marcelo Sanabria
Farah Contractor
Lena Bichell
Kylie Fultineer
Venkat Kothandaraman
Jessica Bryant
Coreylyn DeBettencourt
Thi Nguyen
Meg Hofstedt
Moritz Lange
Vishal Reddy
Parker Holum
Initha Setiady
University of Rochester
School of Medicine & Dentistry
University of Utah
University of Virginia
School of Medicine
Your paragraph text
M E D I C A L S C H O O L R E P O R T C A R D T E A M S
150PHRC APRIL 2023
Sumner Lawson
Ellen Guyer
Natalie Thiel
Kate LeBlanc
Nicola Gerbino
Shwetha Sanapoori
Brianna Cowin
Kate Tokareva
Claire Yang
Taylor Beach
Mikayla Engstrom
Lauren Taylor
Emma Reisman
Zoe Ferguson-Steele
Anders Ledell
Danielle Bohonos
Van Nguyen
Lena Khanolkar
Sunaya Krishnapura
Kaitlin McKernan
Stirling Argabright
Roma Kankaria
U nit e d s tat e s
University of Washington
School of Medicine
Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine
Daniel Walden
Robert Scott
Chelsea Levi
Lori Horning
Ella Jarvik
Emily Grant
Erina Horikawa
Robert De Gregorio
Natalie Morimoto
Leslie Kenefick
Abigail Cowher
Joel Buenrostro
Torey Katzmeyer
Teresa Gluth
Andrea Hincapie Bendeck
Virginia Commonwealth University
Washington State University
West Virginia University
School of Medicine
151PHRC APRIL 2023
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
Thank you to White Coats 4 Black Lives and their impactful Racial Justice Report
Card for inspiration.
Thank you to the Planetary Health Alliance, who gave us the opportunity to
present this idea at the 2019 Planetary Health Annual Meeting.
Thank you to Medical Students for a Sustainable Future, a national group of
medical students advocating for planetary health, for your wonderful, supportive
community and collaboration.
Thank you to the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE)
and Dr Cecilia Sorensen for your ongoing support and guidance, as well as a
generous grant to cover ongoing technology platform subscriptions and expertise
support including translation stipends.
Thank you to the University of California Center for Climate, Health and Equity
for your support and partnership in conducting a thorough needs assessment of
planetary health in the University of California system.
Thank you to the Canadian Federation of Medical Students Health and
Environment Responsive Task Force (CFMS HEART), the Hellenic Medical
Students International Committee (HelMSIC) and Irish Doctors for the
Environment (IDE) for supporting the PHRC student teams in Canada, Greece, and
Ireland, respectively
.
Thank you to our Faculty Advisory Board members (see page 123) for their
guidance as we reviewed and updated metrics for the 2022-23 cycle.
In addition to those above, we would also like to specifically thank the following
individuals for their assistance over the years:
Arianne Teherani, PhD
Sheri Weiser, MD, MPH, MA
Tom Newman, MD, MPH
Bob Gould, MD
Annemarie Cheriesworth
Teddie Potter, PhD, RN, FAAN
Erika Veidis, MBA
Nick Iverson, MD
Amy Collins, MD
Shanda Demorest, DNP, RN-BC, PHN
Brittany Shea, MA
Eva-Maria Schwienhorst-Stich,
MD, MScIH
The creation and development of the Planetary Health Report Card would not have
been possible without the help and inspiration of many individuals and
organisations.
Patrice Sutton, MPH
P RAC T I C E GR E E N H E ALT H
For more information please visit practicegreenhealth.org.
152PHRC APRIL 2023
U CSF H U M AN H E A L T H & C L I M ATE C H A NGE
Students from the UCSF Human Health and Climate Change Club founded the
Planetary Health Report Card Initiative. For more information please visit
sustainability.ucsf.edu
W I T H S U P P O R T F R O M :
M EDI C A L STU D E N T S FO R A S UST A I N A BLE F U T U RE
For more information please visit ms4sf.org.
P LAN E T A R Y H E A L T H AL L I A N C E*
For more information please visit planetaryhealthalliance.org
*The Planet ary Hea lth Allianc e offer ed g uidance regard ing the cri teria f or this ini tia tive . As an
independent org ani zati on, the PHA is not a spon sor of how thi s re port ca rd is u sed nor the
results out line d b y th e repor t.
U K H E A L T H A L L I A N CE O N C L IMA T E C HAN G E
For more information please visit ukhealthalliance.org.
GLOBAL CONSORTIUM ON CLIM ATE AND HEALTH EDUCATION*
For more information please visit publichealth.columbia.edu/research/global-
consortium-climate-and-health-education.
*The Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE) served as an advisor
for the report card development. As an independent initiative, GCCHE is not a sponsor
of how this report card is used nor the results outlined by the report.
WITH SUPPORT FROM:
153PHRC APRIL 2023
HEALTH CARE WITHOUT HARM
For more information please visit noharm.org.
UC CENTER FOR CLIM ATE, HE ALTH AN D EQUIT Y
For more information please visit climatehealth.ucsf.edu.
EUROPEAN MEDICAL STUDENTS ' ASSOC IATION
For more information please visit emsa-europe.eu.
