In recognition for its consistent efforts to improve environmental sustainability and planetary health, University of Michigan Health recently received three Excellence awards from Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to reducing the carbon footprint associated with health care. 

These awards include the Greenhealth Emerald Award, the OR (Operating Room) Award and the Circle of Excellence (Leadership) Award. The survey process for receiving this significant recognition of environmental stewardship required a provision of data that demonstrates a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change, as well as examples of leadership commitment to improving health equity and reducing disparities across various populations.

“Being recognized by the leading organization for sustainability in health care is quite a team accomplishment, especially given the rigorous standards that must be met to validate efforts that show commitment and progress in reducing the carbon footprint,” said Tony Denton, J.D., M.H.A., senior vice president and chief environmental, social and governance officer at U-M Health and Michigan Medicine. 

“Health care contributes 8.5% of the nation’s carbon footprint, which can lead to climate change and global warming. We share in the responsibility to be intentional with recycling, waste reduction, innovative changes that reduce harmful gases, and energy and water use required to serve patients. This, while also improving health for patients, employees, visitors and the community. We are committed to finding opportunities to increase sustainability on a daily basis, and the Practice Greenhealth honors suggest we are on the right track. I am proud of the collective efforts of our teams who have helped us achieve these recognitions at U-M Health and Michigan Medicine, year over year.” 

These honors are a part of Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Award program and are given annually to recognize health care organizational achievements in sustainability. 

“In health care, sustainability translates to assessing exactly how our operations affect the health and safety of our environment, as well as the health and safety of every single individual who walks through our doors,” said David C. Miller, M.D., president of U-M Health and executive vice-dean for clinical affairs at the U-M Medical School. 

“Receiving this incredible recognition from Practice Greenhealth is a testament to the meaningful work our team members do daily to reduce our impact on the environment. And I am grateful for their ongoing commitment to this extremely important cause.”

More information about this year’s Practice Greenhealth award recipients can be found here. 

About Practice Greenhealth

Practice Greenhealth is the leading membership and networking organization for sustainable health care, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,700 U.S. hospitals and health systems. Learn more at practicegreenhealth.org.

About Michigan Medicine and University of Michigan Health

At Michigan Medicine, we advance health to serve Michigan and the world. We pursue excellence every day in our 11 hospitals and hundreds of clinics statewide, as well as educate the next generation of physicians, health professionals and scientists in our U-M Medical School.

Michigan Medicine includes U-M Medical School and University of Michigan Health, which includes the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, University Hospital, the Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Health-West, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow and the Rogel Cancer Center. The U-M Medical School is one of the nation's biomedical research powerhouses, with total research awards of more than $777 million.

More information is available at www.michiganmedicine.org.