The past decade has been one of significant momentum, with physicians and health professionals increasingly seeking ways to contribute to the climate-smart health care movement, within the four walls of health care facilities and beyond.
Physicians began engaging with the sustainable health care movement in the late 2000s and their numbers grew annually in the mid-2010s. As a result, a small group of physicians started meeting regularly to explore and identify opportunities for physician leadership, casually referring to themselves as the “physician network.”
Given the increasing momentum along with recognition of the unique and critical roles physicians have in advancing sustainable health care, Health Care Without Harm formally launched the Physician Network in 2018 to support physicians and medical students in leveraging their trusted voices and ethical influence to advocate for sustainable, climate-smart health care and lead efforts to accelerate the transition to a zero-emissions, climate-resilient, and equitable health care sector. Today, the network is composed of nearly 1,500 physicians, medical students, dentists, and dental students.
Now evolved into the Climate-Smart Collective, this legacy of health professional leadership has created unstoppable momentum toward resilient zero-emissions health care – and you can be part of writing the next chapter.
10 years of health professional action and advocacy
Throughout the past decade, physicians and health professionals have played a critical role in climate and environmental advocacy efforts by influencing climate-smart local and national policies by engaging with policymakers, testifying in hearings, and leading advocacy campaigns.
Well-organized health professional campaigns, such as sign-on letters and public comments, can influence decision-makers and health care leaders to help shift policies, engage institutions, and inspire action. Physician Network highlights include:
- In 2019, the Physician Network supported international efforts of young people leading the “Fridays for Future” movement to demand immediate and decisive action from world leaders to address the climate crisis. The Physician Network issued a virtual “doctor’s note” encouraging teachers to excuse students from school to participate in Global Climate Strikes. The letter was signed by nearly 800 physicians and earned a mention in the New York Times.
- In 2020, over 4,300 doctors and nurses representing all 50 states (including many members of the Physician Network) signed a letter to patients to raise awareness of the health impacts of climate change and the need to protect health, an effort supported by a coalition of 16 national and state-level health and medical organizations.
- The Physician Network and the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health launched an ongoing letter-writing campaign in 2022, making it easier for health professionals to encourage health care leaders to sign the HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge by providing letter templates and talking points.
- Over one weekend in 2023, more than 750 health professionals signed an open letter opposing The Joint Commission’s proposal to make environmental sustainability standards voluntary, collaborating with the Physician Network, Healthy Climate Wisconsin, Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action, and the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health.
- Millions of health professionals, including those from the Physician Network, signed the open letter from health professionals on the Plastics Treaty in 2024, urging negotiators to ensure an ambitious treaty without any blanket exemptions for the health care sector.
- In 2024, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility organized an open letter to AstraZeneca in collaboration with the Physician Network. This letter, signed by over 500 health and sustainability professionals, along with nearly 50 organizations, urged AstraZeneca to bring the Symbicort Turbuhaler to market in the United States due to the urgent need for more low-emission inhalers that are safe, effective, and affordable.
- In a 2024 campaign led by the Physician Network in partnership with the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, nearly 500 health professionals submitted comments in support of the CMS Team Decarbonization and Resilience Initiative, a voluntary program to monitor, assess, and address hospital greenhouse gas emissions.
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A large group of doctors gathered at the 2019 Boston Youth Climate Strike, hosting a “medical advice booth,” communicating the need for climate action to protect health.
In 2019, the Physician Network supported international efforts of young people leading the “Fridays for Future” movement to demand immediate and decisive action from world leaders to address the climate crisis.
Dr. Amy Collins, Health Care Without Harm's medical director and Physician Network member, advocates for environmental health concerns around antibiotic overuse in animal agriculture in Washington in 2014.
Dr. Aparna Bole, Physician Network member, along with other doctors and advocates, briefs Congress on environmental health concerns around antibiotic overuse in animal agriculture in 2016 (Photo credit: Pew Charitable Trusts).
Dr. Regina LaRocque, Physician Network member, testifies before Massachusetts state legislators about renewable energy policy in 2017. (Photo credit: Bill Ravanesi)
Health professionals meet with Senator Markey during a congressional visit to educate legislators on how the IRA can protect health during the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health annual conference Hill Days in 2022.
Dr. Gregg Furie, Physician Network member, calls on the Biden administration and Congress to take swift and ambitious action to reduce pollution and protect public health during a public health and climate advocacy week in Washington in 2024.
The Physician Network has supported groups of health professionals to participate in the National Public Health Advocacy Days in Washington and meet with members of Congress and the administration on topics such as supporting the mission and funding of the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity and programs that promote climate-smart health care policies while opposing rollbacks and funding cuts that prevent climate action, specifically efforts to undermine the Inflation Reduction Act.
Physician Network members have also engaged in speaking, media, and advocacy opportunities and have written about the need for affordable climate-friendly inhalers, plastics in health care, and health care sector investment emissions. They have also participated in podcasts on topics such as the health care plastics crisis and career paths at the intersection of climate and health care.
The network today: A new era for health professionals' advocacy
In the past, health professionals who engaged in sustainable health care efforts were referred to as clinical "champions" or "cheerleaders" and were considered “nice to have.” Now, they are considered leaders integral to the success of sustainability programs.
Some health professionals have gained significant content expertise on topics such as plastics in health care, sustainable radiology, measuring and managing inhaler emissions, and reducing low-value care; whereas others have done critical research – all of which have provided significant value to individual health organizations and the broader sustainability community.
Anesthesiologists, surgeons, and peri-operative staff have been critical to the success of sustainability efforts in the OR, including utilizing single-use device reprocessing and strategies to reduce anesthetic gas emissions, such as desflurane elimination and nitrous oxide deactivation.
Recognizing the myriad of ways that clinical leaders provide unique value and can accelerate the transition to sustainable, zero-emission, resilient health care, more and more hospitals and health systems are appointing health professionals to sustainability leadership roles.
Medical and clinical directors: A leadership role for health professionals
A growing number of health professionals currently serve as medical or clinical director of sustainability, or an equivalent title, for their hospital or health system.
These positions ensure alignment between sustainability and clinical care – helping organizations reduce waste and emissions, engage and educate the clinical workforce, build resilience, save money, and improve care.
Typically, “medical director of sustainability” or an equivalent title is used by physicians, and “clinical director of sustainability” is used by non-physicians such as nurses. However, these roles are not limited to physicians and nurses – other clinical health professionals, such as pharmacists, can serve in these roles.
Podcast: Jobs at the intersection of health & climate
Dr. Amy Collins and Dr. Shanda Demorest share how the health care sector can be a powerful force for climate action, and highlight the growing career opportunities at the intersection of health care and sustainability.
Health professionals, sustainability leaders, and administrators are increasingly discovering the full value these positions can bring to their organizations. Our network has supported the growth of this position and are currently aware of 23 physicians and one nurse so far who currently hold medical or clinical director of sustainability positions or similar titles.
Granting these leaders protected time to focus on sustainability has enabled them to develop content expertise and lead efforts that are driving and inspiring further action across the sector.
“Clinicians have a powerful voice to address the inequitable impacts of climate change on health in our communities. With the proper knowledge and tools, they can accelerate their health care systems’ efforts toward environmental justice and sustainability…The skills and relationships that started during my time as a fellow [and as member of the network] continue to grow, informing and supporting initiatives at the heart of my work as a medical director of sustainability today.”
– Dr. Anne Getzin, climate and health family medicine physician and medical director of sustainability, Advocate Health, and 2023 Climate and Health Science Policy Fellow
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Physicians gather for a group shot at CleanMed 2018 in San Diego
Physicians gather for a group shot at CleanMed 2019 in Nashville
Physicians gather for a group shot at CleanMed 2023 in Pittsburgh
Physicians gather for a group shot at CleanMed 2024 in Salt Lake City
Health professionals gather for a group shot at CleanMed 2025 in Atlanta.
Educating each other and the broader health care community
“At my first CleanMed in 2009, the enthusiasm, motivation, knowledge, and expertise of those attending was palpable and inspired me to continue on my path in sustainable healthcare delivery…In [the] early days [there weren’t] many physicians…in attendance but [I] have since been amazed at how the numbers of physicians attending has skyrocketed…[giving] me the opportunity to bond and have meaningful discussions with physician peers.”
– Dr. Ilyssa O. Gordon, Professor of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Over the years, the Physician Network has developed numerous health professional-led educational programs including webinars and other virtual sessions; a climate-smart health care journal club offered in collaboration with Medical Students for a Sustainable Future; and “The path to climate-smart, net-zero emissions health care,” a virtual grand rounds series featuring climate-smart clinicians and researchers, presented in partnership with the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
This practice continues through Practice Greenhealth sessions and events, and health professional-led CleanMed sessions – a valuable opportunity for health professionals to gain knowledge about environmentally responsible, low-emission, resilient health care and gather as peers to network, build relationships and connections, and leave revitalized and inspired.
CleanMed 2025 welcomed over 800 health care sustainability leaders – including a record-breaking 170+ health professionals – with more health professional-led sessions than ever before, some of which were standing room only.
Watch CleanMed 2025’s captivating, 10-minute STAT! talks, featuring thought-provoking stories on a variety of health care sustainability topics from health professional leaders.
Empowering the next generation of leaders
“In a field where we often feel isolated, it’s empowering to connect, mentor, and be mentored by others who share this mission.” – Dr. Emily Sbiroli, University of Colorado Climate and Health Program faculty, inaugural Emerging Physician Leader Award recipient and Health Care Without Harm climate and health fellow.
With support from partner organizations and generous donors, Health Care Without Harm and the Physician Network recognize and mentor the next generation of physician climate and sustainability leaders through a variety of awards and fellowships.
“Receiving this award is both an honor and an exciting opportunity to learn from leaders in sustainable health care and deepen my understanding of how to create lasting, impactful change.” – Anika Pruthi, 2025 Blair and Georgia Sadler Fellow
The Emerging Physician Leader Award and Scholarship, offered in partnership with the Association of American Medical Colleges, provides recipients with a grant to support a project that aligns with the goals of the Physician Network to promote climate-smart health care and a CleanMed scholarship. The Blair and Georgia Sadler Fellowship provides an opportunity for emerging clinical health leaders who want to work on equitable, climate-smart health care in their institutions and communities.
“I am honored to receive the Emerging Physician Leader Award – it embodies my dedication to advancing health equity and planetary health action through my training. Attending CleanMed excites me because it offers a unique opportunity to build connections, exchange innovative ideas, and enhance strategies to advocate for diverse patient populations…” – Sydney Warner, 2025 Emerging Physician Leader Award recipient
Through a partnership with the University of Colorado School of Medicine and its Climate and Health Science Policy Fellowship, fellows are placed with Health Care Without Harm annually to work with staff on various programs.
From growing a clinic garden and launching an air filter exchange program to creating climate preparedness toolkits for families and leading decades-long advocacy against toxic chemicals, our 2025 award recipients and fellows are advancing sustainable, climate-smart health care and environmental health.
The Climate-Smart Collective
If the health sector doesn’t act, greenhouse gas emissions are projected to triple by 2050. Achieving the health sector’s climate goals will require collective action across the entire clinical health workforce.
To continue to build and expand our network of health professionals engaged in climate action, we launched the Climate-Smart Collective, which provides a platform to amplify your influence and expertise to advance the growing health care sustainability movement – shaping a healthier future for our patients and the planet.
The Physician Network is now a dedicated subgroup of the larger community open to physicians, medical students, dentists, and dental students.
Here’s what you can look forward to as we look ahead:
- Connect with like-minded professionals across disciplines, specialties, and roles.
- Specialize your skills to meet the growing need for health systems to integrate sustainability into their operations.
- Get support applying and advocating for medical and clinical director of sustainability and similar roles at your facility.
- Stay informed about upcoming educational, networking, advocacy, and leadership opportunities.
We are excited to build on the momentum of one another’s successes and elevate proven practices and strategies to empower health professionals to be leaders in this movement.
Remembering Dr. Terry O’Connor
Dr. Terry O’Connor (1975-2024) was a mentor, a role model, and a visionary, and tragically passed away in an avalanche shortly before CleanMed 2024. He is well-loved and remembered fondly by the health professional climate and sustainability community.
“As the driving force behind the University of Colorado’s Diploma in Climate Medicine, Terry turned an ambitious idea into one of the most comprehensive educational programs in climate and health. He brought his vision to life by preparing health professionals with the knowledge and leadership skills needed to address climate change through science, policy, communication, and clinical care. As a gifted storyteller, he had a unique ability to connect people to purpose and to each other. One of my favorite memories of Terry is the text messages he would sometimes send. Just a photo – a groomed ski trail, a forest path, or his dog playing. No caption. But the message was clear: step away from the screen, put on your boots, and take time to experience the places we are working so hard to protect.”
– Shana Tarter, managing director, Diploma in Climate Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine
