The Stephanie Davis Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention Award and Scholarship is an enduring tribute to Davis, who worked with Health Care Without Harm at its inception in 1996. Davis was a tireless champion of the movement toward sustainable health care who worked to reduce waste and eliminate the use of harmful chemicals and materials in health care products and processes.
The five deserving recipients for 2025 represent a cross section of champions working everyday, as Davis did, to make health care more sustainable. Each received a scholarship to attend CleanMed, the premier conference for leaders in health care sustainability.
Join us in celebrating this year’s awardees:
Karen Ceresnak
RN, BSN | Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Medicine | California
"I am honored and excited to receive this award because it has enabled me to attend CleanMed. I look forward to learning more about how we can further reduce waste and prevent pollution at our facility. Attending this conference is especially meaningful because my team and I put a lot of hard work into our project, and I’m excited for the opportunity to present it to this inspiring community."
Christina Gonzalez
B.S., WELL AP | Construction Sustainability Specialist | Nicklaus Children’s Hospital | Florida
"I am so honored to have been selected as an award and scholarship recipient. I look forward to attending my first CleanMed conference and learning about innovative sustainability solutions that I can bring back to my health system to further advance our waste reduction efforts and broader sustainability work."
Abigail Levine
Undergraduate research student | Jewish General Hospital | Montreal, Quebec
"I am honored to be selected as an award and scholarship recipient. Over the past year, my research in health care sustainability has deepened my passion for managing health care waste. Stephanie’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in health care is truly inspiring. I am grateful for the privilege of representing her legacy at the CleanMed and furthering my work in this vital field."
Adel Khan
Postdoctoral Research Fellow | The Center for Critical Care, Houston Methodist Hospital | Texas
"I am honored to receive this year’s Stephanie Davis Award. This recognition reinforces the significance of the efforts that the Center for Critical Care and I have made towards sustainability practices in health care. I view sustainability as a goal, but also a responsibility, and this award serves as both encouragement and motivation to continue pushing forward."
Salim Mwakidzuga
Health Manager | Vision Imaging and Medical Center | Mombasa County, Kenya
"I am deeply honored to receive this award. This recognition strengthens my commitment to sustainable health care waste management and inspires me to further innovate and advocate for environmentally responsible practices in the health sector."
Vanessa Voce Strackbein
M.Ed, BSN, RN, CPN | House Supervisor | Dell Children’s Medical Center, Ascension | Texas
"As a nurse, Green Team chair, and proud Latina in a multicultural community, I am honored to receive this award. I believe that small, intentional actions can create lasting environmental change, especially when we engage diverse voices in the conversation. I hope to continue inspiring others to prioritize sustainability in both health care and everyday life, ensuring a healthier future for our families and communities."