Thanks For Joining Us at #ViVE2024! | 3/11/2024
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A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us at ViVE 2024 in Los Angeles! It was inspiring to connect with so many professionals motivated to integrate climate health into the healthcare sector. Our session, "Pioneering the Intersection of Climate, Health, and Innovation," provided rich discussions on overcoming healthcare system challenges amidst climate change, with esteemed panelists joining CHILL on stage including Seema Wadhwa (Kaiser Permanente), Baylis Beard (Blue Shield of California), Leshika Samarasinghe (Twine Ventures), Oriana Fuentes (Mika Health). We delved into the necessity for innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy change to protect both patient and environmental safety.
You can watch a recording of the panel discussions here: “Pioneering the Intersection of Climate, Health, and Innovation Video link.”
Inspiring Insights and Calls to Action
Our discussions underscored the critical need to incorporate decarbonization and climate resilience into healthcare practices. During the first panel, CHILL founders Stefano Leitner and Chethan Sarabu, along with Seema Wadhwa and Baylis Beard, delved into the multifaceted intersection of healthcare delivery and environmental stewardship. Recognizing that patient care and environmental care are interconnected shifts our perspective.
Leshika Samarasinghe notably articulated the importance of venture capital in supporting sustainable technological innovations, emphasizing the dual benefits for the environment and financial health. A commendable example leading this charge is Mika Health, which has been pivotal in advocating for enhanced procurement data. This approach is essential for fostering a more transparent and efficient supply chain, ultimately benefiting the entire healthcare ecosystem.
Katie Lichter, co-founder of CHILL, highlighted the immediate effects of climate change on patient health. She stressed the urgency of more comprehensive data and innovative solutions to alleviate these impacts, spotlighting the work being done by GreenHealth Lab. And finally, Betty Chang’s (CHILL) insights into the digital health sector, with $10 billion in deals across 400 companies in 2023, illuminate the untapped opportunities at the intersection of health and climate change. This serves as a reminder of the critical need for collaboration across all healthcare stakeholders to foster innovation and sustainability.
Climate Health = Health Equity
The connection between climate health and health equity was a recurring theme, bringing to light how natural disasters exacerbate health crises. On ViVE’s impact stage Chethan alongside Jerry Abrahams and Manijeh Berenji highlighted the impacts of climate related stresses on multiple vulnerable communities from children to farm workers.
Integrating climate-related data, such as heat or air quality, into Electronic Health Records (EHRs) could revolutionize patient care, particularly in marginalized communities. With the planet warming past 1.5C, the urgency to mobilize our data and resources to address these challenges has never been greater.
Continuing the Conversation & Looking Forward
"The opportunity to continue and deepen our conversations is crucial…transforming frustrations into aspirations can lead to significant advancements…recognizing climate change as a critical health issue encompasses a wide range of impacts, from asthma in children to the effects of heatwaves and wildfire smoke on the entire population. Leveraging technology effectively in this context can be transformative."
- Seema Wadhwa
Our panelists underscored the importance of continuing and deepening our dialogue to integrate climate considerations into healthcare. This calls for dismantling silos and enhancing collaboration across sectors, emphasizing our shared duty to unite patient care with environmental stewardship. Inspired by these discussions, we're reinvigorated to advance our mission—fusing decarbonization and resilience into the healthcare framework. Let's not lose this momentum. We encourage you to collaborate, exchange ideas, and continue this vital conversation. For opportunities to contribute and stay updated on our efforts, visit our website.
Other news
How Hospitals Are Going Green under Biden’s Climate Legislation outlines how the Inflation Reduction Act enables nonprofit hospitals to utilize renewable energy tax credits, facilitating significant green investments in the healthcare sector.
The article Environmental Sustainability and AI in Radiology: A Double-Edged Sword article discusses the paradox in radiology where AI contributes to greenhouse gas emissions yet also offers ways to enhance environmental sustainability within the field.
The study "Shifting Gears to Green" (co-authored by CHILL members) demonstrates how transitioning to electric and hybrid rideshare vehicles for patient transport at UCSF Radiation Oncology can significantly lower carbon emissions without impacting service costs or wait times, supporting healthcare's move towards sustainability.
A new article from Nature Medicine examines the correlation between extreme weather events and the consequential changes in healthcare usage and mortality rates in the United States.
A new toolkit from AHA and ASHE is helping prepare hospital and health system leaders to navigate the complex landscape of sustainability and decarbonization within the healthcare field.
Events & opportunities
Other events and opportunities in the coming weeks:
The International Conference on Climate Change and Human Health Impacts will be taking place on March 10 in New York. Register.
Bootcamp for learning about healthcare sector Life Cycle Assessments through Columbia. Register.
Aspen Ideas: Climate 2024 is a multi-day event addressing a changing climate with panels, breakout and roundtable sessions, and tours local and historic resilience points of interest. Taking place March 11–13 in Miami Beach, Florida. Register.
HHS OCCHE is hosting a Catalytic Program on Utilizing the IRA with weekly national sessions and breakout for different safety net provider types running through April 11th. Register.
University of Washington Symposium on Climate Change and Clinical Practice Thursday, Mar. 28. Register.
Columbia School of Public Health - Climate Change and Health Bootcamp - June 12-14. Register.