Sustainability and public health, two of my main interests, merged recently at an impactful event – the 2024 Georgia Healthcare Sustainability Forum. In my role at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business (Center), I helped to organize the event. In addition to being an administrative professional at the Center, I’m also pursuing my master’s degree in public health. The forum, which bridged my interests, was eye-opening. Held at the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design at Georgia Tech on November 9, 2024, this event gathered together healthcare professionals, sustainability advocates, and business leaders to discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time: how healthcare systems can contribute to a more sustainable and healthier future.
One of the most impactful moments for me came during a panel moderated by Dr. Preeti Jaggi, a leader in both pediatric medicine and healthcare sustainability. Jaggi, who is also the current chair of Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action (GaCCA), expressed her climate anxiety while highlighting the importance of integrating sustainability into healthcare practices. She emphasized that reducing greenhouse gas emissions in healthcare can start with practices like antimicrobial stewardship, where we use antibiotics more wisely to avoid unnecessary environmental harm. As a professor of pediatrics at Emory University and the director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Jaggi is a true innovator in healthcare quality improvement.
Jaggi presented key ways healthcare providers can become “Climate HeROs” (Healthcare Resource Optimizers) by advocating for actions such as reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, converting intravenous medications to oral forms when possible, and reducing waste from pharmaceutical products and medical supplies. According to Jaggi, it’s not just about what we’re doing today, but about changing the way we approach healthcare delivery in a way that benefits both people and the planet.
Throughout the day, the forum was filled with thought-provoking discussions and presentations. Hearing from experts like Dr. Mehul Tejani, who spoke about the health effects of climate change, left me inspired and energized. This event was important to me because it directly aligns with my passion for public health, as well as my interest in sustainability. This was a perfect opportunity to explore how the healthcare system can evolve to address climate change while improving health outcomes at the same time.
One of the things that stuck with me was the emphasis on collaboration. The forum brought together professionals from all corners of the healthcare world – clinicians, sustainability experts, and business leaders – all working to understand how we can come together to achieve our ambitious climate goals. Whether it’s through initiatives like the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact or impactful organizations like GaCCA, it’s clear that change is needed and happening now thanks to action-oriented leaders and groups.
By the end of the forum, I felt like I was part of something much bigger than myself. This forum wasn’t just about learning; it was about building momentum, connecting with like-minded professionals, and becoming part of a collective effort to create a more sustainable healthcare system. If there’s one thing I took away from this experience, it’s that sustainability in healthcare isn’t just possible – it’s essential. And I’m more committed than ever to being part of that change.
The 2024 Georgia Healthcare Sustainability Forum was organized by the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business, and Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action.
About the Author: Triniece Smith is an administrative professional at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business. She is also pursuing her master’s degree in public health at Georgia State University.