Medical and clinical director of sustainability 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.
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. Health professionals, sustainability leaders, and administrators are increasingly discovering the full value these positions can bring to their organizations.
“Our medical director of sustainability has been essential in the growth of our programs as she brings credibility to many of our efforts and has the ear of other providers and leaders. Her work has led to enhanced research and capacity building for the ‘why’ we need to do this work.” -Barbara Hamilton, sustainability officer, UC San Diego Health
Clinical care is the single largest factor driving health care emissions and environmental impact, and clinicians usually make up the largest percentage of a hospital’s workforce. A survey found a majority of doctors and nurses want to reduce their environmental impact at work and feel it is important for their health organization to take climate action.
“Clinical decisions are a major driver of health care’s environmental impact. Clinician engagement and leadership is essential if we’re going to redesign care to optimize outcomes for patients and the planet.” -Dr. Gregg Furie, medical director of climate and sustainability, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Health professionals have many opportunities to leverage their influence and trust – along with their health and health care expertise – to advance sustainable, climate-smart health care through education, research, advocacy, and efforts to reduce the environmental impact of clinical care.
Trends to pay attention to:
- The medical and clinical directors of sustainability are employed by a wide range of health care organizations, including community hospitals, faith-based health systems, academic medical centers, and essential or safety-net hospitals.
- Medical directors of sustainability have 0.075-0.6 FTE dedicated to sustainability work.
- Most medical and clinical directors of sustainability report to a president, vice president, or chief officer.
- Physician specialties range from anesthesiology to emergency medicine to internal medicine to pathology and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
Is the medical or clinical director of sustainability position the only option for a health professional to have a sustainability leadership role?
It is valuable to have health professional representation on sustainability leadership teams. However, there are other opportunities for clinicians to have leadership roles. For example, there are several nurses who serve as director or manager of sustainability (or equivalent title) for their hospital or health system, as well as a physician who serves as chief of crisis operations and sustainability.
My organization is interested in having a medical or clinical director of sustainability join our team but doesn’t have the budget to hire one. Do any medical or clinical directors of sustainability serve as volunteers?
While a majority of medical and clinical directors of sustainability are compensated, there are a few who serve in these roles in a volunteer capacity. However, the health professional will likely be much more effective in their role if they have dedicated time (FTE) and compensation.
What is the difference between a director of sustainability, and a medical or clinical director of sustainability?
A director of sustainability is responsible for development and execution of a comprehensive sustainability program that aligns with an organization’s overarching goals and engages staff at all levels.
A medical or clinical director of sustainability typically works in partnership with an organization’s director of sustainability and sustainability team. While the medical or clinical director of sustainability role varies from organization to organization, the individuals in these positions all educate and engage clinicians and ensure alignment between sustainable health care efforts and clinical care.
Is there any value in having a medical or clinical director of sustainability if the organization hasn’t made a commitment to sustainability and doesn’t have a director of sustainability?
Most medical or clinical directors of sustainability in the United States are affiliated with Practice Greenhealth partner organizations, including many that are participating in commitments such as the White House/HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge. A majority are from organizations that have a sustainability director or lead at the hospital or system level. However, we are aware of several medical directors of sustainability who lead sustainability efforts at the hospital or system level, as their organizations do not currently have sustainability leads.
If you are interested in the role and your organization hasn’t yet made a commitment to sustainability, you may want to focus your initial efforts on encouraging your organization to formalize a commitment.
What is the difference between a medical director of sustainability and a clinical director of sustainability?
Typically, medical director of sustainability or equivalent title is used by physicians, and clinical director of sustainability is used by non-physicians such as nurses. It’s also important to note these roles are not limited to physicians and nurses – other clinical health professionals, such as pharmacists, could serve in the roles.
What type of education or experience is needed for a medical or clinical director of sustainability? Is my health professional degree enough?
A majority of medical and clinical directors of sustainability have had very little training aside from their health professional training but come from diverse educational and training backgrounds with different credentials, skills, and expertise. What they have in common is clinical expertise, sustainable health care knowledge, and an interest in assuming the role. They also all have a willingness to learn from the sustainability community and the network of existing medical and clinical directors of sustainability.
Can I still provide patient care if I become a medical or clinical director of sustainability?
Absolutely. While the current directors have a range of FTEs dedicated to sustainability work, a majority are still working clinically. One of the strongest attributes of health professionals serving in these roles is their ability to continue to provide direct patient care. Working clinically allows these leaders to remain connected to patients and providers, and helps them identify opportunities to align sustainability efforts with clinical care.
