University of Colorado Anschutz – Diploma in Climate Medicine – Sustainable Healthcare Certificate
Hybrid Learning including asynchronous online content (35 hours), virtual sessions (9 hours), and in person education (2 days).
The U.S. healthcare sector accounts for approximately 8.5% of national carbon emissions, making sustainability a critical responsibility and opportunity for today’s healthcare leaders. This course empowers clinicians to understand healthcare’s environmental footprint and apply practical, cost-effective strategies that improve both operational performance and patient health. Participants will explore actionable approaches including energy efficiency, waste reduction, sustainable clinical practices, environmentally responsible purchasing, and healthier food systems. Emphasis is placed on solutions that align environmental stewardship with financial savings and quality improvement. By positioning clinicians as leaders in sustainability, this course equips healthcare professionals to drive institutional change, reduce emissions, and strengthen their organization’s commitment to community health, resilience, and long-term well-being.
Cost: Varies
View Offer chevron_rightKey Features
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Greenhouse gas accounting for healthcare facilities.
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Circular healthcare and sustainable waste management practices.
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Analysis of pharmaceuticals’ impact on planetary health.
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Conducting life cycle assessments for healthcare goods and services.
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Sustainable healthcare policy development.
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Best practices from leading healthcare facilities, Health Care Without Harm, and Practice Greenhealth.
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Engagement with federal policy experts on healthcare decarbonization.
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Skills for effectively pitching sustainability initiatives to organizational leadership.
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Scheduled adjacent to CleanMed, the premier conference on environmental sustainability in the health care sector.
Topics Covered
- Sustainable Healthcare
- Greenhouse Gas Accounting
- Circular Economy
- Waste Management
- Food in Healthcare
- Pharmaceuticals & Planetary Health
- Plastics in Healthcare
- Sustainability in the OR & Radiology
- Sustainability in Anesthesia & Respiratory Care
- Transportation in Healthcare
- Sustainable Buildings
- Telehealth
- Leveraging Informatics
- Advocacy
- Plastics
- Community Needs Assessment
- Ambulatory & Primary Care Sustainability
- Quality Improvement
- Life Cycle Assessment
- AI in Healthcare
- Sustainable Healthcare Policy
- Financing Sustainable Healthcare
- Success Stories in Sustainability
- Pitching Leadership
- Personal Sustainability & Resilience
- Simulation Lab
Learning Objectives
- Quantify and qualify the public health and environmental impact of the healthcare sector and healthcare delivery.
- Outline opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare delivery.
- Demonstrate effective communication with stakeholders in promotion of climate-smart healthcare.
- Explain engagement roles of health professionals in healthcare decarbonization policy.
Target Audience
This activity is designed for healthcare providers from all disciplines and specialties.
Additional credit info
The Wilderness Medical Society designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 45 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™️. Each physician should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) and Climate & Health Program at University of Colorado School of Medicine. The WMS is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Participants also earn a microcredential issued by the University of Colorado.