“We have established a collaborative team effort across UC San Diego Health to make sustainability part of the way we deliver care every day,” said Ashley Gambhir, Interim Director of Sustainability and Executive Director of Transformation at UC San Diego Health. “From our frontline staff to our operational teams, there is a shared commitment to doing the right thing for our patients, communities and the environment. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and creativity that continues to move this effort forward.”
The 2026 Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards recognized 430 healthcare organizations across the country for their sustainable healthcare approaches.
Previously, UC San Diego Health was named a Top 25 Hospital in both 2023 and 2025.
“The more we pursue sustainable practices, such as clean energy and reduced reliance on single-use plastics, the better we can ensure the health of our patients now and in the future,” said Shira Abeles, MD, medical director of sustainability at the University of California, San Diego. “In the face of the growing challenges posed by climate change, we are working to build a more resilient and green health system.”
In response to the climate crisis, the University of California (UC) established the UC Sustainable Practice Policy, which includes climate protection, transportation, sustainable building operations, zero waste, procurement, food, energy, water, health and well-being.
In 2019, UC San Diego launched the region’s first healthcare program focused solely on sustainability. Recent efforts at UC San Diego to address climate change and reduce pollution include:
- We reprocess medical devices such as compression sleeves, tourniquet cuffs, and surgical instruments by partnering with FDA-regulated vendors to collect, clean, test, and remanufacture select single-use devices. As a result, approximately 225 tons of medical equipment was diverted from landfill.
- Manage an operating room recycling program that diverted 6 tons of plastic waste from landfills in the past year
- Redistributes unused medical supplies to clinics in underserved communities, with over 1 million medical supplies donated in the past year
- Last year, 150,000 pounds of pre-consumable food waste, such as broccoli stalks, carrots and berry stems, was sent to local farms in San Diego County for animal feed and composting.
“This recognition from Practice Green Health is a direct reflection of our commitment to environmental stewardship in health care, while also providing life-saving treatment options to the communities we are privileged to serve,” said Kremer. “The future of sustainability efforts at UC San Diego is rooted in creating more resilient spaces for our patients, staff, and visitors, and we proudly continue to do so.”
