Session format

Preference will be given to proposals for sessions that:

• Provide the most engaging and interactive delivery of educational content
• Are action- and solutions-oriented
• Feature models, guidance, case studies, or technical skill building
• Foster creative collaborations

CleanMed attendees report greatest satisfaction with sessions during which they have opportunities to engage in discussion or interact with speakers and peers to identify solutions to operational and strategic challenges they are facing.

Session content level

CleanMed attendees represent organizations that are at different stages in their organizational change journey toward sustainability. Please consider what level your session may most appeal to.

Level 1: Elementary/engaged

These organizations may have a few projects underway, but sustainability efforts are new or limited and only active in select practices in select functional units.

Level 2: Strategic/integrated

Sustainability has become an organizational priority and aligns strategically for greater impact and efficiency. A cultural shift is emerging that includes external stakeholders and a prioritization of sustainability initiatives across several departments.

Level 3: Transforming

Sustainability is embedded into mission, strategy, and business (including financial) planning and operations.

Session content and delivery

CleanMed features a wide array of topics and speakers. While we welcome proposals on all topics, the following are priority considerations for session selection:

Variety of voices: We may limit the number of times any one health system or speaker is featured. We aim to showcase speakers and systems from a variety of regions throughout the country, representing different types of professionals and facilities that serve different demographic populations and are at different stages in their sustainability journey.

Health care partners first: We prioritize sessions featuring speakers working directly in the health care facility setting. We welcome interesting combinations that show cross-departmental collaboration, such as sessions with staff representatives from sustainability, supply chain, clinical services, leadership, and community benefit. Preference is given to submitters from organizations that are current Practice Greenhealth partners.

Local learnings: We look to elevate environmental and climate considerations of the community, state, and region where the conference is held each year as well as initiatives working on solutions to these issues.

Accessible solutions: Preference is given to sessions that share accessible solutions for a wide range of health facilities.

Partnering for impact: We seek sessions that showcase how hospitals and health professionals have partnered with their communities featuring speakers from community-based organizations, nonprofits, and municipal partners. A limited number of sessions may feature partnerships with industry or other sectors.

Timely topics: Environmental sustainability includes a vast array of topics and issues, such as climate change, equitable and sustainable food systems, waste management, supply chain resilience, environmental justice, and health equity. Preference is given to topics featuring solutions for the most timely issues hospitals are facing now. Note that while we often partner with academic centers, our focus is not on academic curricula housed in academic centers.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB): We are committed to cultivating and sustaining culturally and ethnically diverse organizations, and to promoting inclusive practices. We also acknowledge the reality of environmental injustice – that marginalized communities bear the brunt of climate and health impacts – and give preference to sessions focused on advancing environmental justice. We believe that systems can only be transformed when a diversity of voices, perspectives, and lived experiences are part of the movement for change. We want to hear how your health systems are centering equity in their work.

Priority Topics

The following topic areas are of particular interest:

Health care sustainability governance: How to develop and organize a sustainability strategy to align with organizational priorities, break down silos, measure and report impact, and propel leadership to embrace sustainability as a key tactic in achieving its mission; elevating key performance indicators (KPIs); sample strategic plans; employee engagement and HR strategies such as appointing a medical director of sustainability; the intersection of sustainability and DEIB efforts

Leveraging the power of health care procurement: Elevating how values-based criteria are embedded into procurement decision-making through initiatives like the Impact Purchasing Commitment, measurement and reduction of Scope 3 emissions, plant-forward food service, or true circularity planning from purchase to disposal to reduce toxic exposures and impacts

Designing effective, holistic climate action plans: Ensuring mitigation, resilience, and equity are considered and accounted for in health system climate action plans and broader organizational strategies; examples of cross-organizational and community engagement; examples leveraging an array of strategies from food service to facilities; and guidance for making the business case for climate action

Spotlighting proven climate mitigation strategies (from basic to advanced): Measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate impact, funding climate mitigation initiatives, making the case for effective interventions, engaging internal and external stakeholders in climate plan development and implementation, and examples of specific, high-impact interventions

Embodying anchor mission to build climate and community resilience and health equity: Climate and community resilience planning that aligns emergency planning, community benefits, and relationship-based approaches that center the most vulnerable to environmental health and climate risks

Plastics reduction and management: Addressing barriers to reducing purchase of plastics and use of single-use device plastics; transitioning to reusable options; and utilization of the safest disinfectant, sterilization, and recycling technologies

Clinician leadership and engagement in climate-smart health care: Providing models and guidance for health professionals to be climate-smart health care leaders within their institutions and communities, examples of clinicians driving the sustainable health care movement forward, and examples of interventions to reduce the climate and environmental impact of clinical care

Note that while we often partner with academic centers, we will not be accepting proposals focused on educational curriculum.

Important dates

Call for presentations opens	Aug. 9, 2023
Call for presentations closes	Sept. 25, 2023
Presenter notification	Dec. 2023