Nathan Kuppermann has promoted sustainability in the administrative offices of the Department of Emergency Medicine for nearly 15 years. As part of what began in 2009 the "Lean Green Committee," Dr. Kuppermann was instrumental in eliminating disposable cutlery, dishes, and cups and removing meat from the menu at departmental functions. He also secured funding to replicate such efforts in the other departments of the School of Medicine. As chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Kuppermann has been a vital liaison with Hospital leadership, garnering support for various sustainability initiatives for the Health System.

David Barnes proposed and successfully lobbied to include a category for sustainability projects in the annual Graduate Medical Education High-Value Competition, which supplies funding and statistical support for resident-initiated quality improvement projects. This program has funded six sustainability projects in its first two years. Dr. Barnes is also Director of Sustainability in the Emergency Department, and has helped to lead the transition from disposable to reusable isolation gowns, the collection of surplus supplies for distribution to providers caring for underserved populations, and the reduction in paper printing.

Nina Schloemerkemper is leading efforts to decrease the volume of volatile anesthetic agents administered by members of the Department of Anesthesiology. These agents are potent greenhouse gases, and evidence has shown that administration rates can be reduced without compromising patient care. Dr. Schloemerkemper also directed the decommissioning of centrally-supplied nitrous oxide, which has resulted in up to a 97% reduction in the escape of this potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.

Andrew Hernandez is collaborating with the National Renewable Energy Lab to measure the energy consumption of multiple MRI scanners at UC Davis. This data is currently being used to inform EPA Energy Star’s development of a specification for energy efficient MRIs and will be used to identify areas for improvements in energy efficiency at UC Davis. Dr. Hernandez has also been working to have water-bottle filling stations installed on every floor of the Davis Tower with the ultimate goal of reducing waste from disposable plastic bottles.

William Pevec founded, in July 2020, a grassroots group of clinicians, now known as the UC Davis Health Sustainability Advocates, to encourage more environmentally sustainable practices in the Health System. Collaborating with Sustainability Directors Colleen McCormick and Kristina Cullen, this group has initiated, encouraged, promoted, and directed multiple projects over the past three years.

Barbara Gumnor, working in partnership with Tom Ocheltree, was pivotal in launching the red bag waste program throughout the medical center. She is also active in multiple working groups and sustainability committees throughout UC Davis Health, including the Sustainability Advocates and the Sustainability Committee. She has recently provided leadership in launching the new Clinical Practice Council Sustainability Sub-committee. This sub-committee will focus on waste reduction and sustainability in the clinical setting. Barbara is a known leader for prioritizing sustainability and inspires others to do the same.