The GreenHealth lab at UCSF studies the interplay between healthcare delivery and climate change, especially in the context of cancer care. We explore the impact of the healthcare sector and health institutions on the environment, and the impact of climate change on clinical care. Our findings help shape mitigation and adaptation efforts, improving hospital sustainability and creating more climate-resilient systems. 

 

OUR RESEARCH AREAS

Impacts of Climate Change on Cancer Care

Climate-fueled events and disasters, particularly wildfires, are a focus area for our California-based lab. As wildfires have increased in frequency and intensity, cancer patients under treatment are at increased risk of interruptions in essential care. Our research seeks to understand these impacts on patients, especially those undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

Life Cycle Assessment of Healthcare Processes 

GreenHealth Lab is committed to promoting the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to rigorously understand the multidimensional environmental impact of healthcare processes and inform policy updates. We have published a methodology for LCA in electron beam radiation therapy and applied it to characterize the impacts of this treatment modality across multiple institutions, identifying levers for reducing environmental impact. 

Decarbonization Advocacy Across Cancer Care

The lab contributes to efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of cancer care, including patient travel & virtual care, faculty travel to professional conferences, clinical trial development, and the environmental impact of specific procedures. In service of reducing emissions from conference travel, we developed the Network Greener Calculator to allow individuals or departments to estimate their emissions associated with traveling to or hosting a conference. 

Healthcare Waste Reduction

Our work developing the Norcal Waste Audit Toolkit supports individuals seeking to complete a waste audit in a clinical setting. We have primarily focused on waste auditing and reduction in the context of brachytherapy procedures and are interested in exploring other dimensions of waste associated with the cancer control continuum.