January 15, 2024
Mark Varvares, MD, FACS, John W. Merriam and William W. Montgomery Professor and Chair Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School, recently established the Harvard OHNS Committee on Climate Change. The mission of this committee is to cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability through advocacy, education, research, public service, operations, and clinical care.
The committee is specifically charged to:
- Advocate for climate justice and sustainability initiatives related to otolaryngology and audiology locally and nationally.
- Support the training of OHNS residents on the health effects of climate change and healthcare sustainability through development of an OHNS climate curriculum.
- Support research on the impact of climate change on disease development, healthcare utilization and health outcomes in OHNS.
- Network with local, national, and international organizations that promote climate action and sustainability efforts and bring events and best practices to the HMS OHNS community.
- Publicize current department-wide sustainability initiatives on a local level and nationally through collaboration with academic surgical and clinical societies.
- Conduct and promote events with local community organizers focused on climate advocacy, with particular focus on environmental justice communities.
- Share and implement best-practice recommendations for surgical sustainability initiatives.
- Collaborate with hospital and healthcare system-wide sustainability organizations to overall reduce Harvard OHNS’ impact on the environment in the areas of energy, water, waste, buildings, transportation, purchasing, grounds, food and dining and research.
Amanda Dilger, MD, and Regan Bergmark, MD, were named co-chairs. Additional members of the committee are Phil Huyett, MD, Heidi Nakajima, MD, Julie Arenburg, MS, PhD, Robin Pappal, MD, Sara Gallant, MD and Katy Foley.