Recently Southcoast Health leaders from across the organization shared valuable insights as part of the Sustainability Workshop at the Yankee Alliance’s 36th Annual Conference in Newport, RI.

This event featured engaging conversations with members from regional hospitals and health systems, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). The workshop was developed and led by Nicole Rosa, LEED AP, BD&C CHC, Director of Supply Chain Logistics, Program Management, and Sustainability at Southcoast Health.

“As a longtime advocate for various climate initiatives that benefit our communities, I am honored to be part of extending the conversation to other healthcare organizations across the Commonwealth and throughout the region. It was very exciting and rewarding to help develop the first regional healthcare sustainability conference with Yankee Alliance,” she said.

Philip Oliveira, Vice President Supply Chain Strategy & Logistics and Executive-level Sustainability Lead at Southcoast Health served as the invited keynote speaker further providing an inspirational discussion about the environment and healthcare’s role in addressing the challenges that impact our patients, staff, and community. As Southcoast Health’s executive sponsor, one of the original 61 signers of the White House Climate Pledge in June of 2022, Phil has been driving sustainability initiatives passionately across the system with his forward-thinking style and innovative approach to link climate health to the health of the patient.

“I am passionate about the environment and its impact on the communities we serve. I am proud of the role that our team has here today, along with all of Southcoast Health, and how our work directly impacts the communities we serve facilitating this positive change,” he said.

Additional participants from the Southcoast Health System and various community partners included:

• Renee Clark, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer provided opening remarks relating her experiences in healthcare, how the climate impacts patients, and the need for healthcare to address this issue.
• Robert Amaral, Principal Enterprise Architect and Bhavith Gillela, Systems Engineer Sr. who presented their IT Innovation project.
• Michael Cunningham, Executive Director, Food and Nutrition Service and Steven Finn, Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs of Leanpath discussed food waste prevention and measurement as an everyday practice.
• Christopher LeBlanc, Executive Director of Facility Health who joined a panel led by Nicole Rosa, LEED AP, BD&C CHC to discuss How to Reduce Fossil Fuel Dependence and Geothermal as a Solution to Achieve Healthcare’s Sustainability Goals Geothermal. The panel also included Kevin Wyrsch, AIA, Principal, HGA, Kevin Sullivan, PE, Principal Engineer, CMTA, Steven Burke, Senior Director of Sustainability, Suffolk Construction, Hannah Clark, Tax Manager, Deloitte Tax LLP.
• David Teixeira, Director of Supply Chain Operations moderated a panel discussion on sustainable procurement and how it enhances value, mitigates risks, and contributes to a more sustainable future. The panel included Beth Doehner, Director of Sustainability Engagement – Tarkett, Jamie Dwyer, Sustainability Director – Greenhealth Approved Engagement Duane Bragg, Vice President, Supply Chain Services, Yankee Alliance. 
• Nicole Rosa facilitated a discussion on Circular Economy which included insight from Cliff Bassett, District Manager, Harvey New Bedford, Beth Doehner, Director of Sustainability Engagement, Tarkett; Meg McClanahan, Director of Marketing for Sustainable Technologies, Cardinal Health; and Rosie Warburton, Municipal Manager, Black Earth Compost
• Phil Oliveira convened a discussion onhow healthcare systems are collaborating with government and industry, what climate regulations are and where they are heading in the future, and how they will be funded. The panel included Tim Depin, Senior Strategy Manager, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services; Larry Pignataro, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Senior Energy Services Advisor, Competitive Energy Services; Arlene Siver, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, GE Healthcare
• The event also included participation by Mark Folco, Vice President, Healthcare, Suffolk Construction, Maria Tatarczuk, Vice President Business Development, HGA, Anna Smith, Sustainability Analyst of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Leigh Simons, Senior Director Healthcare Policy, Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association as well as a session with Andy Draper, PhD, CEO, SION60 who spoke on Data Analytics and Goal Setting. 
• A sustainable vendor fair included Cardinal Health Sustainable Technologies, GE Healthcare, Kerecis, Kimberly-Clark, Shred-it, Tarkett, Toshiba Business Solutions
• Marissa Pillai, Senior Engagement Specialist Community Health & Wellness partnered with the East Bay community action program of Newport and hosted a food drive at the event collecting over 175 items for local families in need.
• Sponsorship of the event included Southcoast Health, Nicole Mondor and Christopher Trovato, Cardinal Health Sustainable Technologies, and Manuel Louro of Toshiba Business Solutions.

For more information about sustainability at Southcoast Health please visit Southcoast Health’s Pathway to a Sustainable Future | Southcoast Health.