Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode of The Vitals, we explore a question that sits at the intersection of medicine and the future of the planet: Can health care truly become sustainable?
Host and Neurosurgery Physician Assistant Leslie Schlachter is joined by a multidisciplinary team of Mount Sinai experts working across clinical care, energy and infrastructure, and supply chain operations. Together, they unpack how sustainability efforts are being integrated into one of the most resource-intensive industries int he world—healthcare.
From ambitious emissions reduction targets and energy-efficient hospital systems to waste management, procurement practices, and sustainable food programs, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how large health systems are rethinking their environmental impact.
Whether you’re in health care, policy, simply interested in climate solutions, this episode sheds light on how systemic change is happening—and what it will take to push it further.
Learn more about Mount Sinai’s sustainability practices here: mountsinai.org/about/sustain
To make an appointment with a Mount Sinai expert, click here: mountsinai.org/?pk_vid=174eeee090819798177342044977c34c
0:00 – Introduction: Can healthcare be sustainable?
1:45 – Why sustainability matters in healthcare today
4:30 – The environmental footprint of hospitals and health systems
7:15 – Energy use and infrastructure: where change begins
10:40 – Supply chain challenges and opportunities
14:05 – Waste reduction and sustainable procurement
17:30 – Food systems and their role in healthcare sustainability
20:10 – Clinician engagement and cultural shifts
23:25 – Progress toward 2030 goals and net-zero by 2050
26:50 – Barriers to implementation and scaling solutions
29:40 – What the future of sustainable healthcare looks like
32:10 – Closing thoughts and key takeaways
#TheVitals #HealthcareSustainability #ClimateAndHealth #SustainableHealthcare #NetZero #MountSinai
In this episode of The Vitals, we explore a question that sits at the intersection of medicine and the future of the planet: Can health care truly become sustainable?
Host and Neurosurgery Physician Assistant Leslie Schlachter is joined by a multidisciplinary team of Mount Sinai experts working across clinical care, energy and infrastructure, and supply chain operations. Together, they unpack how sustainability efforts are being integrated into one of the most resource-intensive industries int he world—healthcare.
From ambitious emissions reduction targets and energy-efficient hospital systems to waste management, procurement practices, and sustainable food programs, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how large health systems are rethinking their environmental impact.
Whether you’re in health care, policy, simply interested in climate solutions, this episode sheds light on how systemic change is happening—and what it will take to push it further.
Learn more about Mount Sinai’s sustainability practices here: mountsinai.org/about/sustain
To make an appointment with a Mount Sinai expert, click here: mountsinai.org/?pk_vid=174eeee090819798177342044977c34c
0:00 – Introduction: Can healthcare be sustainable?
1:45 – Why sustainability matters in healthcare today
4:30 – The environmental footprint of hospitals and health systems
7:15 – Energy use and infrastructure: where change begins
10:40 – Supply chain challenges and opportunities
14:05 – Waste reduction and sustainable procurement
17:30 – Food systems and their role in healthcare sustainability
20:10 – Clinician engagement and cultural shifts
23:25 – Progress toward 2030 goals and net-zero by 2050
26:50 – Barriers to implementation and scaling solutions
29:40 – What the future of sustainable healthcare looks like
32:10 – Closing thoughts and key takeaways
#TheVitals #HealthcareSustainability #ClimateAndHealth #SustainableHealthcare #NetZero #MountSinai
