Michelle Varnell, newly-named SHRS' Director of Sustainability.
Michelle Varnell, assistant professor in the Athletic Training program, is SHRS’ inaugural Director of Sustainability. This newly established role intends to implement strategic plans for sustainability throughout all areas of the school.
The position, while appointed within SHRS, will work intently with the University of Pittsburgh Office of Sustainability in the Health Sciences (OSHS) to fulfill sustainability goals set by the school.
These goals include:
- Integrating sustainability into the curriculum of the school’s programs
- Decreasing the environmental impact of the school’s research
- Representing the school’s sustainability efforts
“Collaboration across professional disciplines offers the best opportunity to foster, develop, educate and implement new ideas,” Varnell said. "The prospect of leveraging the diversity of programs within SHRS and collaborations with the school of Medicine, UPMC as well as peer institutions is exciting. Further, SHRS has a vision and purpose of driving heath equity in our community and beyond. This initiative aligns with that vision recognizing that more eco-friendly and climate responsive health care further supports and serves marginalized groups within the health care system.”
Varnell’s role is responsible for being the faculty liaison of a student group focused on sustainability, supporting the annual health sciences sustainability contest and determining the best ways to integrate themes of sustainability into the curriculum.
“I am excited to be a part of this visionary opportunity for SHRS as our school grows with conscientious considerations to the communities and global changes that are occurring around us,” Varnell said. “This initiative gives SHRS the opportunity to actively embrace and consider our sustainability and ecological footprint and advance health care to be more responsive to environmental changes.
“Sustainable, eco-friendly and climate responsive health care is a little known or even foreign concept to many health care providers and even further lacking throughout health care curriculum. Therefore, the onus is on us to provide education to SHRS faculty about climate medicine, green labs and how sustainability will benefit faculty, staff, students and our patients.”
Varnell’s first steps will include an assessment of current practices that she will then use to determine a plan to integrate sustainability into the curriculum and labs, as well as develop strategies for eco-friendly health care.