Green teams are uniquely positioned to catalyze change toward climate resilient and environmentally sustainable health care provision. They come in different shapes and sizes, whether regional or local, organization-wide or site-specific, interdisciplinary or discipline specific, they are grassroots powerhouses that harness the front line knowledge and passion of staff and medical staff. Green teams work on many things from awareness campaigns, to staff engagement to sustainable quality improvement projects with the aim to incorporate or scale green practices in their work.
Hear from a panel of three BC green team representatives whose teams support climate resilient and environmentally sustainable care. You’ll hear an array of perspectives and experiences from a sustainability coordinator who supports an organizational green teams framework (IH), a green team champion (IH), a working group lead (PHC) and a green team sponsor (ISLH).
Questions Discussed
- Why and how did their green teams start?
- What is the format and how do they operate?
- What is one project their green team worked on that they are most proud of?
- What is their advice for colleagues who are interested in joining or starting their own green team?
About the speakers
Interior Health
Ozora Amin is the environmental sustainability coordinator for Interior Health. In her regional roles she supports staff engagement, education and the environmental sustainability committees. Working alongside clinicians, staff and partners she implements and scales sustainability initiatives across the Interior region.
Desirée Simpson is the Administrative Services Manager for Central Okanagan Primary Care and Public Health. She has been leading the Central Okanagan Environmental Sustainability Committee for the past three years. She has most recently completed her Masters in Leadership with a Health Specialization through Royal Roads University.
Providence Health Care
Leyla Khosrovpour is a registered nurse who has worked at St. Paul’s Hospital emergency department since 2017. She is also a student in her final semester of the Master’s of Health Leadership and Policy in Clinical Education (MHLP), at UBC. Leyla is a member of Providence Health Care’s Environmental Stewardship Team and co-lead of the team’s Waste Working Group.
Vancouver Island Health
Lisa Diamond is the clinical manager for the 320 bed long term care home opened in July of 2020. It is the largest long-term care home in Western Canada with many modern features reducing its environmental burden. Lisa and The Summit team is committed to green initiatives and is excited to be part of Island Health Green Team Pilot Project.
