Event Schedule

4:00 p.m. | Registration and Poster Presentation with Light Refreshments | PACCAR Atrium

5:00 p.m. | Event Program | Pigott Auditorium

The Drs. Luth M. and Narciso P. Tenorio Endowed Scholar and Lectureship

Seattle University College of Nursing and the Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability welcome Elizabeth Schenk, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chief Environmental Stewardship Officer at Providence for a discussion on the environmental challenges health care professionals and organizations face using a planetary health leans, sharing effective solutions tested in one of the nation’s largest health systems. 

Humanity is facing unprecedented environmental challenges with global warming, biodiversity loss, exposure to microplastics, air, water and soil pollution. These impact human health, especially for those who are more vulnerable, exposed, or less represented in decision making. Unintentionally, modern health care is contributing to the problem. Health care in the United States is responsible for 8.5% of the nation’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, and health care around the world is responsible for 4.5% of global emissions. 

Health care has a long history of creative solutions, innovation, and commitment. Using these skills, health care has opportunities to be less polluting, less wasteful, and less consumptive while building resilience, committed to its principles of justice and service. In short, health care can transform itself to be a force for healing not only of the individuals and families we care for, but of our common home, Earth. 

Prior to the event program, enjoy a poster presentation featuring scholarly work by SU nursing faculty and students.

About Dr. Elizabeth Schenk, PhD, RN, FAAN

Beth Schenk serves as Chief Environmental Stewardship Officer for Providence, one of the nation’s largest non-profit health systems, which is committed to decreasing greenhouse gases and other pollution from its operations. Dr. Schenk and team lead this effort through strategy and innovation, efficiency of practices and processes, research, education, and engagement, built on her experience decreasing the environmental impacts of health care for over 30 years. 

Dr. Schenk is an assistant research professor at Washington State University College of Nursing. She led the development of CHANT: Climate and Health Tool, measuring health professionals’ awareness and engagement with climate change and health. CHANT has been translated to several languages and used in over 50 nations. She developed the WE ACT Framework (Waste, Energy/water, Agriculture/food, Chemicals, Transportation) to organize the extensive range of environmental stewardship, while motivating action. She has published over 35 manuscripts and delivered hundreds of talks on related topics.

She is active at national, state, and local levels, serving on the Expert Panel on Environmental and Public Health for the American Academy of Nursing. She is vice-chair for the state organization Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, and board chair for the local organization Climate Smart Missoula. She hosts the Nurses for Healthy Environments Podcast, now in its eighth season.