Upcoming Events

April 25th 12-1pm

Beyond the Wellhead: How Fracking Threatens Our Health with Ned Ketyer, MD

Join us to learn about the science of fracking and its health effects. RSVP here for the virtual talk.

Ketyer is a consultant for the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project bringing attention to the health effects of shale gas development in the Marcellus Shale gas patch. He is also a board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility – Pennsylvania and a Climate Reality Project Leader.

In all these roles, Ketyer connects the vast petrochemical “cluster frack” underway in Southwest Pennsylvania with local and regional health effects and the global ecological and public health catastrophes resultiong from plastic pollution and climate change that threated our health and well-being.

Past Events

2025

April 11th

Trees as a Social Determinant of Health with Isabela Angelelli

Did you know that living in a tree-filled neighborhood is linked to better health? People in greener areas report fewer conditions like heart disease, diabetes and stroke, along with higher overall well-being. Join us for a talk on the key role trees play in social determinants of health. Isabela Angelelli, School of Medicine faculty member, explores the vital connection between trees and our health.

April 10th

Health Equity Effects of Air Pollution in Pittsburgh with Patrick Campbell, GASP

Patrick Campbell, Executive Director of Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), spoke to students, faculty, and staff about air pollution in Pittsburgh and it’s health effects.

March 28th

Planetary Health Journal Club

Becky King from SHRS discussed the environmental impact of AI and data-driven technologies in healthcare, focusing on their high energy consumption, carbon emissions, and ecological footprint. Strategies for balancing technological advancements with sustainability, including responsible AI governance and the adoption of sustainable computing practices were discussed.

February 13th

University Art Gallery: The intersection of land and human industry

The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and Clinicians for Climate Action hosted an event at the University Art Gallery to explore three exhibitions focused on the intersection of land and human industry. The exhibitions included Rewilding, Joe Magarac Returns, and Broken Ground.

January 31st

Planetary Health Journal Club

Ainsley Lederer, a PhD student in the School of Pharmacy, discussed the environmental impact of pharmaceutical compounds and the application of bioremediation for removing pharmaceutical waste. 

2024

November 15th

One Health Day

We hosted our first One Health Day on November 15th. The event included speaker William T. Mallon, senior director of strategy and innovation development at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), a Sustainable Healthcare Challenge, student poster competitions, and a heat demonstration.

November 1st

Planetary Health Journal Club

Abhimanyu Nangunoori presented on waste audits in healthcare.

September 5th

Planetary Health Journal Club

Nathalia Cano, PhD candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering led a discussion about reducing plastic in health care.

May 10th

Planetary Health Journal Club

Monet Weldon, MS1 presented on Health Care Pollution & Public Health Damage in the U.S.

March 1st

Planetary Health Journal Club

Divya Natesan, Medical Student, presented on Health Hazards, Exposures, and Impacts of Climate Change Globally.