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INTRODUCTION

Professional Profile Details

4/23/26 Anesthesiology Grand Rounds -Healing Without Harm: Advancing Environmental Sustainability in Anesthesiology

QUIZ

EVALUATION

CERTIFICATE

INTRODUCTION

Credit Hours: 0.75

Target Audience:

Anesthesiologists and anesthesiologists-in-training and other anesthesia professionals, nurse anesthetists and anesthesia assistants.

Educational Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the impact of healthcare—particularly anesthesiology—on greenhouse gas emissions and environmental health.  
  • Analyze the primary sources of carbon emissions within healthcare and identify the most impactful areas for intervention.
  • Explain the relationship between environmental sustainability, patient safety, and quality of care. 
  • Identify and evaluate specific sustainability initiatives implemented at UPMC (e.g., anesthetic gas reduction, device reuse, kit optimization) and their measurable outcomes. 
  • Identify and engage in opportunities to participate in healthcare sustainability efforts at UPMC.

Suggested Additional Reading:

1. Nathalia Silva de Souza Lima Cano, Melanie Marino, Amy L Brooks, Matthew J Eckelman, Melissa M Bilec, Advancing the circular economy of healthcare plastics: A systematic literature review, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 219, 2025,108317,ISSN 0921-3449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108317. 

2. Zeynep Or, Anna-Veera Seppänen.The role of the health sector in tackling climate change: A narrative review. Health Policy, Volume 143, 2024, 105053, ISSN 0168-8510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105053. 

3. Samad K, Yousuf MS, Ullah H, Ahmed SS, Siddiqui KM, Latif A. Anesthesia and its environmental impact: approaches to minimize exposure to anesthetic gases and reduce waste. Med Gas Res. 2025 Mar 1;15(1):101-109. doi: 10.4103/mgr.MEDGASRES-D-23-00059. Epub 2024 Jun 26. PMID: 39436173; PMCID: PMC11515078.

Authors:
Isabela (Cajiao) Angelelli, MD — Director of Clinical Operations – CHP Sedation Service; Assistant Director of Employee Engagement in Sustainability; Clinicians for Climate Action, Co-Founder and Co-Chair
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.
No other members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.