Awards and Recognition

Award-Winning 'Green' Innovation

On April 25 at the CleanMed Conference in Boston, representatives from Magee- Womens Hospital accepted the 2013 Environmental Leadership Circle Award. For the second year in a row, Magee has won this prestigious award presented by Practice Greenhealth.

There are 1300 member hospitals in Practice Greenhealth and only 29 have qualified for the environmental leadership circle. This award represents a commitment by Magee to environmental principles in education, clinical practice and sustainability.

Magee is recognized as a leader in creating education for healthcare providers, patients and the community around environmental health. Some of the accomplishments that led to this recognition are:

• Reduction in red bag waste and increase in recycling. Regulated medical waste accounts for 10.2% or our waste stream and recycling accounts for approximately 25%.
• Creation and maintenance of on-site organic vegetable and herb gardens. The produce is utilized in healthy menu options in the cafeteria, café’ and patient meals.
• Education provided to patients through prenatal classes, Green Parenting film, lunch 'n learns in the gardens, and cooking classes for cancer survivors utilizing produce from the gardens. The education department also offers a comprehensive class for staff and consumers, It IS Easy Being Green.
• Education for staff in orientation and our annual symposium for environmentally literate health care providers. Partnership with Allegheny Community College to create environmental health curriculum for nursing students.
• Formation of a community board and commitment to reducing obesity in Allegheny County through programs addressing healthy foods and food systems.
• Relamping of the Magee campus to replace old lighting with newer energy efficient bulbs.
• Silver LEED award for Magee’s new addition.
• Contribution to education beyond our community through presentations at national conferences such as AWHONN and CleanMed.
• Green OR Team. Partnership with University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering to study OR waste.

This honor would not be possible without the contributions of our multidisciplinary and dynamic Green Team. We also work with many community partners such as Phipps Conservatory, the Pitt Engineering School and Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC).

Contact Us

For more information on environmental initiatives and education at Magee, contact:

Michele Ondeck
mondeck@mail.magee.edu