Photo: The University of Vermont Medical Center was one of Practice Greenhealth’s Top 25 list of leading climate-smart healthcare facilities. | Photo Credit: University of Vermont Medical Center
By Lindsey Coulter
RESTON, Va. — Nearly 500 hospitals and health systems across the United States are being honored for their efforts to reduce environmental impact, build climate resilience, and transform the future of healthcare amid growing concerns about the health effects of climate change.
Practice Greenhealth, a Reston, Va.-based nonprofit focused on sustainable healthcare, has named 496 organizations as recipients of its 2025 Environmental Excellence Awards. The annual recognition highlights leadership in sustainability, environmental stewardship and climate-focused innovation within the healthcare sector.
Among those recognized, 25 organizations received the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award, the organization’s highest honor. The facilities stood out for what Practice Greenhealth called “exemplary performance and innovation” in sustainability, from clean energy use to climate-resilient infrastructure.
“Our Top 25 awardees reflect a powerful movement in healthcare,” said Shanda Demorest, senior director of network experience and solutions at Practice Greenhealth, in a statement. “By adopting clean energy, reducing waste, designing climate-resilient infrastructure, and engaging frontline communities, these facilities are proving that environmental responsibility and health care excellence go hand in hand.”
Honorees Span the Nation
The 2025 Top 25 list includes both large academic medical centers and smaller regional hospitals. Several institutions, such as Stanford Health Care and the University of Michigan Health, were named to the list for the first time.
The honorees include:
- Advocate Christ Medical Center and Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn
- Advocate Condell Medical Center*
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Boston Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center
- HealthPartners Hudson Hospital & Clinic
- HealthPartners Regions Hospital
- Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford*
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Providence St. Patrick Hospital
- Providence Swedish Medical Center – Cherry Hill
- Providence Swedish Medical Center – Edmonds*
- Providence Swedish Medical Center – First Hill
- Providence Swedish Medical Center – Issaquah
- Seattle Children’
- Stanford Health Care*
- Stony Brook University Hospital
- The University of Vermont Medical Center
- UC San Diego Health – Hillcrest Medical Center*
- UC San Diego Health – Jacobs Medical Center*
- UCI Health*
- University of Michigan Health – Michigan Medicine*
(* indicates first-time recipient)
Environmental Stewardship as Health Leadership
Healthcare is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly 9% of U.S. emissions, according to federal data. Practice Greenhealth argues the sector also holds an opportunity to lead the way in developing low-carbon, sustainable systems that protect both human and environmental health.
The organization commended the honorees for taking steps such as switching to renewable energy sources, redesigning systems to conserve water and energy, eliminating hazardous chemicals from supply chains and preparing infrastructure for extreme weather events.
In addition to operational changes, many hospitals are working with local communities—particularly those on the front lines of climate-related health impacts—to promote environmental justice and health equity. These hospitals are using their purchasing power, community partnerships, and trusted public presence to move markets toward safer products and technologies.
Sectorwide Commitment Grows
The awards come as more healthcare institutions sign on to the organization’s Health Sector Climate Action, Resilience, and Environmental Sustainability (CARES) Pledge—a voluntary national commitment to cut emissions and prepare for climate disruptions. Practice Greenhealth supports hospitals on this journey with tools, data and technical expertise.
The organization currently serves more than 1,700 hospitals and health systems in the U.S. and Canada. It works across the healthcare value chain and in partnership with NGOs, academic institutions and government agencies to promote sustainability across the industry.
