Seema Gandhi, MD, turns the valve of a smaller E-cylinder of nitrous oxide, which will still be used in OR anesthesia.

Sustainability

Highlighting the efforts of our department and our commitment toward climate action and decarbonization.

Dr. Seema Gandhi, the pioneer

Dr. Seema Gandhi is an anesthesiologist and medical director of sustainability at UCSF Health, playing an instrumental role in environmental efforts that make UCSF a leader in sustainable health care. At UCSF, she has engaged colleagues to eliminate desflurane, an anesthetic gas with the highest global warming potential, and spearheaded a multidisciplinary team to decrease direct emissions of greenhouse gases from the operating room. 

Learn More About UCSF's Sustainability Team

Dr. Seema Gandhi standing with arms crossed in a lab coat
a mosaic of anesthesia tools

Waste to Art

Our department participates yearly in the Waste to Art competition, an initiative that challenges the UCSF community to transform medical and laboratory waste into creative art pieces. With the dual goals of promoting collaboration and driving awareness around waste reduction, the event highlights the healthcare industry’s significant contribution to waste, over 5 million tons annually, of which 85% is non-infectious but rarely repurposed. Winning artworks are showcased across UCSF medical centers and campuses, inspiring reflection on sustainable practices in healthcare.

 

Learn More About The Waste To Art Initiative

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