Any Job Can Be a Climate Job: Sustainability in Action at Boston Children’s Hospital
At Boston Children’s Hospital, sustainability isn’t limited to a single program, department, or job title. It’s built into how we care for patients, conduct research, and continuously improve the systems that support our mission. From operating rooms to research labs to process improvement teams, climate-conscious decision-making is part of everyday work.
The BCH Green Labs team is proud to share a recent moment of external recognition that highlights this culture in action. Several Boston Children’s Hospital colleagues were recently featured on Louisa Henry’s Any Job Can Be a Climate Job podcast as part of the Greener Hospitals, Healthier Futures mini-series. The series showcases how sustainability and operational excellence are embedded across many roles and disciplines throughout the hospital.
Sustainability Across the Hospital Ecosystem
The featured episodes demonstrate that meaningful climate action takes many forms — often driven by people who may not have “sustainability” in their job title, but who are improving systems every day.
Julian Inferrera, OR Flow Room Manager, shares how efficiency, teamwork, and waste diversion are built directly into surgical operations. His episode highlights how operational decisions in high-acuity clinical environments can reduce waste while supporting patient safety and care quality.
Dr. Prabhakar Devavaram, Pediatric Anesthesiologist and Director of Environmental Sustainability, discusses Project SPRUCE and ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of anesthetic gases. His work demonstrates how clinical leadership and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
Teddy Salgado, Senior Manager of Continuous Improvement, explains how Six Sigma principles are applied to reduce waste, streamline workflows, and improve outcomes across hospital operations — reinforcing the connection between efficiency and sustainability.
Charles “Chuck” Blanchette Jr., Manager of Research Facilities and award-winning Lead of the BCH Green Labs program, shares how lab-based sustainability initiatives, culture change, and data-driven programs — including participation in the International Freezer Challenge — have delivered measurable environmental and operational impact across research spaces.
A Shared Responsibility and a Shared Opportunity
Together, these conversations reinforce an important message: sustainability at Boston Children’s Hospital is a shared responsibility — and a shared opportunity. Whether in clinical care, research, facilities, or continuous improvement, climate-smart decisions strengthen hospital operations while supporting a healthier future for the children we serve.
BCH Green Labs exists not only to run programs, but to support this broader culture — connecting people, sharing knowledge, and helping teams translate sustainability goals into practical, achievable action.
We’re grateful to the colleagues who took the time to share their work and perspectives, and to the many teams across Boston Children’s Hospital whose daily efforts make this kind of leadership possible.
Listen to the full Greener Hospitals, Healthier Futures podcast series wherever you get your podcasts, or on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFxtN7O8O3RK2mAqqM9cfR8bzrT8xZWnx