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Healthy Environments & Healthy Communities: A Health Care Conference - Oct. 6-7, 2026
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION INFORMATION.- Deadline Extended to August 28, 2026!----- Submissions are now closed.
Click here to submit an abstract or click the Program tab for further information.
In-Person and Virtual attendance options are available.
FEES
IN-PERSON | |
REGISTRATION TYPE | FEE |
Physician (Houston Methodist, HMCC ACO PCP, HMPAQ) (CME CREDIT) | $35 |
Physician (Private physician located outside the Greater Houston Area) (CME CREDIT) | $35 |
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area)* (CME CREDIT) | $405 |
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area) (NO CME CREDIT) | Complimentary – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER |
Resident / Fellow / Student | Complimentary |
Allied Healthcare Professionals | Complimentary |
All Others | $35 |
VIRTUAL | |
REGISTRATION TYPE | FEE |
Physician (Houston Methodist, HMCC ACO PCP, HMPAQ) (CME CREDIT) | Complimentary |
Physician (Private physician located outside the Greater Houston Area) (CME CREDIT) | Complimentary |
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area)* (CME CREDIT) | $405 |
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area) (NO CME CREDIT) | Complimentary – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER |
Resident / Fellow / Student | Complimentary |
Allied Healthcare Professionals | Complimentary |
All Others | Complimentary |
*In compliance with HM’s policy on Physician Non-Monetary Compensation regarding “Stark Law,” private physicians who reside and/or practice medicine within the Greater Houston Area are required to pay the full Fair Market Value registration fee.
Target Audience
This conference is designed for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists and residents/fellows will benefit from this course.
Learning Objectives
- Explore best practices and emerging innovations in sustainable healthcare practices, including energy efficiency, waste reduction, and supply chain improvements.
- Examine the clinical and financial impacts of integrating sustainability into patient care, with a focus on patient outcomes, staff engagement, and organizational resilience.
- Identify strategies to overcome barriers in implementing sustainable practices across diverse healthcare environments, especially in geographically dispersed hospital systems.
- Foster collaboration and leadership by sharing experiences, tools, and frameworks that enable healthcare professionals to champion sustainability initiatives within their organizations.
Course summary
- 9.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Houston Methodist designates this Live activity for a maximum of 9.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 9.75 Attendance
- 9.75 Nursing Contact Hours
Houston Methodist is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Houston Methodist will award up to 9.75 nursing professional development contact hours for this activity.
Healthy Environments & Healthy Communities: A Health Care Conference 2026
Theme: Uniting healthcare partners regionally and globally to accelerate and implement sustainable practices that protect the environment, recognizing its direct influence on the health and well-being of the communities we serve.
Duration: Two Days (October 6-7, 2026)
Day 1: October 6, 2026
Time | Session | Speaker(s) | Topic/Notes | Location |
8:15 a.m. | Registration, Networking & Snacks |
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8:45-9:00 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks | Ed Jones (TBD) |
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9:00-9:55 a.m. | Virtual Keynote #1 | Dr. Nicole Hunfeld, Erasmus MC ICU Pharmacist and Chief Sustainability Officer
| Green ICU Team: Making It a Dream Team | Main |
10:00-10:55 a.m. | Virtual Plenary | Chris Gormley, NHS Chief Sustainability Officer | Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service | Main |
11:00-11:55am | Panel Discussion & Round Table | Dr. Rupa Mahadevan, UT Physicians Pediatrics Primary Care, Assistant Professor, General Academic Pediatrics Culinary Medicine Instructor, School of Public Health at UTHealth Houston, Dr. Renee Stubbins, Neal Cancer Center Houston Methodist, Cath Conlon, Blackwood Education Land Institute | Food is Medicine: Healing People, Healing the Planet
Moderator: Dr. Ryan Rumphal, UTHealth Houston
| Main |
11:55am-12:55pm | Lunch and CPAM art showing |
|
| Break location |
1:00-1:55pm | Virtual Keynote #2 | Dr. Amy Collins, Medical Director for Health Care Without Harm & Practice Greenhealth | Why Should Health Care Professionals Care About Climate Change | Main |
2:00-2:55pm | Virtual Session | Eric Corey Freed, AIA, LEED Fellow, EcoDistricts AP, LFA, ActiveScore AP, Principal, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesign
| Health For All: Designing Healthier Futures for Everyone | Main |
2:55-3:25pm | Afternoon Snacks |
|
| Break location |
3:25-3:55pm | Wild & Scenic Film Festival Showcase *This session is not CE accredited* | Citizens Environmental Coalition |
| Main |
3:55-4:10 p.m. | Closing Remarks | Dr. Masud |
|
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4:15 p.m. | Reception |
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Day 2: October 7, 2026
Time | Session | Speaker(s) | Topic/Notes | Location |
8:30 a.m. | Registration, Networking & Snacks |
|
|
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9:00-9:20 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks | Dr. Shlomit Schaal (TBD) |
|
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9:25-10:00 a.m. | Session #1 | Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD, Houston Methodist Cardiology, Medical Director for the Center for Health & Nature and Office of Sustainability | Environmental Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease | Main |
10:05-10:50 a.m. | Session #2 | Michael S. Wong, Ph.D. Rice University Patel Professor in Molecular Nanotechnology, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Professor of Chemistry; of Civil and Environmental Engineering; of Materials Science and NanoEngineering | Removing PFAS Permanently from the Environment | Main |
10:55-11:30 a.m. | Virtual Session #3 | Gustavo C. Roman, MD, DrHC, The Jack S. Blanton Presidential Distinguished Chair for the Study of Neurological Disease, Professor of Neurology Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, Methodist Neurological Institute
| Environmental Factors and the Risk of Dementia | Main |
11:30-11:50 a.m. | Abstract Winner Presentation | Dr. Farzan Sasangohar & Dr. Adel Khan |
| Main |
11:50-12:45 p.m. | Networking Lunch & Table Activities |
|
| Break location |
12:45-1:30 p.m. | Session #4 | Shannon Guillot-Wright, PhD, Associate Professor & Deputy Center Director, UTHealth School of Public Health
| Primary Care Access Among Low-Income Workers | Main |
1:30-2:30 p.m. | Houston Methodist Wellness Activity |
|
| External location |
2:30 p.m. | Afternoon Snacks |
|
| Break location |
2:35-3:10 p.m. | Session #5 | Jennifer Cullen, PhD, MPH, Houston Methodist Academic Institute Professor of Medicine, Associate Director Caner Control and Population Science | Research on environmental exposures and cancer risks
| Main |
3:15-4:00 p.m. | Panel Discussion | Amanda Kuhl from Citizen’s Environmental Coalition, Dr. Iyang Uwak DrPH, MPH, MD Research & Policy Director Air Alliance , Maria Hernandez from Madres Del Parque, Tommy Garcia Pratts Small Places
| Community Voices Enacting Change: Advancing Health and Sustainability
Moderator: Dr. Luz Maria Garcini, Rice University
| Main |
4:05-4:50 p.m. | Plenary Speaker | Dr. Hardeep Singh MD, MPH Inaugural Director, Houston Methodist Safety, Quality & Well-Being Institute
| Making Quality the Catalyst to Accelerate Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare | Main |
Call for Abstracts
Conference on Environmental Determinants of Health & Sustainable Healthcare
We invite researchers, clinicians, trainees, public health professionals, engineers, policymakers, healthcare administrators, and community organizations to submit abstracts for presentation at the Conference on Environmental Determinants of Health & Sustainable Healthcare.
This conference will explore the intersection of environment, climate, healthcare systems, and human health, with a focus on innovative research, implementation strategies, and sustainable solutions that improve population health while reducing environmental impact.
Areas of Interest
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Environmental determinants of cardiovascular, metabolic, pulmonary, neurologic, and mental health
- Air pollution, heat, wildfire smoke, water quality, and environmental exposures
- Climate change and health outcomes
- Environmental justice and health equity
- Built environment, urban design, greenspace, and transportation
- Healthcare system sustainability and decarbonization
- Sustainable clinical operations and hospital practices
- Planetary health and preventive medicine
- Environmental exposure assessment and geospatial analytics
- Digital health, AI, and environmental health monitoring
- Community-engaged and implementation science approaches
- Occupational and workplace environmental health
- Food systems, nutrition, and environmental sustainability
- Disaster preparedness, resilience, and vulnerable populations
- Policy, advocacy, and systems-level interventions
Abstract Submission Guidelines
- Maximum abstract length: 250 words
- Structured format recommended:
- Background
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusions
- Figures and tables are not permitted in the abstract submission
- Abstracts must represent original work, quality improvement initiatives, implementation projects, or ongoing research
- Previously presented work may be submitted if appropriately disclosed
- Submissions from trainees and early-career investigators are strongly encouraged
Important Dates
- Abstract Submission Opens: Concurrent with conference registration
- Abstract Submission Deadline Extended to August 28,2026
- Notification of Acceptance: By September 9, 2026
Poster Presentation Requirements
Accepted poster presenters will be asked to submit:
- Final poster PDF
- Conference poster template formatting
- Short presentation video summarizing the poster findings
Poster materials must be submitted by September 16, 2026.
Review Process
Abstracts will undergo peer review by the conference scientific committee based on:
- Scientific merit
- Relevance to conference themes
- Innovation and impact
- Clarity and methodological rigor
Awards & Recognition
Outstanding abstracts and posters will be recognized during the conference. Selected presenters may be invited for featured oral or video presentations. Award certificates will be presented to selected winners.
We look forward to showcasing innovative work advancing environmental health, sustainable healthcare systems, and climate-informed approaches to improving human health.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Click here submit an abstract
In-Person attendance will be held in the TMC-3 7255 Helix Park Ave, Houston,TX 77030.
Parking is available in nearby parking garages for a fee. Carpooling is encouraged.
Travel
Nearby Accommodations
Numerous hotel options are available within the Texas Medical Center and near the venue (TMC Helix Park).
The closest hotel is the Blossom Hotel Houston that is located directly across the street from the venue.
Available Credit
- 9.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Houston Methodist designates this Live activity for a maximum of 9.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 9.75 Attendance
- 9.75 Nursing Contact Hours
Houston Methodist is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Houston Methodist will award up to 9.75 nursing professional development contact hours for this activity.
Interested in exhibiting? Contact us for more information.
Exhibitors
We gratefully acknowledge the following companies for participating as exhibitors for this activity:
AmorSui
Innoviva
Merck
Moonshot Compost
Teleflex
Price
FEES
IN-PERSON | |
REGISTRATION TYPE | FEE |
Physician (Houston Methodist, HMCC ACO PCP, HMPAQ) (CME CREDIT) | $35 |
Physician (Private physician located outside the Greater Houston Area) (CME CREDIT) | $35 |
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area)* (CME CREDIT) | $405 |
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area) (NO CME CREDIT) | Complimentary – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER |
Resident / Fellow / Student | Complimentary |
Allied Healthcare Professionals | Complimentary |
All Others | $35 |
VIRTUAL | |
REGISTRATION TYPE | FEE |
Physician (Houston Methodist, HMCC ACO PCP, HMPAQ) (CME CREDIT) | Complimentary |
Physician (Private physician located outside the Greater Houston Area) (CME CREDIT) | Complimentary |
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area)* (CME CREDIT) | $405 |
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area) (NO CME CREDIT) | Complimentary – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER |
Resident / Fellow / Student | Complimentary |
Allied Healthcare Professionals | Complimentary |
All Others | Complimentary |
*In compliance with HM’s policy on Physician Non-Monetary Compensation regarding “Stark Law,” private physicians who reside and/or practice medicine within the Greater Houston Area are required to pay the full Fair Market Value registration fee.