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Awards and Recognition

Award-Winning 'Green' Innovation

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital has been a member of Practice Greenhealth since 2015.  

UPMC Magee has won the following awards:

  • 2022: Partner for Change Award.
  • 2021: Environmental Excellence Award.
  • 2016-2020: Partner for Change Award.

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 these recognitions 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.
  • Since 2021, Magee’s Food and Nutrition Department have been members of the Cool Food Pledge, an initiative of the World Resources Institute, which aims to decrease the carbon footprint of kitchens through more sustainable purchasing.
  • In 2022, Magee reduced carbon emissions through protein purchases by 18% since 2018.
  • To reduce food waste, Magee partners with both the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and 412 Food Rescue to divert leftovers from landfills to get them to our community members that need it the most.  
  • Magee has a back of the house food waste composting program that began in 2020.  
  • Magee proudly serves a large variety of plant-based and plant-forward menus in our cafeteria. This has reduced beef purchases by 25% since 2018 and increased legumes purchases by an equal 25%.  

These honors 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, Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and 412 Food Rescue.

Contact Us

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

Michele Ondeck
mondeck@mail.magee.edu