Originally published by UC Davis Health

(SACRAMENTO) The UC Davis Health Sustainability team held a luncheon Thursday, Oct. 20 to celebrate its successful Practice Greenhealth Awards applications and thank those who helped make it possible.

Practice Greenhealth recognized UC Davis Health as a national leader in environmental sustainability. The health system received Top 25 honors in the country for the first time.

The Top 25 Hospitals award is based on a rigorous scoring system and looks at the hospital’s success in a range of sustainability programs, including leadership, greening the operating room, sustainable procurement, green building, energy, water, climate and transportation.

Luncheon organizers, including Brad Simmons, Jita Buno, Kristina Cullen and Sarah Janus, thanked the 65-plus individuals involved in the application process. UC Davis Arboretum donated Brown Twig Dogwood shrubs and Pink Cadillac Salvias for attendees. Food and Nutrition Services’ Chef Santana Diaz created a locally sourced meal as well.

Additionally, Cullen presented Janus with a special—unofficial—“STAR” (Sustainable, Tree-Hugging, Awesome Rockstar) Award for Janus’ efforts helming the entire application process that led to the awards.

The Sustainability team would like to thank Yesenia Rocha for her work planning the luncheon. Thank you to everyone involved with the application process as well. Your contributions led to multiple awards and national recognition.

"It takes a village and that village is all of us. Together, we will continue to trail blaze in becoming the most sustainable hospital in the country," Cullen said.