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EDITION 2.3

Winter 2025

Rutgers Health Hub

Man standing in front of a building in a suit

Dear Rutgers Health Community,  

  

In 2021, the Rutgers University President’s Task Force on Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience presented a Climate Action Strategic Plan, overseen by the Office of Climate Action, with the goals of achieving carbon neutrality before 2041 and to help achieve national net-zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050. This plan was the product of a culmination of nearly two-years of effort by a universitywide group of faculty, staff, and students. From these efforts, Climate Action Groups were formed; each of the ten groups focus on a particular part of the university, from campus and culture areas to university operations.  

 

This issue of the Health Hub focuses on sustainability within Rutgers Health and the strides being made to mitigate climate change. From groundbreaking research in nanoplastics in water bottles to the formation of a Rutgers Health Climate Action Working Group, we have much to celebrate as well as much work to be done.  

 

While this newsletter focuses on the positive work happening here at Rutgers Health, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the various challenges facing academia and health care in our country and the world right now. I urge you to continue to trust in our values, believe in our research and each other, continue to work for the common good and reflect on the great work you are doing to care for our communities. Every day, I am grateful to you and the many ways you contribute to advancing our mission of making New Jersey and the world well.   

  

I hope you enjoy this issue. 


 Warm regards, 


Brian L. Strom, M.D., M.P.H.   

Chancellor, Rutgers Health  

Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Rutgers University 

Leave Single-Use Plastic Bottles in 2024 


Perhaps it’s time to ditch your single-use plastic bottles. Phoebe Stapleton, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, co-authored a groundbreaking study that revealed the alarming amount of tiny plastic fragments — known as nanoplastics — found in bottled water. While this research is ahead of policymakers and regulators, you can take proactive steps to start making changes.


Learn More

Sustainability in Action

Small Changes, Big Impact: Cutting Plastic Waste in Pediatric Dentistry



Mary Beth Giacona, assistant professor of pediatric dentistry at the School of Dental Medicine and member of the Rutgers Health Climate Action Group, wanted to help lessen the amount of plastic being disposed of in their clinics.   


“For years we used disposable plastic to cover the entire dental chair when most facilities only use smaller headrest covers,” commented Giacona. “I successfully advocated to switch from full-chair covers to headrest covers. For every 1,000 patients we see, that prevents 51.2 pounds of plastic from going into landfills.” 



Food Dashboard Launch 



The Climate Action Group - Food Systems recently launched the Rutgers Food Dashboard, where the Rutgers Health community can stay informed and track food related emissions across campus. The Dining Services and Food Vendors Climate Action Group will measure and reduce all food and drink-related scope 3 emissions associated with procurement and waste.  


Learn more 

Sustainability Meets Public Health: New Courses and Programs at Rutgers


The School of Public Health is redefining sustainability by reframing its three pillars—environment, society, and economy—through the lens of public health. The school is making significant investments in sustainability education and research by introducing new programs, courses, and projects. 



Last fall, two new courses in planetary and human health were launched on sustainability and climate change. Plans are also underway to introduce a post-baccalaureate certificate program within a year, followed by a master’s degree. 

Join the Climate Action Group!

Do your part to help the university achieve carbon neutrality by 2040

REGISTER NOW

A Research Powerhouse

Why Health and Price, Not Sustainability, Drive U.S. Meat Consumption Choices

Environmental sustainability isn’t a major factor influencing meat consumption decisions for most Americans, despite increasing awareness of the climate impacts of red meat production, according to researchers at the School of Public Health. 


Read More

Study: Veterans Prescribed Opioids with Anti-Anxiety Medication Were at Higher Risk of Death 


Veterans who were simultaneously prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) faced an increased risk of death, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine that analyzed millions of VHA medical records from 2007 to 2019.  



“Our report adds an important point of confirmation to the ongoing conversation on how past opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing practices affected veterans seeking treatment for pain, as well as conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression,” said Chancellor Brian Strom, chair of the committee that wrote the report. 


Learn more about the report conclusions 

Weighing Facts Against Myths in the Fluoride Debate

Rutgers Health Professor Receives Presidential Early Career Award 

Elevated Serum cAMP Findings May Allow Asthma Diagnosis by Blood Test

Ask an Expert: Planetary Health and Sustainable Health Care  



A new Rutgers study led by Catherine Chen, associate professor of medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, highlights the importance of integrating planetary health and sustainable health care education into residency training.  



What is this study about?  

The environmental contamination, like from plastics or other wastes, generated from providing health care can further harm our patients. We wanted to see if we could integrate topics related to environmentally sustainable health care into a quality improvement curriculum. And, this study showed that weaving in these topics does improve our residents' ability to identify aspects of environmental history and resource utilization needs. 


How might this can be implemented? 

Quality improvement is taught broadly in almost all the health professions as a way to make patient care more efficient and effective. Prompting our students to think about how to reduce the environmental impact of the health care we provide and how it aligns with our goals in taking care of our communities can have far reaching effects on the future of medicine. 

Clinical and Community News

Be a Part of Rutgers Giving Days March 13: Give a Gift of Health and Hope


Rutgers Giving Days, an exciting 48-hour giving campaign, is coming soon. Join your Rutgers Health community as we unite as one on two very special days, March 12 and 13. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this very important fundraising event. Together we’ll support values important to you and the Rutgers Health community: advancing life-changing research, fostering well-being, and delivering compassionate care. 


Learn More Now 

Rutgers Health Innovator Is Recognized for Her Contributions to Newark’s Black Community


Denise Rodgers, vice chancellor for interprofessional programs, was named “2025 Steward of the Dream” awardee for embodying the vision of the late Martin Luther King Jr. through her work in recognition for her tireless dedication to reducing health inequities in Black and other under-resourced communities. 


Learn More 

Rutgers Center for Recovery and Wellbeing Addresses Need for Addiction Services in New Jersey


Rutgers Health recently celebrated the ribbon-cutting for the Center for Recovery and Wellbeing in Plainfield, New Jersey, part of University Behavioral Health Care. This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care for comprehensive addiction services


Learn More

Health Education Matters

Search Inside Yourself (SIY) Now Available to All Faculty and Staff 

Enhance your emotional intelligence, build resilience, and strengthen connections with colleagues through Search Inside Yourself, a two-day mindfulness-based program developed at Google and Stanford. Join the over 200 Rutgers Health faculty and staff who have already participated—register now for a transformative experience this spring in New Brunswick or Newark! 

Sign Up Now

GME Professionalism Awards

HPV Awareness and Vaccination Campaign Begins on Rutgers—New Brunswick Campuses


Gearing up for HPV Awareness Month, Associate Vice President for Student Health Noa’a Shimoni and other public health and communications experts are seeking to improve reported vaccination rates in the Rutgers student population. This initiative incorporates key insights from student focus groups and a health communications class at the School of Communication and Information (SCI) to tailor their messaging and target subpopulations at Rutgers—New Brunswick.


In a new video, School of Communications Senior Aidan Faraone interviewed Shimoni and School of Public Health Dean Perry Halkitis about HPV in a special PSA for students.

Rutgers Health in the News

How Parenthood May Help Keep Your Brain Young

Drug overdose deaths fall in 2023 for 1st time since pandemic began: CDC

New Study Raises Alarm Over Alzheimer’s Blood Tests

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