Meet Sustainability Leadership Initiative Fellow Dr. Susan L. Johnson
Dr. Susan L. Johnson, Ph.D. was one of 23 candidates chosen to be part of SLI’s inaugural class. As the six-month program nears completion this month, Johnson is slated to bring her newfound knowledge to the growing sustainability conversation within healthcare.
As the director of health promotion at the Medical University of South Carolina, Johnson understands how health and quality of life are directly connected to environmental factors. She says flooding, extreme heat and pollution are at the top of the list in South Carolina. Such events affect vulnerable populations, low-income and minority communities, as well as children, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.
“Sustainability isn’t just about the health and well-being of the planet, it’s about the health and well-being of people,” Johnson says. “Numerous medical professional societies have issued policy statements that call on providers and leaders to help reduce health care’s carbon footprint, advocate for government policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and educate their patients and communities about climate change and health.”
Johnson says her experience as an SLI fellow has made a profound impact on her personally and professionally. She believes her SLI certification will give her the added leverage to expand her sphere of influence to help providers, clinicians, students, and healthcare leaders understand their role in the sustainability movement.
“My vision is to transform the health sector into a sustainable, circular economy that is safe, effective, and equitable for patients and communities today and in the future and I hope to help drive that outcome,” Johnson says.
While Sustain SC was founded a year ago, Johnson’s relationship with Ethel Bunch began back in 2014, when Bunch was working for the Palmetto Trail and developing the Business Leadership Council for the Lowcountry Land Trust.
“During my tenure at MUSC, I’ve been fortunate to have had the support of our leadership to incorporate this passion through projects that focus on the health benefits of nature, such as the MUSC Urban Farm, MUSC Arboretum and the Medical District Greenway. Ethel recognized our commitment to sustainability and environmentalism and reached out to me first,” she says. “I truly believe that her vision is one that will not only preserve the quality and way of life we treasure in our state, but will serve as a blueprint for other states and nations seeking tools and strategies to tackle climate change issues.”
