Climate-related health and sustainable healthcare activities of U.S. professional medical societies: a mixed-methods analysis.

Abstract

Purpose: The authors characterize how U.S. professional medical societies are addressing climate-related health impacts and sustainable healthcare practices, and identify barriers and priorities for advancing a climate-fit healthcare system.

Method: Ninety-five U.S. medical societies were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews (September 2024-February 2025); websites of all 95 societies were reviewed for publicly available content (July-August 2025). Both sources were assessed for engagement across 6 domains: member education, patient education, sustainable clinical practice guidance, research and innovation, policy and advocacy, and governance. Interview responses were scored from 0 (none) to 2 (robust) and summed into an engagement index (range 0-12); open-ended responses were analyzed thematically.

Results: Twenty-eight of 95 invited societies participated, yielding 34 interviewees. Most reported activity in at least one domain, but few demonstrated comprehensive engagement; total scores ranged from 1 to 11 of 12 (Mdn = 6.5). Member education was most common (25/28 [89.3%]), while fewer societies reported research initiatives (6/28 [21.4%]) or patient education (3/28 [10.7%]) initiatives. Thematic analysis identified six needs: mobilizing members to support cultural change, strengthening the evidence base for specialty-specific actions, improving specialty-specific education for clinicians and patients, increasing collaboration and knowledge sharing across societies, establishing policy frameworks and enforceable standards, and building internal capacity through staffing and resources. Website review revealed limited public visibility relative to reported activity: member education appeared on 48.4% (46/95) of websites, patient education on 10.5% (10/95), and climate-related content on just 2.1% of homepages (2/95).

Conclusions: Medical societies are beginning to engage with climate-related health and healthcare sustainability, but efforts remain nascent and fragmented. With clearer professional standards, collaboration, and institutional support, societies could advance organized action to prepare for a changing climate and promote sustainable healthcare practices.