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Dec. 5, 2023

MSU ranked in top 25 globally in 4 sustainability categories

In the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds Sustainability Ranking , Michigan State University placed in the top 3% in the world — or No. 41 — among participating schools. The university is also in the top 3% in the nation, ranked at No. 6.

The QS Sustainability Rankings measure how well universities are addressing the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance issues.

“‘Go Green’ isn’t just our Spartan greeting — it is our way of life. Spartans are known for taking on the world’s biggest challenges. Making the world healthier, more sustainable and greener are huge challenges and, in tackling them, we are making a positive difference for everyone,” said MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.

Globally, MSU ranks in the top 25 in four of QS’ key indicators of performance.

• No. 8 in knowledge exchange
• No. 20 in equality
• No. 20 in social impact
• No. 25 in environmental research

MSU has more than 800 courses incorporating sustainability into the curriculum or through experiential learning. The university offers three undergraduate degrees and 20 minors rooted in sustainability as well as 21 master’s degree programs and 16 doctoral programs focused on sustainability or sustainability challenges.

With more than 15,000 students living on campus during the fall and spring semesters, multiple programs focus on sharing knowledge about sustainable practices. The peer-to-peer education program Eco Reps promotes sustainable practices and encourages environmentally responsible behaviors through education and activities.

In addition, more than 500 MSU faculty are engaged in research that addresses sustainability and global challenges like climate change, often working in interdisciplinary teams with other universities and communities around the world.

“This is truly a testament to the amazing people that make up the fabric of sustainability at MSU: our students, researchers, staff and alumni,” said Sustainability Manager Laura Young. “They work tirelessly to advance green initiatives here at home and foster just and sustainable impact around the world.”

Reaching first across Michigan and then extending globally, MSU has made long-standing commitments and progress in sustainability as a global leader through cutting-edge research, experiential learning, community engagement and sustainable operations. The university remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving a just and sustainable future, with stewardship and sustainability a key focus of the MSU 2030 Strategic Plan.

Learn more about sustainability efforts at MSU. 

By: Melody Kindraka

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• December 5, 2023 Issue
• ACS Has Strong Representat...

ACS Has Strong Representation at AMA Interim Meeting

December 5, 2023

ACS delegation attendees at the AMA HOD interim meeting included (from left) Drs. Dent, Goldberg, Moalem, Armstrong, Sharp, Neumayer, and Visenio.

The 2023 Interim Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) took place November 10-14 and led to significant decisions and impactful discussions that will shape the future of healthcare.

ACS Presence

The ACS delegation to the HOD achieved significant progress that will see the AMA advocate for key issues important to surgeons. The Board of Trustees Report 06, calling for a national Good Samaritan law to protect physicians who provide emergency care, was adopted. Also adopted was Resolution 813, “Strengthening Efforts Against Horizontal & Vertical Consolidation,” which is aimed to enforce antitrust laws for vertical acquisitions in healthcare. The delegation provided testimony on resolutions in all Reference Committees both supporting and opposing measures impacting the practice of surgery for years to come.

The ACS delegation includes Chair Jacob Moalem, MD, FACS; John Armstrong, MD, FACS, FCCP; Ross Goldberg, MD, FACS; Leigh Neumayer, MD, MBA, MA, FACS; Naveen Sangji, MD, MPH; Kenneth Sharp, MD, FACS; Daniel Dent, MD, FACS; Lena Napolitano, MD, FACS, FCCP, FCCM, and Resident & Fellow Section Delegate Michael Visenio, MD, MPH.

A New Vice Speaker: Dr. John Armstrong

The historic appointment of Dr. Armstrong as Vice Speaker of the AMA HOD is an achievement marking the highest position ever held by a member of the ACS delegation. The accomplishment is a testament to Dr. Armstrong's exceptional leadership and dedication to the advancement of healthcare.

At the Interim Meeting, Dr. Armstrong led the HOD business sessions through multiple reference committees, navigating complex healthcare policy issues. His guidance and contributions helped shape the AMA's agenda and ensure the voices of all physicians were heard at the highest levels of healthcare policymaking.

As Vice Speaker of the AMA House of Delegates, Dr. Armstrong will continue to champion the cause of surgeons and advocate for policies that promote quality, accessible, and equitable healthcare for all Americans, and the ACS and the AMA delegation are grateful for his service and commitment.

Combating Medicare Payment Cuts: A Critical Issue

A central theme of the meeting was the pressing issue of Medicare payment cuts, which threaten to erode physician compensation and hinder access to quality care.

The HOD adopted Resolution 216, “Saving Traditional Medicare,” reaffirming the AMA’s efforts to fix the flawed Medicare payment system for physicians, recognizing traditional Medicare is a critical healthcare program while educating the public on the benefits and concerns of Medicare Part C and Medicare Advantage plan expansion.

The House also adopted Resolution 235, “Preventing Imminent Payment Cuts and Ensuring the Sustainability of The Medicare Program,” which prioritizes preventing the imminent 3.4% Medicare payment cut from taking effect in January 2024.

Advocating for Physician Well-being

The HOD recognized the importance of physician well-being and the need to address systemic factors contributing to burnout and stress among healthcare professionals. The House of Delegates received significant supportive testimony online and in-person for public health and the need to remove administrative burdens like prior authorization, opposing government interference in health care decision making, and reaffirming the importance of the physician led healthcare team.

For more information on the interim meeting, visit the AMA’s website .

In This Issue

Access ACS Annual Report for 2022–2023

The successes of ACS surgeon volunteers and staff have been numerous and impressive this past year. The new Annual Report for 2022-2023 highlights those accomplishments, as well as provides a preview of what is to come in the next year.

Read Highlights from 2023 TQIP Annual Conference

The 2023 Trauma Quality Improvement Program Annual Conference, which took place December 1–3 in Louisville, Kentucky, brought together 1,800 trauma surgeons, data registrars, and other members of trauma teams to learn about how to optimize trauma care and start patients on their Road to Recovery.

Current Literature

Commentaries summarizing important new scientific literature pertinent to surgeons and care teams.

Dr. Julie Freischlag Discusses Career Progression, Work-Life Balance, and More

The newest episode of The House of Surgery features a fireside chat with ACS Past-President Dr. Julie Freischlag,

$1 Million Donation to ACS Foundation Will Help Fund Surgical Adhesions Research

A new initiative focused on the pervasive issue of surgical adhesions will be supported by a $1 million donation from a Pennsylvania family to the ACS Foundation.

Nominate Your Altruistic Peers for 2024 ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards

The ACS Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery (H.O.P.E.) is accepting nominations for the 2024 ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards cycle.

Read about Expectations and Recommendations for Entrustable Professional Activities in Surgical Residency

A new Resources in Surgical Education (RISE) article is available: Are Graduating Residents Prepared for a Career in Academic Surgery?

Deadline Is Next Week for Updated 2024 ACS Surgeons as Leaders Course

The ACS offers the Surgeons as Leaders: From Operating Room to Boardroom course, which is intended for surgeons in any practice setting (academic or community) who currently serve in leadership positions or aspire to such positions.

• Australia edition
• International edition
• Europe edition

Virgin Atlantic and BA face formal complaints over sustainability claims

Exclusive: Airlines accused of making misleading claims in same week as first transatlantic commercial biofuel flight

Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are facing formal complaints over their sustainable flight claims after being accused of misleading potential customers about the environmental credentials of aviation.

This week, a Virgin Atlantic plane took off on the first transatlantic flight by a commercial airliner fully powered by “sustainable” jet fuel , largely comprising cooking oil. The flight, partly funded by the UK government, flew to great fanfare from airlines and ministers as a potentially guilt-free way to fly. However, scientists and environmental groups are more sceptical .

The climate charity Possible and the law firm Leigh Day have filed formal complaints against the two major airlines over their claims about reducing emissions from flights.

The senior campaigner at Possible, Alethea Warrington, said: “The reality is that technologies for cleaner flight either don’t work, or don’t even exist yet. We think that airlines’ misleading claims about their emissions are unfair on people who want to do the right thing when they travel. It’s time for airlines to start being honest about their sky-high emissions.”

The complaints, filed under the National Contact point mechanism run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), set out that both airlines are misleading consumers over their claims on reducing carbon emissions from flights as the layperson does not have the expertise to discern the limits of decarbonisation technology.

Airlines claim they can use biofuels made from crops or green hydrogen made from renewable energy, but recent research from the Royal Society has found the UK would have to devote half its farmland or more than double its total renewable electricity supply to make enough aviation fuel to meet its ambitions for net zero flying.

The filing highlights that BA claims to be “driving urgent action towards net-zero emissions” and that it says it has a “clear roadmap to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050”. However, analysis has found BA’s emissions from jet fuel have increased year-on-year between 2016 and 2019.

Virgin Atlantic features its “mission to net zero” on its promotional materials but fails to mention it is falling short of its emissions targets, which Possible has argued is crucial information for consumers.

The charity also points out scientific literature comparing the lifecycle emissions from biofuels with conventional jet fuel, “which is clear that these fuels may produce even more emissions and be worse for the climate than kerosene”. Both feedstocks produce fuels with similar tailpipe emissions to kerosene, and the emissions reductions are claimed to be created at a systemic level.

“For fuels derived from biomass, land is not available to produce crops for biofuels in sufficient quantities to power aviation without causing hugely damaging deforestation, which increase emissions and makes biofuels just as bad for the climate as kerosene, if not worse,” the charity said.

A British Airways spokesperson said: “In 2019, we committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 and, while there is no single solution to this challenge, as part of our BA Better World programme, we have a clear roadmap of initiatives to get there.

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“In the short-term, this means improving our operational efficiency, investing in new, more fuel-efficient aircraft and progressively introducing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with partnerships in the UK and US, while for the medium to longer term, we’re continuing to invest in the development of SAF – a critical path to decarbonise, and looking at how we can help with the growth of zero-emissions hydrogen-powered aircraft and carbon-removal technology.

“We were the first airline to report our carbon footprint more than two decades ago and were the first airline to voluntarily participate in the UK emissions trading scheme.”

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “At Virgin Atlantic, we are committed to achieving net zero 2050 and have set interim targets on our pathway to get there, including 10% sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.

“There are two levers for delivering in-sector carbon reductions in the short to medium term: the fleet we operate and fuel we burn. We already fly one of the youngest and most efficient fleets across the Atlantic. Beyond fleet renewals, SAF presents an immediate opportunity to deliver lifecycle carbon reductions of up to 70% and is something we have been pioneering for over 15 years.”

• Airline industry
• Airline emissions
• Virgin Atlantic
• British Airways

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