Ella Hill

My own efforts to do something with my frustration with climate change began when I became vegan 9 years ago and has continued since as I attempt to make personal and local efforts to engage in sustainable behaviours.

I am passionate about a preventative approach to healthcare, and I believe that every contact someone has with a healthcare professional is an opportunity to promote healthy and sustainable living. The COVID-19 pandemic really emphasised to me the inextricable link between healthcare, health inequalities, climate change, and sustainability on a global scale.

As part of my manifesto, my main goal is to provide a voice for the medical students that value sustainability. I would like to start regular meetings for students to discuss sustainability concerns and ideas from their placement experiences. Furthermore, I would like to hold events with both university societies and outside organisations with a focus on how to implement the principles of sustainable practice into their daily lives and as future doctors.

I will be completing my elective with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare in March 2023, whose aim is to support the NHS to reach net zero carbon and wider sustainability. This experience will provide me with fresh ideas and tools to bring to the role, so I am able to better advocate for sustainability on both a faculty and an institutional level.

I am so looking forward to being able to help students with a way to voice their concerns and ideas, as well as the ability to produce change so we can all enjoy a more sustainable place of study and work in the future. I am excited to advocate for sustainability on a wider scale than I have so far been able to. At a time of global emergency I believe this is more important than ever.