From A C to an A grade: how Imperial College School of Medicine improved its planetary health education
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and other planetary health threats present significant risks to human health, requiring future doctors to integrate sustainable healthcare principles into clinical practice. Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) used the Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC) to evaluate and improve its curriculum and institutional sustainability. ICSM implemented targeted interventions, including integrating planetary health content longitudinally across modules, embedding clinically relevant teaching, expanding student-selected learning opportunities, enhancing communication training, and developing patient-facing resources with NHS partners. Key enablers included collaboration between students and faculty, and recognising sustainability as integral to good clinical care. Despite challenges around limited curriculum space, this approach demonstrates that planetary health can be effectively embedded without overburdening existing structures. The PHRC provides a useful framework for reflection and continuous improvement, offering a practical model for other medical schools seeking to strengthen sustainability and planetary health within undergraduate medical education.
Date Acceptance
2026-09-03
Citation
Advances in Medical Education and Practice
ISSN
1179-7258
Publisher
Dove Medical Press
Journal / Book Title
Advances in Medical Education and Practice
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2026 Advances in Medical Education and Practice. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Accepted