the Earth

Planetary Health Research Collective

The Planetary Health Research Collective (PHRC) is an interdisciplinary hub based at the Faculty of Medicine that brings together researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, students, and staff who are passionate about the intersection of human health and environmental sustainability.

We're a growing community dedicated to advancing planetary health through innovative research, collaborative dialogue, and action. Whether you're refining a new idea, developing a project, or ready to share knowledge, PHRC offers a dynamic space to connect, collaborate, and create change.

We host regular evening mini-presentations and discussion sessions, open to participants from any discipline. These informal, interactive gatherings encourage sharing of early-stage ideas or near-complete projects. They spark cross-disciplinary dialogue, invite feedback, and foster new collaborations across healthcare, research, education, and beyond.

Find out more about our Faculty of Medicine IGHO events!

Our mission

The core mission of PHRC is to explore and promote the interconnectedness of human health, environmental sustainability, and ecological systems. This interdisciplinary hub brings together multidisciplinary researchers, healthcare professionals, learners, educators, and staff who are passionate about planetary health or engaged in sustainability initiatives at the Faculty of Medicine and within health-systems across Ottawa. By fostering collaboration across diverse fields and disciplines, the lab seeks to develop innovative solutions for a healthier, more sustainable future. 

Focus Areas

Our work is grounded in four interconnected pillars:

  • Sustainable Healthcare Practices: Supporting innovation in low-waste, low-emission healthcare delivery
  • Planetary Health Research: Advancing evidence-based solutions that connect environment and health
  • Planetary Health Education: Integrating planetary health across curricula and training
  • Planetary Health Promotion: Sharing knowledge with communities and stakeholders 

Our vision

an earth model on hands

We envision a future where planetary health is an integral part of how we teach, practice, and innovate in healthcare. That means:

  • Recognizing the importance of planetary health considerations within healthcare practice, and supporting research in waste reduction and environmentally sustainable healthcare practices.
  • Encouraging and supporting practitioners to reflect on which practices within their departments could be adapted for sustainability.
  • Developing a collaborative, multidisciplinary research network with broad expertise in planetary health and sustainable healthcare. 

Our objectives

We focus on five strategic goals:

  • Raise awareness about planetary health and sustainability practices at the Faculty of Medicine and broadly across Ottawa’s healthcare systems
  • Foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and advance interdisciplinary research
  • Promote sustainable healthcare practices
  • Address the integration of planetary health in education
  • Mentor emerging leaders and support collaborative projects 
a seminar
Next PHRC Session 

Date: October 14, 2026

Time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET

Location: In-Person

You can:

  • Learn from others passionate about sustainability in health
  • Present your research or project idea
  • Join an interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Attend and contribute to our discussion sessions

Register to attend the next PHRC Session (Form)

Previous presentations