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Dr. Gus Kious & Gabriele Olinchic
Huron Hospital

The Nominator: Christina Vernon Ayers, Cleveland Clinic

How has the nominee implemented sustainable business practices in his or her business or organization?
During the past three years, Dr. Kious and Gabriele Olinchic have worked together to control waste, reduce water use, reduce chemical use, donate supplies, create a safer work environment, and educate employees and the community. Dr Kious inspired change at Huron Hospital by setting his own audacious goal of 50% waste reduction. To that end, he gathered a team to participate in E4S SI, and created an army. With Gabriele at the helm, Huron has already reduced their total waste stream by 38%, along with many other measures to improve Huron`s environmental impact. Perhaps most significantly, Dr. Kious and Gabriele serve as leaders and role models for the Cleveland Clinic Health System, inspiring change.

What is the triple bottom line benefit (people, planet, prosperity) of the nominee`s work?
As a healthcare institution, Huron Hospital is motivated to protect the health of its community and employees through protecting environmental health. The connection between environmental health and public health is clear and pressing. Huron has updated its cleaning regimen to use fewer toxics and worker-friendly methods that improve the working environment for its employees. By donating supplies to medwish, Huron is reducing its waste stream and providing much-needed supplies to those in need around the world, extending their mission far beyond its walls. As a non-profit organization, Huron is motivated to focus its dollars on providing healthcare, rather than contributing to landfills. In doing so, these measures help Huron do more with less and support the hospital`s bottom line. Gabriele has worked hard to engage local metal scrappers and other small businesses to support her efforts, furthering the prosperity of Huron`s neighbors. Huron`s efforts directly benefit the environment through resource protection and waste reduction.

How has the nominee inspired you to implement sustainable business practices?
Huron`s efforts have inspired our entire Cleveland Clinic Health System to take ownership of its impact on the environment. Dr. Kious and Gabriele`s example is helping to create change across the system, multiplying the effect of their work. Gabriele and her team share their experiences with, give tours to, and inspire our colleagues.

How can someone else translate the success of the nominee? Is the work of the nominee an example or model that others can follow?
Each of our ten hospitals and our many family health centers are embarking on CCHS`s sustainability initiative, and all reference the successes at Huron hospital as motivating and inspiring. By being on the leading edge, Huron has set the pace for our system.

How does the nominee actively participate in the sustainability community? How do they collaborate and share their knowledge with others?
Not only does Huron actively participate in the E4S community through the SI group and meetings, but they educate within our system, raise awareness of this issue through speaking engagements, give tours to local students, and mentor other change makers in our area.

Back to the List of 2007 Sustainability Champions Nominees