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Harvard Undergraduate Green Medicine Initiative (HUGMI) is a student run initiative working at the intersection of environmental responsibility and human health to create a more sustainable and equitable future for medicine.

80-90%

of cancers are caused by environmental and lifestyle factors

250,000

estimated deaths each year due to climate change between 2030 and 2050

5.5 million

tons of plastic waste generated by academic labs each year, which amounts to 1.8% of plastic waste produced worldwide

Our Impact

400+

people reached through our cooking demonstrations

3000+

cookbook cards distributed

500+

people reached through environmental determinants of cancer programming

community events tabled at

Ongoing projects

Cooking Healthy options for Patients (CHOP)

Cooking Health Options for Patients (CHOP) empowers families to explore food as a form of healthcare. We conduct cooking demonstrations at farmers markets, health fairs, and clinic waiting rooms. We have also published an accessible, health-focused, plant-based cookbook available in WiC, CHA, and BMC locations throughout Massachusetts.

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Environmental Determinants of Cancer (EDC)

We educate communities about environmental cancer risks through our developed brochures and interactive workshops on air and water pollution, food contaminants, and radiation exposure. Our outreach includes distributing free resources like sunscreen, water filters, and radon testing kits to support prevention and health equity.

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Green Labs

Promoting a greener future for research begins with educating students on sustainable lab practices. We are developing partnerships with several undergraduate teaching labs to make edits to the lab manual procedures a in an effort to reduce chemical and plastic waste and student educational initiatives on green lab practices. We have added Green Labs pipette tip box recycling bins to the science center teaching lab spaces and re-opened the ReUse room.

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Past Projects

Medical Supplies Donation to Brigham Women's Hospital

From syringes to patient gowns, electrodes, gloves, tourniquets, and catheter systems, we have recovered over 1800 items from our partner hospitals.

Medical Equipment Donation to Massachusetts General Hospital

In addition to consumable supplies, we have recovered several blood pressure cuffs and three full-size x-ray viewers.

Lab Coat Reuse at Office for Animal Resources

We have partnered with the Harvard Office for Animal Resources to start washing polypropylene lab coats instead of incinerating them.

Meet the Executive Board

President, EDC co-director

c/o 2026

Ashini Modi

Hi! My name Ashini and I am a rising senior in Eliot house studying Chemical and Physical Biology & Astrophysics. I am especially interested in how exposures—like pollution, diet, and radiation—contribute to cancer risk, and how education and policy can drive upstream, preventative solutions. Through research, I investigate questions of genomic stability and DNA damage. Outside of academics I love swimming, baking vegan cakes, and playing the violin!

Vice-President

c/o 2027

Blythe Wieclawek

I am very interested in the intersection between environment and health, specifically how climate change will create new health challenges. I am also passionate about empowering individuals to help themselves and their communities by raising awareness of environmental determinants of health!

CHOP director

c/o 2028

Manya Gupta

My name is Manya, and I am a rising sophomore studying Economics and Molecular & Cellular Biology. I’m super excited to be one of the CHOP Directors this year! I was first introduced to green medicine during an internship in high school. I had always loved sustainability and the environment, and during that internship, I realized how deeply they’re connected to medicine. When I first joined HUGMI, I saw an opportunity to further explore this interest. Now, I’m looking forward to focusing on nutrition and healthy eating, as well as all the other amazing initiatives HUGMI does!

Green Labs Co-director

c/o 2026

Alice Chen

My name is Alice and I’m a senior in Eliot studying Chemical & Physical Biology. After taking several lab-based courses, I became increasingly aware of the significant waste generated in teaching and research labs, particularly from single-use plastics. Through HUGMI, I hope that we can find sustainable alternatives to make research and teaching more environmentally responsible, making labs healthier for people and our planet!

Secretary, EDC co-director

c/o 2028

Raul Ontiveros

Raul is a rising sophomore and serves as Secretary and EDC co-director.

Sustainable Healthcare Symbolism_edited.png

Green Labs Co-director

c/o 2027

Angela Huang

Angela Huang is a rising junior and co-director of Green Labs.

Meet the Associates

Simran Tamang

c/o 2028

EDC associate

BioEngineering on the PreMed Track

I’m deeply interested in and passionate about medicine and public health which motivated me to look into green medicine. I appreciate HUGMI because it allows me to combine my interests in medicine and the environment while being able to explore my curiosity about many different topics regarding the two fields.

Nic Long

c/o 2026

CHOP associate

History of Science with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy

I’m so excited to be a part of HUGMI this year as a CHOP Associate! I’m especially passionate about making plant-based eating more accessible and helping guide patients through sustainable, healthy eating habits that actually feel doable.

Audric Audonteng

c/o 2028

EDC associate

Chemistry + Neuroscience

My interest in green medicine stems from understanding how disruptions on an environmental scale can cause molecular misfirings in our bodies, and the detrimental cascading process. I’m interested in teaching people small ways to stay informed about these environmental disruptions and help people actively contribute to their health by being conscious of the world around them.

c/o 2028

EDC associate

Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology

My interest in green medicine developed long before I started here at Harvard. I grew up in a low-income family, and my parent’s emphasis on reducing waste in the home sparked a decade long interest in climate action. Caring for my siblings while my parents worked, I also developed an adoration for medicine. When I discovered the Harvard Green Medicine Initiative, these passions merged seamlessly. I am so excited to work towards a cleaner, greener, and healthier future with my peers.

Estella Leblanc

Jacob Friedman

c/o 2028

EDC associate

Human Evolutionary Biology or Integrative Biology

I’ve been interested in the intersection of biology and climate for a few years now, doing lots of grassroots work alongside biochemistry research! Upon entering college, I realized that green medicine translates both natural principles and community knowledge to health advocacy. This summer I am doing enviro health research in China and also work in the Moazed Lab at HMS during the year — so thrilled to be part of HUGMI!

Jetzabel (Jet) Rivera-Lopez

c/o 2028

CHOP associate

Molecular and Cellular Biology with a Secondary in Educational Studies

Prevention is an important part of medicine and health. Taking care of the environment can help take care of our communities and prevent disease. My interest in Green Medicine stems from my passion in preventative medicine and reducing health disparities.

Sajid Fahmid

c/o 2028

CHOP associate

Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution

I’m passionate about making healthy food accessible to diverse patient populations by advocating for a variety of vegan and vegetarian options. I hope to help people lead healthier lifestyles through mindful diet choices and to explore how food systems can support green medicine initiatives.

Ben Kaufman

c/o 2028

EDC associate

Zahra Choudhry

c/o 2028

Green Labs associate

Cate Cupps

c/o 2028

CHOP associate

Advisors

Community Partners

Sirinya Matchacheep

Director of Instructional Laboratories, Harvard University

Clark Magnan

Manager of Biology teaching labs, Harvard University

Brad Parsons

Lab Safety Advisor, Harvard University

Courtney Forrestor

Waste Reduction and Compliance Lead, Harvard University

Dailey Brannin

Recycling Services Supervisor, Harvard University

Carla Sodeyama

Director, WiC Cambridge/Somerville

Kinnari Chitalia

Senior Nutritionist, WiC Cambridge/Somerville

Roberta Turri-Vise

Deputy Chief Community Officer, Cambridge Health Alliance

Crystal Johnson

Assistant Secretary of Environmental Justice, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs