Lauren Koch - What Healthcare Can Teach Us About Sustainability at Scale

Lauren Koch, Sustainability Senior Program Manager at Mars Veterinary Health, is a passionate advocate for purpose-driven work and a champion for sustainability in the healthcare sector. Lauren shares the story of how a viewing of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" during a moment of career uncertainty ignited her passion for environmental action. She recounts her decision to return to Ohio State University to pursue a dual Master's degree, where a conversation with the legendary Neil Drobny opened her eyes to the world of sustainability in business. This "aha" moment set her on a path that would combine her business acumen with her deep desire to make a positive impact.

She discusses her early work at the OSU Wexner Medical Center, where she began weaving sustainability into her role as an office manager, researching best practices, and building a case for a dedicated sustainability program. This initiative and her volunteer work with local organizations like Green Columbus and FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) paved the way for her role at Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth. Lauren offers invaluable advice for those looking to break into the sustainability field, emphasizing the power of volunteering, seeking informational interviews, and the importance of "paying it forward." She also explores the complex, and often surprising, parallels between human healthcare and veterinary health, and the universal challenges and strategies for implementing sustainability in a clinical setting.

Episode in a glance

00:59 An "Inconvenient Truth" and a New Career Path
04:09 The GEICO Program That Taught Her About Purpose
06:38 From Office Manager to Sustainability Advocate
08:41 Advice for Aspiring Sustainability Professionals
14:06 Navigating the Safety vs. Sustainability Conversation
18:13 The Surprising Similarities Between Human and Animal Healthcare

About Lauren Koch

Lauren Koch is the Sustainability Senior Program Manager at Mars Veterinary Health, where she leads initiatives to create a more sustainable future for pets, people, and the planet. With a diverse background that spans business, public policy, and environmental science, she is a passionate advocate for data-driven strategies and collaborative action. Lauren's journey is a powerful reminder that a career with impact is always within reach if you're willing to ask questions, build relationships, and never stop learning.

Connect with Lauren Koch and her work:

Lauren Koch LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-koch-oh/

Mars Veterinary Health → https://www.marsveterinary.com/

Mars Veterinary Health Sustainability Report → https://www.marsveterinary.com/media/uploads/2025/01/Mars-Veterinary-Health-2024-Environmental-Sustainability-Report.pdf

Green Building article → (PDF) Energy performance of campus Leed® buildings: Implications for green building and energy policy

Health Care Without Harm → https://noharm.org/

Practice Greenhealth → https://practicegreenhealth.org/

Green Columbus → https://www.greencbus.org/

FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) → https://www.olentangywatershed.or

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