Dr. Elizabeth “Beth” Schenk serves as Associate Vice President, Environmental Stewardship for Providence, one of the nation’s largest non-profit health systems. On Earth Day, 2020, Providence announced that it will work toward becoming carbon negative by 2030.  Dr. Schenk and team lead this effort through strategy and innovation, efficiency of practices and processes, and research, education, and engagement, built on her experience decreasing the environmental impacts of health care for over 30 years. 

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Dr. Schenk is an assistant research professor at Washington State University College of Nursing. She led the development of CHANT: Climate and Health Tool, measuring health professionals’ awareness and engagement with climate change and health. CHANT has been translated to several languages and used in over 40 nations. She developed the WE ACT Framework (Waste, Energy/water, Agriculture/food, Chemicals, Transportation) to organize the extensive range of environmental stewardship, while motivating action. 

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She is active at national, state, and local levels, serving on the boards of the national organization The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, and on the Expert Panel on Environmental and Public Health for the American Academy of Nursing. She is treasurer for the state organization Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, and board chair for the local organization Climate Smart Missoula. She hosts the Nurses for Healthy Environments Podcast, now in its sixth season.