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Education

Doctor of Nursing Practice Candidate

University of Minnesota

  • Health Innovation and Leadership Specialty

    • ​Focus on Planetary Health and Climate Change

Bachelor of Science, Nursing, St. Catherine University

Associate of Science, Nursing, St. Catherine University

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training Course

Cuban Public Health Exchange, Medicc

Havana, Cuba

Week-long study of the Cuban Public Health System

Climate and Health Responder Course for Health Professionals

The Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education

Climate

Climate and Health Leadership

  • ​Climate Resilience Task Force Coordinator

    • University of Minnesota, Office of Sustainability

  • Institute for Healthcare Improvement​

    • Team Manager and lead site organizer, Decarbonizing Healthcare Initiative​​

  • Practice Greenhealth

    • Environmental Excellence Awards Application Reviewer​

    • Subject Matter Expert evaluating submissions from healthcare systems nationwide

  • Executive Board Member & Committee Chair, Climate-Smart Healthcare​​

    • Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate

  • Cambridge Health Alliance, Center for Health Equity, Education, and Advocacy, Harvard Medical School​

    • Fellow, Climate Health Organizing​

  • Organizer and Consultant, Ride for Their Lives

    • Provided guidance and support to organize a climate action bicycle ride as part of an international climate action campaign

    • Project leader, route development, promotion, cyclist, fundraising, sustainability

  • Organizer and Consultant, Code Blue for Patient Earth, Climate Conference

    • Moderator of opening event

    • Discovery and selection of speakers, fundraising, day of event planning, promotion, sustainability budget management

  • Consultant, LSSBB, M Health Fairview Academic Medical Center

    • Assessed climate mitigation and adaptation current state for large health system

    • Developed a GHG emissions inventory process, measured baseline GHG emissions, data analysis of

    • GHG emissions sources, predictive modeling of potential improvements

    • Used LSS methodology to develop a plan to reduce emissions by 21%

    • Developed strategic long and short-term goals for further climate mitigation and adaptation

  • Energy Audit, M Health Fairview Academic Medical Center

    • Directed energy audit of medical center, lead a transdisciplinary team of subject matter experts, identified improvement opportunities, evaluated state laws and regulations, identified grants and funding opportunities, disseminated and presented findings

  • Consultant, M Health Fairview

    • Provided guidance and support in the development of environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation projects to foster public and planetary health

    • Subject matter expert, consultant for environmental sustainability and climate mitigation and adaptation projects for midwestern health system

  • Campus Ambassador, Planetary Health Alliance

    • Awarded role of Planetary Health Alliance Campus Ambassador, University of Minnesota

    • Organizer of educational events to spread awareness and engage university students and faculty in planetary health and climate change

  • Contributor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing’s Planetary Health Report Card

    • Evaluated integration of planetary health concepts in nursing school curriculum, research, community outreach and advocacy, student-led initiatives, and campus sustainability

    • Part of gap analysis for international nursing programs

    • Advance global planetary health movement

  • Intern, Planning Committee for the Planetary Health Alliance Annual Meeting

    • Website development, abstract review and selection, fundraising, promotion, sustainability consultant, moderator, budget management, budget proposals

  • Consultant, Project Drawdown

    • Provided guidance for website content and climate/health communications

  • Assistant Guest Editor, Challenges Planetary Health Academic Journal

    • Promotion of publication opportunity

    • Article Reviewer

Teaching and Speaking

  • University of Minnesota, Lectures and Guest Faculty, 2021-2024

    •  Environmental Justice; Nursing for Planetary Health, Climate Smart Healthcare, Climate Resilience

  • Science Museum of Minnesota, Earth Day Panelist and Guest Speaker, 2023-2024

    • Organizer and presenter of Climate and Health content

  • University of Colorado, Climate and Health Diploma, 2024

    • Guest Faculty, Sustainability Quality Improvement Certificate, 

  • National Academy of Medicine, 2022-2024

    • Grand Climate Challenge Contributor

    • Emerging Leaders Forum, panel speaker, Decarbonizing the Healthcare Sector

  • Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Annual Forum, Panel organizer and presenter 2023

    • Clinician-Led Decarbonization 

  • Minnesota Department of Health, Launch Event Guest Speaker

    • How to Talk to Patients About Climate Change

  • M Health Fairview, Lectures and Grand Round Speaker 2021-2024

    • Environmental Justice, Climate Change and Health and  Planetary Health Guest Lecturer, 2021-2023

  • University of Michigan, Guest Lecture, 2024

    • Climate Smart Health care, Guest Lecture, Master of Public Health Program

  • International Council of Nurses Congress, Poster Presentation,  2023

    • Poster title: Climate action for nurses on the frontlines and on the fence lines

  • EarthDay.Org  Live Webinar - 2023

  • University of New Mexico, Climate Change and Health Panel Speaker, 2023

  • Landspitali Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2022

    • Climate Solutions Guest Lecture

  • Havana, Cuba, Healthcare Worker Immersion, Guest Lecture, 2022

    • Healthcare Sustainability lecture

  • Twin Cities Eco Rotary Club, Guest Lecture, 2022

    • Nursing for Planetary Health, Decarbonizing the Healthcare Sector and Beyond

  • Tennessee Valley Authority, Panel Speaker, 2022

    • Energy and Sustainability Panel Speaker - connections between environmental and human health

  • Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Summit Panel Speaker, 2022

    • Nurse lead climate/health innovations

Nursing Experience

Nursing

Sustainability Quality Improvement Consultant

M Health Fairview; Minneapolis
Responsible for leading large-scale projects developing and implementing innovative programs, influencing and fostering systems change, and coaching and educating teams to address human and planetary health.

  • Data analysis and demonstrated proficiency using statistical analysis software

  • Leadership and consulting services across a large healthcare system

  • Innovative Change management

  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt portfolio

  • Lean Six Sigma training instructor and project coach​

  • Carbon accounting

  • Leading environmental sustainability and climate-focused Initiatives

Infection Preventionist Public Health Nurse

M Health Fairview; Minneapolis, MN
Pediatric Infection Preventionist, leading initiatives to develop, implement, and evaluate annual infection prevention
programs and action plans, evaluation and interpretation of state laws, regulations and program requirements, partnering with system leaders, physicians, local, state and national agencies on activities related to quality improvement and infection control to protect and promote public health.

  • Provide Infection Control leadership and consulting services

  • Monitor changing infectious disease patterns and developing mitigation programming related to climate

  • change including air and water quality and solid waste management

Clinical Nursing Instructor University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN

  • Provide accurate and professional instruction to Masters level nursing students in the acute care clinical setting

  • Developing clinical education plan in congruence with nursing theory class

  • Demonstrate effective leadership in all circumstances

  • Prepare appropriate plans, materials, and learning activities for students to achieve the learning objectives for each class

Registered Nurse - Pediatric Interventional Radiology

M Health Fairview; Minnneapolis, MN

Registered Nurse - Post-Anesthesia Care Unit

M Health Fairview; Minneapolis, MN

Other Recognition

Other Activities

PLANETARY and PUBLIC HEALTH AWARDS/RECOGNITION

  • Awarded best Lighting Talk, University of Minnesota, Sustainability Symposium

  • Louis Krisko Award, APIC National Conference - 2022

  • Planetary Health Alliance - Harvard T.H. Chan, School of Public Health, Annual Meeting Intern - 2022

  • Planetary Health Alliance, Campus Ambassador- 2022

  • Emerson Collective, Nominee - 2022

LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERISM

  • Twin Cities Mutual Aid, Powderhorn Houseless Community, Promotion of Public Health - 2021

  • Health Professional for a Healthy Climate, Board Member - 2023

LICENSURES/CERTIFICATIONS/PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Member, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments

  • Member, Planetary Health Alliance

  • Registered Nurse, Minnesota

  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Project - Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions at a Large Academic Medical Center

  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support - 2022

  • Member, American Nurses Association

  • Public Health Nurse Certification

Jo Bjorgaard

DNP, RN, PHN, CSSBB

Planetary/Public Health Nurse Leader

Climate Change and Health Strategist

  • Saint Paul, MN

Education
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