April marks Earth Month and we are proud to recognize the generosity of our donors in playing a pivotal role in initiatives that have earned Bayshore Medical Center national recognition for sustainability.

The Holmdel campus is abuzz with innovations to reduce waste, improve energy-efficiency through facility equipment upgrades, and special projects, including electric vehicle charging stations, and even a rooftop apiary, which is an artificial honey bee hive.

Bayshore Medical Center Foundation trustee Gaurav Baveja and his wife, Deepika Gupta, are passionate about these efforts, which led them to generously commit to giving $50,000 over the next five years for the hospital’s overall sustainability program. 

"We are all members of this community," says Deepika. "Our family believes very strongly in sustainability, and there are steps we can take to make an impact. These changes are not possible without an investment. That is why we give." 

Gaurav added, "It's really exciting to help our local hospital get recognition on a national platform. We believe that little steps can make a big difference, and we are proud to be able to support these steps at Bayshore."

In addition, the apiary is being funded by dozens of donors through a community DIY fundraiser led by Bayshore’s Sustainability Committee, which will support pollination within the community and at the hospital’s own campus, thereby benefiting every family-run farm, home garden and natural plant growth. 

As a result of this ambitious work to reduce negative environmental impact, Bayshore and three other campuses in the Hackensack Meridian Health system in New Jersey recently were the first in the entire nation to achieve Sustainable Healthcare Certification from The Joint Commission, a non-profit accreditation organization that evaluates strict hospital standards. The additional network hospitals are Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and Ocean University Medical Center in Brick.

The healthcare industry accounts for nearly 9% of the nation’s carbon emissions, and Hackensack Meridian Health is committed to reducing that footprint. With the help of donors, investments are being made in solar, energy-efficient infrastructure upgrades, environmentally friendly cleaning products and reduction of medical and other waste.

To learn more about how you can support sustainability efforts at Bayshore Medical Center, contact Marisa Medina, executive director, Bayshore Medical Center Foundation, at marisa.medina@hmhn.org.