Current projects: Our team recently completed data collection at Utah Valley Hospital to better understand the way onstage/offstage models function in inpatient and outpatient settings. We’re also coordinating a study at Sheltering Arms Institute, an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, to explore patient and staff experience. Sources of inspiration: I believe in design as a force for social change. Environmental design research highlights the way environments and environmental stewardship can transform and elevate the human experience. It’s inspiring to play even the smallest role in the design of spaces that strengthen communities and make profound differences in people’s lives.
Sources of inspiration: I believe in design as a force for social change. Environmental design research highlights the way environments and environmental stewardship can transform and elevate the human experience. It is inspiring to play even the smallest role in the design of spaces that strengthen communities and make profound differences in people’s lives.
Best advice you’ve received: My father, who devoted his career to public service, used to tell me, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit,” a phrase usually attributed to President Harry S. Truman. I try to strive for the collective good over individual recognition, which may not be the best career strategy, but it aligns with my values.
Trends you’re tracking: The ascendence of virtual health and other technologies during the pandemic has the potential to continue to break down barriers, improve access, and increase health equity. I hope to see this practice become even better integrated with in-person visits to redistribute healthcare to underserved locations and populations.
Your industry crystal ball says: While I don’t know what the future holds, I hope to see healthcare continuing to meet people where they are. To me, this means not only changing venues of care to improve access but fostering health everywhere and dismantling the social determinants of health. The built environment influences public health and individual wellness in many ways. Design professionals have the power and responsibility to design all places and spaces, not just healthcare facilities, to increase health and well-being. Healthcare industry professionals will continue to take a leading role in creating a cultural shift toward health promotion.
Memorable pandemic moment: What has stayed with me over the last year are all the human stories coming out of the pandemic. I will never forget after COVID-19 first emerged in a local nursing facility, I read a story about a woman who could no longer visit her mother, so she climbed through bushes to peek in windows just trying to catch a glimpse of her. While there were so many stories like that, there are also stories of courage, selflessness, and innovation. These stories remind me how important and valuable healthcare design is on an individual level and why we must keep designing to meet new challenges.
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