Transforming Healthcare: Integrating Lean and Evidence-Based Design Workshop

Donna Deckard, BSN, MPA, EDAC
Director of Strategic Projects, The Center for Health Design
A consultant to The Center for Health Design, Donna directs the continual development and growth of the Evidence-based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) program. Her strategic oversight and industry experience helped propel EDAC to become widely accepted by top architectural firms throughout the country and worldwide. She also directs and facilitates the Built Environment Network program, a collegial network of executives and industry leaders who participate in strategic discussions to help set the direction for the future of the built environment.

Terri Zborowsky, PhD, EDAC
Research Specialist, HGA Architects & Engineers
Terri Zborowsky is an Evidence-based Design Researcher at HGA Architects and Engineers, where she focuses on the intersection of user experience and human interaction within healthcare environments. She began her career as a registered nurse before completing a PhD in Interior Design. Zborowsky combines her first-hand experience of patient and caregiver needs with architectural concepts to develop exceptional spaces. She frequently presents her design and research studies at academic medical and healthcare conferences, and has been published in HERD and other leading industry design journals. She has a Doctor of Philosophy in Interior Design from the University of Minnesota.
 

Kara Freihoefer, PhD, EDAC, LEED ID+C
Director of Research, HGA Architects
Kara Freihoefer is the Director of Research at HGA Architects and Engineers, where she focuses on utilizing evidence-based design principles to inform and educate healthcare clients and colleagues on design decisions. Freihoefer serves as the co-chair of the Research Council where she helps spearheads research initiatives across all disciplines firm-wide. Freihoefer has most recently research published “Making the Case for Practice-based Research and the Imperative Role of Design Practitioners” in Health Environments, Research and Design Journal. She was also awarded Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Certificate of Research Excellence (CORE) for an in-depth investigation of clinic module design.
 

Andrea Sponsel, RID, IIDA, EDAC, Lean Six Sigma CE, LEED AP
Director, Lean Strategy & Change Management, BSA LifeStructures
Andrea Sponsel is the Director of Lean Strategy and Change Management at BSA LifeStructures. She began her lean journey nearly nine years ago, and was immediately immersed in the philosophy of improving what we do every day, and eliminating waste to create value. Since then, her passion has been teaching the technical side and people side of change to others at BSA, promoting a more inclusive and efficient delivery of design. She is also part of the Core Group for the Central Indiana CoP.  

Additional Coaches:

Douglas King, AIA, CSI, NCARB, ACHA, Principal, Stantec 
In blending technical skills and people skills, Doug brings a wealth of perspective to the design, planning, and leadership of large-scale, highly complex healthcare projects. Well known for his knowledge of healthcare regulatory requirements, he’s also an expert at customizing compliance for owners. As a technical director and principal on several of the largest healthcare projects ever built in the US, Doug built a reputation for his specific knowledge of the unique challenges presented by high rise healthcare design. He’s an elected member of the Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings—and the only healthcare representative.

Susan Limbrunner, RA, AIA, Health Sector Leader, Chicago, Stantec
With more than 25 years of experience, Susan has enjoyed a myriad of opportunities both as a design architect and an owner’s representative that have contributed to her project management and design approach. She’s truly passionate about healthcare architecture as it provides her the opportunity to play a major role in the creation of healing environments on a daily basis. In her role as Chicago’s health sector lead, Susan coordinates and leads all project team resources while building strong working relationships with team members and stakeholders. She has a comprehensive understanding of design processes, project scoping, construction methods and administration, and organizational skills—this has ensured that all her projects are delivered within budget and of the highest standard.