Addie Abushousheh, PhD, Assoc. AIA, EDAC
Research Associate, The Center for Health Design
Addie Abushousheh is a gerontologist, researcher, and consultant for organizational and environmental development in long-term care. She explores cultural and bio-psycho-social perspectives, organizational structures and processes, physical environments, workforce models, and regulatory and financial frameworks in relation to decision making, resource management, and quality improvement. With combined expertise in architecture, organizational development, aging and applied research, Dr. Abushousheh advances comprehensive and translational agendas related to quality assessment and performance improvement. Addie is a Research Associate with The Center for Health Design, an Adjunct Faculty member at Kent State University, and a Senior Living Advisor for Abacus Institute.
Shary Adams, OAA, AIA, ACHA, EDAC
Healthcare Practice Area Leader, Gensler
Access to adequate medical and mental healthcare resources is one of the most pressing challenges facing the world. Shary has committed her career to helping organizations expand their services, as well as develop new strategies and innovations that improve treatment for those in need of this complex medical and mental healthcare.
With more than 35 years of experience in healthcare design and leading integrated teams, Shary excels in getting laser-focused on a problem and defining the best possible solutions. As a leader in the industry, Shary has shared her expertise and insights in media outlets, as well as global and domestic conferences.
Scott Holmes, RA, Emeritus ACHA, LEED AP
Behavioral & Mental Health Environment Network (BMHEN) Facilitator, The Center for Health Design
Scott Holmes is an architect and medical planner who has been involved in the design of medical and behavioral health facilities for his entire 35-year career. Prior to his recent retirement from private practice, Scott was a principal at BWBR Architects based in St. Paul, MN where he led the planning process, developing planning options, and refining them into efficient, flexible, safe and therapeutic solutions.
Scott is a leading advocate for the use of research and evidence-based design as a tool to elevate the effectiveness of behavioral health facilities. He has spoken frequently on his human-centered approach to design; was part of the Editorial Advisory Board for Healthcare Design Magazine from 2018- 2022; and, is Lean/Six Sigma – Green Belt Certified.
Deb Lambert HFA, MS
President & CEO, Byron Wellness Community
Deb Lambert is blessed to serve the residents and staff of Byron Health Center. She has been a Health Facility Administrator in Indiana for over 25 years and she currently serves as the President and CEO of Byron Wellness Systems.
Brian Giebink, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, EDAC
Behavioral & Mental Health Practice Leader, HDR
As behavioral and mental health practice leader, Brian has a deep understanding of current research and trends in mental health design and uses his expertise to create innovative, research-based solutions that improve the patient experience in healthcare environments. Brian has served as the mental health expert on numerous projects around the world, holding roles in planning, design, and consulting for inpatient, outpatient, community, and crisis services, guiding project teams towards improved outcomes in mental health environments.
At HDR, Brian leads the behavioral health design studio, introducing current trends and design strategies to a broader team and works with smaller focus groups to discuss and develop strategies to improve the mental healthcare environment for patients and staff. Brian has presented on the topic of behavioral and mental health at multiple conferences around the country and is a consistent contributor to thought leadership in his field.
Brian enjoys finding opportunities to share his passion and expertise with the next generation of architects and designers in his local community. He is an active participant in the FGI Health Guidelines Revision Committee, focusing on behavioral health design. He is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Kansas, has served as a design critic and juror for multiple design studios focused on mental health, and contributes to an AIA advocacy committee on mental health design. He mentors colleagues throughout HDR as well as architecture and design students at numerous universities including University of Kansas, University of Minnesota, and Rochester Institute of Technology.
Shiva Mendez, CID, IIDA, LEED AP BD+C, EDAC
Principal – Behavioral Health Practice Leader, Co-Chair, HOK Diversity Advisory Council
Throughout her almost 30 years of experience in healthcare design, Shiva has demonstrated an ability to think strategically and balance patient experience, operational efficiency, economic prudence and design excellence. Her work in programming and planning healthcare and correctional facilities embodies a deep commitment to best practices, applying relevant research and benchmark data to guide the proposed solutions. With her background in interior architecture, Shiva melds awareness of aesthetics, human factors, methods and materials to create places that support patient healing and staff focus. A passionate advocate for the users of the projects, she deeply believes in the power of environment to reduce stress, promote safety, and provide delight.
As Behavioral Health Practice Leader, Shiva, along with her colleagues Virginia Pankey and Kristen Zilch-Markos, bring a coordinated focus on the therapeutic environment as a component of care. Using the design and materials to promote engagement, reduce anxiety, increase safety for patients and staff and contribute to improved outcomes. Wherever the site of care for those experiencing mental illness, the Behavioral Health Center of Expertise will advocate for therapeutic milieu, trauma informed strategies and improved access to treatment and provider engagement.
In addition to project work, Shiva is the Co-Chair of HOK’s Diversity Advisory Council and passionate advocate for equity and inclusion in the practice of Architecture. She originated HOK’s mentoring in San Francisco and supports the continuation of that program, as well as many of HOK’s DEI initiatives across the firm. She was elevated to the HOK Board of Directors in 2021 and serves on that body to advise on firm’s work in promoting diversity and equity internally and in the communities we work.
Stephen Parker, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED AP
Mental + Behavioral Health Planner, Stantec
Stephen Parker is an architect and dedicated mental+ behavioral health planner at Stantec. A proponent of “architect as an advocate” for colleagues, clients, and communities alike, he believes strongly in leadership through service. Stephen collaborates with diverse client systems, from Johns Hopkins Medicine to Indigenous communities worldwide.
Stephen was named a Behavioral Health Business Future Leader & currently serves as on the Design in Mental Health Network Board headquartered in the UK. He is a Founding Member of the CHD’s Behavioral & Mental Health Environment Network, and is a US Representative to the International Union of Architect's Public Health Group.
Robyn Linstrom, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP
Behavioral Health Design Specialist, Stantec
Robyn's passion for architecture is concentrated on design for healing environments. A behavioral health subject matter specialist, she has 20 years of experience as a healthcare architect. In addition to her behavioral health experience, Robyn has worked on outpatient and acute care facilities, working closely with clients to maintain design intent while keeping on budget and schedule.
Robyn's choice to specialize in healthcare architecture was driven by her belief in the power of the built environment to aid in healing. Her focus on behavioral health stems from a personal mission to destigmatize these facilities, using design to create spaces that inspire hope, preserve dignity, and offer support.
Robyn is an active member and a mentor in Women in Healthcare, providing support for career growth.
Yolanda Keys, PhD, DHA, RN, NEA-BC, EDAC
Research Associate, The Center for Health Design
Yolanda Keys is a registered nurse and brings over 25 years of nursing experience that has included roles as a clinician, leader and faculty member to The Center for Health Design’s research team. With doctorates in healthcare administration and nursing, her research focuses on nurse leaders and healthy work environments – especially the built environment. She is an active member and past-president of the Nursing Institute for Health Design (NIHD). She is also an Editorial Advisory Board member for the Health Environments Research & Design (HERD) Journal.
Eric Kern, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C
Principal, Behavioral Health Director, Page
Designing spaces that foster healing and recovery for some of society’s most vulnerable people is Eric Kern’s passion. For over 30 years, Behavioral Health Facility planning and project management have allowed him to work side-by-side with many leading psychiatric clinicians and hospital directors.
As Page’s Behavioral Health Director, Eric leads teams towards design solutions for new inpatient facilities, master planning, outpatient crisis centers, existing facility improvement assessments, and more. He enjoys sharing stories and experiences through conferences, seminars, articles, ongoing research, and client workshops as Page strives to continually improve the therapeutic nature of design for behavioral healthcare patients and care teams.
Recent Behavioral Health projects include Central State Hospital, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Fulton State Hospital (Nixon Center), Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, Starcare Hope Center, Panhandle Sate Hospital, VDBHDS BH Hospital Assessments, and more.
Alison Ledwith, AIA, WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C
Project Healthcare Planner, Page
Alison Ledwith has always been a bit of an industry misfit – having studied both architecture and engineering, finding inspiration in art and science, and having as much fun drawing as coding. As a Senior Associate and Project Healthcare Planner with Page, she strives to make spaces where people are inspired and valued, where people heal and maintain health, and where all people feel welcome.
Recent Behavioral Health projects include Central State Hospital, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Fulton State Hospital (Nixon Center), VDBHDS BH Hospital Assessments, and more.
Brent Castro, AIA
Senior Design Architect, Page
Brent Castro’s early passion for architecture drove him to pursue his dreams relentlessly. He admired how the built environment can profoundly affect people's emotions and lives. As a Senior Design Architect, he's committed to innovation and meeting clients' needs. What truly motivates him is working with clients dedicated to serving their communities, which he mirrors in his designs. Brent is equally devoted to advancing the architecture industry, with significant leadership roles and contributions.
In the years ahead, he aims to continue giving back to a profession that has enriched his life immensely. Recent Behavioral Health projects include Central State Hospital, Fulton State Hospital (Nixon Center), Starcare Hope Center, and more.
Rosalie Zoll
Director of Planning, BeWell OC
Rosie Zoll is Be Well OC’s Director of Planning. Ms. Zoll is an experienced professional in healthcare planning & design through the entire project lifecycle, from strategic space planning, design development, operational workflows, training, building activation, and stabilization. She has over a decade of experience in healthcare planning & development, most recently working as the Director of Transition Strategy for the new $2Billion Stanford Hospital.
She previously led Facility Planning for Hoag Health System in Newport Beach and Irvine, California. Ms. Zoll holds a Master of Science in Human-Environment Relations with a Minor in Healthcare Administration from Cornell University.
Darci Hernandez
Principal, Boulder Associates
Darci is a Principal with Boulder Associates and leads the firm’s Southern California region. She is passionate about destigmatizing behavioral healthcare and helping clients create environments that provide integrated, whole-person care. She now spearheads behavioral health projects throughout Southern California and led the team for Providence Health & Services’ first-ever crisis stabilization unit, further fueling her desire to assist clients in delivering essential services in the right environment. Her passion for this work, coupled with the solid relationships formed throughout two decades at BA, resulted in her leading the design efforts for the Be Well Orange and Irvine campuses.
Daphne Corona
Senior Associate, Project Manager, NBBJ
Daphne Corona is a project manager with 17 years of experience with a specialty in healthcare design. She has led two $200M+ OSHPD Design-Build hospital projects through completion.
Daphne has extensive experience in medical planning and has served as lead designer for clients such as Cedars-Sinai and UCLA Health. Her design philosophy is centered around the human experience.
As a project manager, her strength is relationships. She focuses on fluid communication between the users, client and design team to deliver transformative spaces for both individual and community.
Ellen Taylor, PhD, AIA, MBA, EDAC
Vice President for Research, The Center for Health Design
Ellen Taylor brings more than 30 years of experience in architecture, research, and business to leading The Center’s research team. She is a registered architect and member of the AIA who was recognized by Healthcare Design as the HCD10 Researcher in 2017, an award recognizing significant contributions to the industry. A nationally and internationally recognized writer and speaker, she has led numerous grant-funded research programs and published numerous peer-reviewed papers. Ellen has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning, Global Executive MBA degrees from Columbia University and London Business School, and a PhD in design, patient safety and human factors from Loughborough University in England. She serves as the Vice Chair for the FGI Health Guidelines Revisions Committee, on the Editorial Advisory Boards of the Health Environments Research & Design (HERD) Journal and American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), and she was the 2022 President of the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health.
Kati Peditto, PhD, EDAC, WELL AP
Senior Design Researcher, Associate, DLR Group
As an environmental psychologist and a woman with autism and ADHD, Dr. Kati Peditto is personally invested in the transformative power of evidence-based design for mental health and well-being. A celebrated expert in health and the built environment, Dr. Peditto earned her PhD in Human Behavior and Design from Cornell University before completing postdoctoral work in the Cornell Department of Human-Centered Design.
A New Investigator Award winner from the Center for Health Design, her research has been showcased in the Design Lab with Bon Ku podcast, The Atlantic, and the BBC. Dr. Peditto's journey is a testament to how neurodiversity can shape and enhance our understanding of the spaces we inhabit.