SPECTACLE
Issue Two
AAH Celebrates 01 02 03
Conference Recaps
HCD Student Charrette
Summer Leadership Summit
Sub Committee Work
Next Gen: What Role Are You Playing in Empowering Tomorrow’s Design Leaders?
C2C 2025 Program Application
HBCU Fellows
MillerKnoll Scholars
ACA DEMY
ARCH ITECTURE.
Cover image: Steris Student Design Charrette 2024 - University of Florida Citylab Orthopaedic Clinic lobby
Photo by Jhonny Mujica, Ayanara Garcia, Sophie Hanners, and Ryan Betancourt
ABOUT SPECTACLE
Spectacle is the official journal of the Academy of Architecture for Health celebrating healthcare environments and those who are passionate about their design and operation.
We invite you to join us on a journey to discover how our community is enhancing the built environment, improving the quality of life for patients and caregivers, and shepherding values of health and wellness into the future.
From the President’s Desk
As we near the close of this remarkable year, we reflect on the achievements and growth of the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH). This year has been a testament to our unwavering commitment to improving healthcare environments and enhancing the well-being of patients through innovative design, collaboration, education, and networking.
Our educational initiatives reached new heights, with strong participation in webinars and our annual conferences. These programs have been instrumental in disseminating cutting-edge knowledge and best practices among professionals.
The connections we create stem from the dedicated efforts of our volunteers, particularly through our Colleague 2 Colleague Mentoring program and our local Components group with their outreach. We have established a three-year action plan that aligns with our strategic goals. Our membership has grown this year to over 10,500 members.
Looking Ahead: Celebrating 80 Years
As we prepare to celebrate our 80th anniversary next year, we are filled with excitement and anticipation. This milestone is not just a testament to our longevity but a reflection of the enduring impact we have made in the field of healthcare architecture.
We will commemorate our 80th anniversary with a series of events and initiatives that honor our past, celebrate our present, and envision our future. We will continue to promote opportunities for our members to engage, share knowledge, and collaborate. Building on our commitment to diversity, we will implement initiatives that promote inclusivity within the Academy and the broader field of healthcare architecture through a professional toolkit.
We look forward to another year of growth, innovation, and collaboration. Thank you to all our members, our sponsors and our pillars for your continued support and dedication. Together, we will continue to shape the future of healthcare architecture.
Michelle Trott AIA, ACHA Academy of Architecture for Health President
Michelle Trott President
From the AAH Communication Team
As we proudly share the second issue of our publication, we remain in awe of the remarkable efforts contributed by the Academy’s dedicated volunteers. Each committee demonstrates an unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare design, fostering innovation across the industry, and addressing the unique needs of diverse regions throughout the country. Their collective endeavors continue to elevate the profession, setting new benchmarks for excellence and collaboration.
This publication serves as a platform to celebrate and spotlight the extraordinary activities and achievements of our design community. The passion, creativity, and tireless dedication displayed by our volunteers inspire excitement and optimism for the future of healthcare architecture. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has invested their time and energy into nurturing our community and sharing their ongoing accomplishments within the Academy’s various committees.
In this issue, you will discover a compelling testament to the power of investment and collaboration, showcasing the collective efforts of individual volunteers, companies, professional organizations, academic institutions, and other key stakeholders. Through this vibrant cross-section of the Academy’s work, we hope you will not only celebrate the successes highlighted within these pages but also feel encouraged about the boundless opportunities ahead for our industry. Together, we are shaping a bright future for healthcare design, through our commitment.
Eugene Damaso Board Member
Jen Cagide-Alexander Chair
Jenny Cestnik Co-Chair
Conference Recaps
See the work, ideas, and camaraderie of healthcare design industry leaders and emerging professionals
AIA AAH Student Steris Design Charrette 2024
IU Health - Health District
The annual Healthcare Design Conference Student Design Charrette in Indianapolis brought together architectural schools from across the country for an immersive, collaborative exploration led by the Academy of Architecture for Health. Each year, the planning committee selects universities to participate in the 48-hour charrette, fostering engagement with the local healthcare design community.
This year, BSA LifeStructures, in partnership with their client IU Health, provided the site and context for the event. The focus was the IU Health District, a significant master-planned health campus currently under construction. The district’s guiding principles emphasize:
Equitable socio-economic impact on surrounding neighborhoods and downtown Indianapolis.
Create a sense, walkable community with smart land use, transportation options, employment opportunities, diverse housing and amenities
Foster a healthy lifestyle for people in the health district by enabling healthy behaviors and demonstrating the importance of place on community health
Establish physical and programmatic connections between the local community, employee workplaces, 16Tech, IUPUI and IU Health
Ensure community access to the IU Health campus to provide access to high quality medical care and on-campus amenities.
Provide healthcare, education and research that benefits the community , resulting in a higher quality of life and greater life expectancy
Texas Tech University student Jack Dittrich presents their initial concepts for the Opthalmology Center of Excellence
Clemson University presents their initial concepts at the midpoint of the Steris Student Design Charrette
This year’s participating schools included established programs: Clemson University and Texas Tech University as well as emerging programs: Ball State University and the University of Florida. Each university was assigned a unique program and allowed to select a site within the master-planned campus:
Ball State University: Design for a Dermatology Center. Clemson University: Cardiovascular Center of Excellence. Texas Tech University: Ophthalmology Center of Excellence. University of Florida: Orthopaedic Clinic
The event began with an introduction to the design problem by BSA LifeStructures at their Indianapolis office. Students toured the company’s portfolio of healthcare projects and visited the IU Health District. This included a walkthrough of a newly designed, 1-million-square-foot hospital under construction, offering firsthand insights into the campus’s development and its role in the larger healthcare ecosystem.
Over 48 hours, the student teams worked intensely, guided by architects attending the conference. Professional architects also served as official jurors, providing valuable feedback and fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas throughout the charette.
AAH President Michelle Trott provides students feedback during the final presentations of the HCD Steris Student Design Charette
Graham Sinclair, AIA, ACHA Steris Design Charette Chairperson
Victoria Villareal, Associate AIA, EDAC Steris Design Charette Co - Chairperson
Ethan Hopkins Steris Design Charette Co - Chairperson
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY
LAYERS OF CARE: DERMATOLOGY CENTER
Professor - Shireen Kanakri Carlie Garrison
Richard Bassimah
Ivy Weise
Ali Saefe
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
SYMBIOSIS: CARDIOVASCULAR CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
PROBLEM
Indiana has the 11th highest death rate in the United States, and the 17th largest population (usafacts.org, 2021). Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the state. Compared to the United States, there is a higher percentage of adults who are overweight or obese, and fewer adults in Indiana participate in 150+ minutes of aerobic activity per week (American Heart Assoc., 2017).
Current research in cardiovascular health focuses on prevention, advancing technology that minimizes the necessity of invasive procedures, development of drugs that can minimize mortality related to cardiovascular health, and exploring links between cardiovascular disease and other health conditions (American Heart Assoc., 2023).This Indiana University Cardiovascular Center of Excellence will support symbiotic relationships related to cardiovascular health by providing both resources and opportunities for the Indianapolis community to increase activity levels, decrease obesity, and prevent cardiovascular disease as well as receive medical treatment when necessary.
Professor - David Allison
Professor - Lyndsey Denton Janelle Eastman
Angela Liu
Yash Salian
Rojer Thaddeus Cross
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
OPTHALMOLOGY CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
Concept Development
The Ophthalmology Center of Excellence embodies the precision and innovation inherent in the field of ophthalmology. The design concept revolves around the theme of “Focus and Clarity,” reflected in every aspect of the building’s structure and layout. A central, light-filled atrium mimics the structure of the human eye, serving as the building’s core. This space facilitates natural wayfinding and creates a sense of openness and transparency. Flexible, state-of-the-art examination and treatment rooms designed for easy reconfiguration as medical technologies evolve.
Professor - Lingyi Qiu Kevin Carreon John Dittrich Alexander Perez
Jessica Horton
Site Development
The Ophthalmology Center is strategically positioned between the proposed verdant green spaces and the bustling highway on the expansive Indiana University Health campus. This location offers a perfect balance of tranquility and accessibility. The ground floor, designed with patient convenience in mind, houses the state-of-the-art glasses store and comprehensive clinic, seamlessly integrating with the overall site layout and providing easy access for visitors. This thoughtful placement ensures that patients can easily navigate between different services within the center and the broader health campus. On the north side of the building, a meticulously designed sensory garden provides a serene oasis. This carefully curated outdoor space serves multiple purposes, offering a shaded retreat for patients with dilated eyes who need protection from bright light.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
MENDING BROKEN PARTS
ADDRESSING THE ORTHOPEDIC CARE GAP IN INDIANAPOLIS
Indianapolis’ lower-income communities face numerous healthcare challenges, including limited access to specialized orthopedic care. Many residents suffer from untreated injuries and chronic conditions, which significantly diminish their mobility and quality of life. Socioeconomic barriers, such as lack of insurance, transportation, or proximity to specialists, prevent timely treatment, resulting in worsened health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. These challenges create a cycle of neglect, where minor injuries progress into more serious, long-term conditions.Orthopedic Care’s Significance: Orthopedics is critical for long-term mobility and health, but this area of care is largely inaccessible to many in the city despite Warsaw, Indiana, being a global center for orthopedic innovation.
Professor - Eugene Damaso Jhonny Mujica Ayanara Garcia
Sophie Hanners
Ryan Betancourt
DERIVING FORM
• Metaphor of Layers: The human body heals through layers—skin, muscles, bones. Similarly, the Wiikiaami offers multiple layers of protection and shelter, symbolizing a holistic healing process.
• Symbolism of Protection and Balance: The structure embodies balance, resilience, and a deep connection to nature, all qualities we’ve integrated into the design of the orthopedic center.
• Healing as a Process: The architectural form reflects the process of healing through the metaphor of torn muscles that heal stronger. This concept translates into the massing of the building:
• Two Main Masses: The building is split into two distinct sections, representing the torn muscles. These masses are separated yet connected by the central atrium.
• The Atrium: This central, connective space symbolizes the healing process itself, bringing light and energy into the core of the building. It encourages interaction, movement, and recovery, aligning with the center’s focus on holistic health.
• Sustainability and Durability: Drawing from traditional Native American structures, our design emphasizes both the long-term durability of the building and the resilience of the patients who heal within it.
• Material Choices: Copper and limestone, chosen for their historical and natural significance, not only reflect the healing process but also contribute to the sustainability of the building.
Sub-Committee Work
Featured articles and engagement opportunities
What Role Are You Playing in Empowering Tomorrow’s Design Leaders?
by Kierstyn Feldlavy, AIA, EDAC, NCARB on behalf of the AAH National Next Gen Committee
This article explores the key struggles faced by NextGen professionals in healthcare design and offers actionable solutions to address these issues. By creating opportunities for connection, mentorship, and leadership, we can empower the rising leaders of our field, ensuring the continued success and evolution of healthcare design for years to come.
As the healthcare design field evolves, so too do the needs and aspirations of its emerging professionals. The next generation of designers brings fresh perspectives, technological fluency, and a passion for innovation, yet they often encounter barriers that hinder their growth and limit their potential. From accessing pivotal conferences to navigating generational perceptions and a lack of meaningful mentorship, these challenges can feel like insurmountable hurdles early in their careers.
At the heart of the challenges facing emerging professionals lies a set of universal root causes: stereotypes, miscommunication, misunderstanding, and generational perception gaps. In a world reshaped by rapid change, global pandemics, and polarized perspectives, it’s easy to lose sight of the core purpose behind our work. By addressing these root causes and fostering a more empathetic, inclusive environment, we can ensure the profession continues to thrive for years to come.
It’s not uncommon for architects to become so consumed by their professional identity that we forget to prioritize being people first and professionals second. The demands of the field, combined with its emphasis on creativity and precision, can blur the lines between personal and professional life. Yet, it’s this human-centered perspective that ultimately shapes meaningful designs and fosters a more supportive and inclusive professional culture. Ultimately, our work is not just about shaping spaces—it’s about shaping how the next generation understands, engages with, and ultimately advances the practice of healthcare design.
These principles aren’t just “feel-good” ideologies—they’re actionable strategies with real business value. Prioritizing empathy, mentorship, and human connection can significantly impact employee recruitment and retention, driving increased productivity and efficiency. When professionals feel fulfilled and supported, they’re more likely to stay engaged and committed, fostering a stronger, more cohesive team.
As designers who are trained to think critically about resources in the built environment, we must remember that our most valuable resource isn’t steel, glass, or concrete—it’s our people. Investing in their growth, well-being, and sense of purpose is an investment in the success and sustainability of our profession.
Recognizing the importance of people as our most valuable resource, it’s essential to address the barriers that hinder emerging professionals from thriving in their careers. By identifying key challenges—such as limited access to conferences, gaps in meaningful mentorship, generational perceptions, and a lack of leadership opportunities—we can begin to make targeted improvements that benefit both individuals and the profession as a whole.
While these challenges may seem daunting, even small changes can have a profound impact. Supporting conference attendance, fostering thoughtful mentorship, and creating opportunities for growth are tangible steps toward bridging gaps and empowering the next generation. The solutions don’t need to be monumental; incremental progress can lead to lasting change, creating an environment where emerging professionals feel valued, supported, and inspired to contribute their best.
Here, these challenges are explored in more detail, along with actionable strategies to address them, ensuring that the healthcare design field continues to thrive through the success of its next generation.
Enhancing Limited Access to Conferences and Networking Opportunities
Conferences are pivotal for learning, networking, and understanding emerging trends in healthcare design. However, financial barriers, lack of employer support, or being unaware of available opportunities can prevent early-career professionals from attending these events and building essential connections.
Employer-Supported Attendance: Advocate for firms to sponsor attendance at key conferences, either fully or partially, as part of professional development budgets.
Scholarships and Stipends: Expand financial aid programs like AAH’s existing scholarships to make conference participation more accessible.
NextGen-Specific Events: Create smaller, regional events or meetups geared toward early-career professionals to foster networking and learning on a local scale.
Bridging Gaps in Thoughtful Mentorship
While many firms provide task-based assignments, there is often a lack of mentorship that focuses on teaching and guiding younger professionals. Simply being told what to do without understanding the “why” behind the task can hinder skill development, critical thinking, and professional growth.
Structured Mentorship Programs: Develop programs pairing experienced professionals with NextGen members, emphasizing active teaching rather than just task delegation.
On-the-Job Learning: Incorporate real-time teaching moments during projects, ensuring emerging professionals understand the “why” behind their work.
Feedback Culture: Establish regular oneon-one check-ins to provide constructive feedback, answer questions, and discuss career goals.
Peer-Led Mentorship: Encourage a twoway mentorship model where younger professionals also share knowledge (e.g., technology skills) with senior architects, fostering mutual learning.
Overcoming Perceptions and Communication Barriers
Misconceptions between generations can create tension in the workplace. For instance, some senior architects may view younger professionals as overly reliant on AI or difficult to communicate with. Conversely, emerging professionals may feel undervalued or misunderstood, leading to disengagement and frustration.
Connection via Workshops: Organize workshops to promote dialogue between generations, helping all designers better understand each other’s communication
styles and expectations.
Celebrate NextGen Strengths: Showcase successful projects or initiatives led by younger professionals to counteract stereotypes and highlight their contributions.
Shared Learning: Encourage collaboration on projects that blend traditional architectural methods with modern tools, showcasing how generational skills complement each other.
Creating Opportunity for Growth and Leadership
Early-career professionals often struggle with gaining access to leadership roles, speaking opportunities, or responsibility for significant projects. This lack of trust and investment can stifle confidence, limit exposure to learning experiences, and delay career progression.
Small Leadership Roles: Start by assigning emerging professionals leadership of smaller tasks or portions of a project, allowing them to build confidence and trust.
Public Speaking and Panels: Offer spots for younger architects on panels or as presenters at internal and external events to elevate their voices.
Ownership of Initiatives: Support NextGen professionals in creating and leading firm initiatives, like research projects or sustainability programs, to foster autonomy and responsibility.
Transparent Pathways: Clearly outline career advancement opportunities, ensuring young professionals know what steps to take to achieve leadership roles.
Navigating Rapid Technological Changes
The integration of AI, automation, and other technologies in design can create divides in how different generations approach problemsolving. Emerging professionals might find their technological skills under-appreciated, while older professionals may struggle to adapt or mentor effectively in this changing landscape.
AI Best Practices Guidelines: Develop guidelines that integrate AI responsibly into design workflows, making its use less intimidating for older generations and less dismissive of human creativity.
Focus on Collaboration: Frame technology as a tool to enhance collaboration, emphasizing that its value lies in augmenting human expertise rather than replacing it.
As part of the Academy of Architecture for Health’s mission to empower the next generation of healthcare design leaders, the NextGen Committee focuses on connecting early-career professionals and providing resources for growth, networking, and mentorship. Open to students, aspiring architects, and professionals within their first ten years of practice, the committee aims to
foster a supportive community that promotes learning and career development.
The NextGen Committee hosts bimonthly virtual forums featuring guest speakers, panel discussions, and presentations on key topics in healthcare design. These forums are enriched by collaborations with AAH subcommittees and thought leaders, offering insights into practice, research, career pathways, and mentorship opportunities. Additionally, the group organizes in-person sessions at major industry conferences like ASHE PDC, the Summer Leadership Summit, and the HCD Conference & Expo. These events, while tailored to emerging professionals, welcome all attendees and encourage broader engagement across the field.
By creating spaces for professional development, knowledge-sharing, and leadership opportunities, the NextGen Committee serves as a vital bridge between early-career professionals and the broader healthcare design community. Through initiatives like scholarships, fellowships, and speaking engagements, the committee supports the growth of future leaders, ensuring the ongoing success and innovation of the profession.
Colleague 2 Colleague Program 2025 Applications
The C2C is an online mentoring program targeting design professionals new or early in their careers with an interest in healthcare architecture planning and design. It’s a 10-month program from March to December, with presentations and discussions around the topics of healthcare architecture, planning, design, and career development.
The mission is to empower a diverse crosssection of professionals within the health design field through an intentional community fostering growth, networking, and leadership creation.
2025 Timeline
• December 2024: Process opens.
• January 24, 2025: Applications are due.
• February 2025: Selection. Accepted candidates will receive an email notification and program details.
• March 2025: Program kick-off; schedule of all sessions for the mentoring year.
• December 2025: Final session.
Commitment
• Two (2) meetings a month, one (1) hour each, online web meetings.
• Reading/previewing any additional material speakers might send in advance.
• Willingness to join the conversation, participate in group discussions, and be open to networking and connecting within your mentoring Pod and within the larger online community.
Mentor Requirements
• All ages, mid-level to senior-level, experienced professionals in healthcare design are welcomed
• Responsible for leading their groups, organizing & facilitating group discussions, attending sessions & adding to the depth of discussions
• Committed to healthcare
• Reach out to Jill Bergman at jill. bergman@hdrinc.com if interested.
Mentoring Candidate (Mentee) Qualifications
• Students in their final year of a professional or post-professional degree in architecture.
• Less than 10 years total work experience starting from graduation from a NAAB accredited university.
• Strongly interested in healthcare architecture, planning and design.
Mentee Candidate Application
• One (1) page letter from your supervisor or faculty lead on firm or school letterhead, recommending you for the program and agreeing to support your commitment for two (2) hours a month for your participation in this program.
• Half page CV/Resume
• Half page essay, 200-word max
• Describe your interest in this mentoring program and your willingness to commit to the two (2) meetings per month.
• Note: Two (2) page 8.5x11 standard US letter size, with no font smaller than 8.0. Any file longer than two (2) pages will automatically be disqualified. Any essay longer than 200 words will also be disqualified. Submittal should not include images, portfolio projects, nor graphics.
See the full post with link to sign up on the AAH Community Hub https://shorturl.at/VvmeH
How to Join a Sub-Committee
Interested in joining a subcommittee? Reach out to our Committee chairs to learn how you can contribute, add value to our knowledge community, and increase your impact and network.
C2C Mentorship
Codes + Standards
Communications +
Spectacle
Components Council
Design Awards
Equity Diversity Inclusion
HCD Conference
Next Gen
PDC Conference
Research
Scholarships + Fellowships
SLS Conference
Sustainability
U40
Webinars
Jill Bergman
Steve Langston
Tina Duncan
Jen Cagide-Alexander
Jenny Cestnik
Angela Holcomb
Marybeth Dietz
Chris Haedt
Hans Walter
Roderic Walton
Sara Shumbera
Jack Reed
Akshay Sangolli
Asma Sanaee
Marjorie Brown
Shary Adams
Wenz Tuttle
Amber Wirth
Alison Leonard
Rita Ho
Jill.Bergman@hdrinc.com
Steve_Langston@rlfae.com
TDuncan@hksinc.com
Jennifer.CagideAlexander@hdrinc.com
Jenny.Cestnik@zgf.com
angela.holcomb@hdrinc.com
Marybeth.Dietz@smithgroup.com
CHaedt@designgroup.us.com
HWalter@dlrgroup.com
RWalton@moodynolan.com
S.Shumbera@shepleybufinch.com
JReed@eypae.com
ASangolli@pagethink.com
ASanaee@e4harchitecture.com
Eliason@comcast.net
Shary_Adams@Gensler.com
WenzTuttle@beckarchitecture.com
AWirth@hksinc.com
ALeonard@CannonDesign.com
Rita.C.Ho@kp.org
AAH Celebrates
Explore the best of Fall 2024 with AAH and celebrate the innovative work, ideas, and accolades of our leaders and next generation.
Announcing our Inaugural HBCU Fellows
Expanding the healthcare design community
Making Healthcare Design More Inclusive Through HBCU engagement
The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) fellowship initiative seeks to foster collaboration among healthcare stakeholders to address health inequities. Our goal is to ensure that the diverse needs of our most vulnerable communities are central to the planning, design, and promotion of healthy environments.
Highlighting the need for action through collaboration:
During the Summer Leadership Summit in July 2024, Dr. Monte Harris and Professor Sean Vance presented their seminal works to the nation’s top healthcare educators. They serve as healthcare advocates, addressing the disparate healthcare needs and life expectancy rates for people of color. Their collective works play a central and critical role in shaping stakeholder experiences and influencing health outcomes.
Ulysses Sean Vance III
“As an established architect with a unique vision for the role of design in providing health access, I advocate for wellness across the broader definition of vulnerable communities. The HBCU fellowship’s educational and networking opportunities allow me to connect with other architects, health professionals, and institutions with greater capacity to develop health into public art that informs and inspires, finding where concepts like my “Percent for Health Program” are most beneficial. A critical next step for me as an architect involves working with emerging technologies to address pertinent health issues and push the leading edge of my role in the discipline of architecture forward.”
Registered Architect, Associate Professor, Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ulysses Sean Vance is a multi-disciplinary designer and architect focused on inclusive design practices. His expertise includes project programming and strategic planning for domestic and civic institutions, applying universal design concepts to architecture and its parallel engagements. A Philadelphia native, his return to the area brings a national perspective on cross-disciplinary collaborations, conceptualization with nonarchitectural professions, and an excitement for the healthful consideration of art and architecture.
A licensed architect with the design practice UVXYZi, he received his Bachelor of Architecture from Tuskegee University and has practiced architecture across the Midwest and Atlantic region, working in various capacities with notable firms in North Carolina, such as the Freelon Group (before
merging with Perkins & Will), LS3P, SFL+A, and BHDP in Ohio. Vance is a past Director of the North Carolina State University College of Design Center of Universal Design, where he received his Master in Architecture, and former faculty of the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan before joining the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University.
While teaching at the University of Michigan, he and a diverse faculty team received the Sheik Zayed Award in Pediatric Surgery for collaboratively designing a medical isolation cart that administered medicine and protected medical staff from patients emitting radiation due to neuroblastoma treatment.
Dr. Monte Oyd Harris
Board Certified Otolaryngologist
Adjunct Faculty, Howard University Washington DC
Dr. Monte Oyd Harris is a board-certified otolaryngologist with advanced fellowship training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Harris has over two decades of private practice experience and recently transitioned to physician advisory roles within the healthcare utilization management sector. He has a deep understanding of the complex challenges inherent in healthcare delivery from both a provider and payor perspective. His ongoing scholarly and professional pursuits are fueled by an inner desire to advance health equity through the arts, architecture and design.
Dr. Harris recently joined the Howard University Department of Architecture as adjunct faculty where he lectures on the emerging field of neuroaesthetics while challenging students to think spatially about interrelationships between Black culture, art/
design practice, and whole-person health. He has been recognized for promoting a culturecentered approach to well-being at the intersection of self-image, heritage, and the built environment. Dr. Harris is a collaborator with the architecture firm, Hord Coplan Macht for the 2024 Smithsonian Design Triennial – “Making Home”, featuring a newly commissioned site installation exploring design’s role in shaping the physical and emotional realities of home, memory, and aging. He was also a featured speaker and sole physician voice at the 2018 Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture - Shifting the Landscape: Black Architects and Planners, 1968 to Now, a symposium focused on the activism, engagement, and impact of black architects and planners over the past fifty years. Dr. Harris has a particular interest in the civic legacy of African American barbershops and
“The HBCU fellowship swings open a door of opportunity for me to boldly explore the architecture for health landscape with the guidance of pioneers and leaders in the field. As a physician/surgeon, the HBCU fellowship has provided me with a unique seat at the table of academic discourse on how space impacts health, learning, and well-being. I intend for the HBCU fellowship to serve as a creative hub anchoring my collaborative pursuits across the fields of medicine, architecture, neuroscience, art history, and design for social impact. The assembly of leading programs represented at the 2024 Summer Leadership Summit serve as benchmarks of excellence that I hope to engage and emulate while endeavoring to establish a precedent setting design health program at Howard University reflective of aspirational Black culture.”
churches; and how these cultural spaces can be reimagined in the 21st century to help people, particularly those at greatest risk of poor health, live healthier and more fulfilling lives.
Dr. Harris graduated from Atlanta’s Morehouse College with a B.S. in Biology and received his M.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. While undergoing postgraduate training at the University of Michigan, he completed over six years of subspecialty surgical training concentrating exclusively on the head and neck. Dr. Harris was the Co-Founder and creative visionary behind–Washington DC’s - Cultura, the first cosmetic medical spa with niche expertise for individuals with skin of color.
Dr. Harris has received numerous business innovation and leadership awards, including being recognized as a Minority Business Leader by the Washington Business Journal and selected as a Top Doctor in Black Enterprise and Washington Post magazines.
Congratulations to this year’s MillerKnoll Scholars
The Scholars Program has been made available through Herman Miller, and now MillerKnoll, for nearly 26 years. It’s part of MillerKnoll’s continuing commitment to excellence in health care architecture and support of recent graduates and newly licensed architects.
In 2024, MillerKnoll selected five recipients, all emerging professionals seeking licensure to attend the 2024 Healthcare Design Expo and Conference (HCD). Each selected recipient received a full conference pass and a stipend to offset travel, hotel room, and meal costs.
Detroit, MI
Andrea Marquez, Assoc. AIA, WELL AP
Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.
Xochitl Castel
HGA Architects & Engineers Minneapolis, MN
New York, NY
Inc.
Atlanta, GA
DesignGroup
Pittsburgh, PA
Qingyu Cai, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C
HOK
Kristyn Svetlak, Assoc. AIA
Thabang Nyondo, NOMA, EDAC
HKS
Thank you for your
service!
The AAH extends its heartfelt gratitude to Kenneth Webb for his many years of dedicated service to the healthcare industry through his work on the board and active participation in numerous committees. Over his seven years of service, Kenneth has made a lasting impact on the future of the AAH, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of leadership and vision.
Kenneth Webb AIA, ACHA, LEED AP Perkins&Will
