Announcing our 2022 Board of Directors!

January 3, 2022

The NIHD Board of Directors is comprised of elected volunteers who serve three-year terms with the responsibility of governing and developing NIHD to ensure growth and success for its members and the organization.

The NIHD board has a bench of experienced members and two new board members who will lead us through 2022!

PRESIDENT

Kelly Guzman

MN, RN, EDAC

BIO

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Anthony Mistretta

RN, MS, Lean Black Belt

BIO

PAST PRESIDENT

Erin Clark

RN, MS, EDAC

BIO

SECRETARY

Kristina Krail

RN, FACHE, PMP, EDAC

BIO

TREASURER

Pamela Jones

RN, FACHE, EDAC

BIO

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Kevin Meek

RN-BSN, BA, MHI, FACHE

BIO

EDUCATION

Faith Bontrager

RN, MHI, Lean Green Belt

BIO

MARKETING

Kate Newcomb-DeSanto

MSN, RN, MSW

BIO

NIHD collaborates with clinicians, design professionals and industry partners in the healthcare design process to shape the future of healthcare design.

LATEST POSTS

Featured

Oct 22, 2025

Designing Together: Why Non-Nursing Professionals Belong in NIHD.

Oct 22, 2025

While NIHD is grounded in nursing expertise, it thrives through the contributions of non-nursing professionals as well. The blog highlights how NIHD’s strength lies in its diversity, showing that the best healthcare designs result from collaborative, cross-disciplinary efforts.

Oct 22, 2025

Oct 14, 2025

Navigating Conference Season: How to Choose the Right One and Maximize Your Connections.

Oct 14, 2025

Fall marks the beginning of conference season—a time full of energy, connection, and opportunity. As calendars fill with industry events and professional gatherings, it’s the perfect chance to gain fresh insights and grow your network. Whether you're a seasoned attendee or new to the scene, a little preparation can help you make the most of this inspiring time.

Oct 14, 2025

Oct 9, 2025

Preview NIHD events at HCD.

Oct 9, 2025

NIHD is a proud Association Partner of Healthcare Design Conference + Expo! Our hosted events include a member dinner, Pre-Conference Workshop, a reception and booth #334 in the exhibit hall.

Oct 9, 2025

Oct 7, 2025

Uncover “The Hidden Cost of Ugly Furniture” in Carolina's New White Paper

Oct 7, 2025

In a new white paper, Carolina , a leader in healthcare furniture design, explores the hidden ways aesthetics, performance, and perception influence healthcare environments. Titled “The Hidden Cost of Ugly Furniture,” the paper provides valuable insights and data for designers, facility managers, and healthcare leaders looking to make strategic, evidence-based furniture decisions that enhance both patient experiences and operational outcomes.

Oct 7, 2025

Oct 2, 2025

Nurses Who Network: Lessons and Tips on How to Navigate your First Industry Networking Event.

Oct 2, 2025

Networking may feel foreign to many nurses, as it's rarely taught in nursing school, but it's becoming essential as the profession expands into roles like healthcare design, entrepreneurship, and leadership. As nurses push boundaries and transform healthcare, building strong networks ensures our voices are heard and our impact is amplified.

Oct 2, 2025

Sep 30, 2025

Designing for a Digital Age: A Nurse’s Perspective on Technology in Multigenerational Care

Sep 30, 2025

As healthcare spaces become more digitized, nurses in planning and design must balance patient needs, clinician workflows, and evolving technology. But digital tools aren’t experienced equally—what empowers a millennial may overwhelm an 85-year-old patient. From smart rooms to self-check-in apps, nurse designers have a critical role in making sure healthcare technology works for everyone, not just the tech-savvy. This blog explores how multigenerational design, inclusive testing, and human-centered support can create healing environments that are not only modern—but humane.

Sep 30, 2025

Sep 24, 2025

Are ASC’s Designed for A New Era of Ambulatory Surgery?

Sep 24, 2025

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is gradually eliminating the Inpatient Only (IPO) List over the next three years. This change will allow more surgeries to be performed at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) instead of requiring hospital stays. As a result, patients may experience lower costs and more convenient access to care. What do you see as some of the biggest design and operational challenges with this change?

Sep 24, 2025

Sep 22, 2025

Healing, Redefined: A Cancer Survivor's Tribute to Nurses.

Sep 22, 2025

This blog recounts MacKenzie Weldon’s deeply personal journey after being diagnosed with stage 3B triple-negative breast cancer in October 2024. A long-time professional in the healthcare industry, MacKenzie found her understanding of healthcare profoundly reshaped. While the medical care was critical, it was the compassion, dedication, and humanity of the nurses that left the most lasting impact.

Sep 22, 2025

Sep 10, 2025

Easy Tips to Help Make your Networking Efforts Worthwhile during Conference Season.

Sep 10, 2025

This is quite a busy time for NIHD and our members. Planning and related activities ramp up to our attendance and participation in numerous industry related conferences that happen across the country in the Fall. I think we all know the numerous benefits of networking but what are some easy tips to help make your networking efforts worthwhile?

Sep 10, 2025

Aug 28, 2025

One “Big Beautiful” Design.

Aug 28, 2025

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," passed in July 2025, marks a major shift in U.S. healthcare funding, cutting over $1 trillion from Medicaid over ten years and introducing stricter financing rules. These changes are expected to result in higher copays, the loss of coverage for nearly 12 million Americans by 2034, and significant financial strain on rural and safety-net hospitals, many of which may face closure. As healthcare systems adapt to reduced reimbursements, there will be a growing focus on return-on-investment, operational efficiency, and strategic planning—particularly in facility design and construction. While some projects with secure funding may proceed, others, especially in rural areas, could be delayed or canceled, with a broader shift toward renovations and outpatient-focused facilities expected.

Aug 28, 2025