We are proud to spotlight members who are shaping the future of healthcare environments through innovation, leadership, and a passion for patient-centered care. This month, we’re excited to feature Roxanne Butler MSOD, RNC, Principal at Blue Cottage of CannonDesign and President-Elect of the NIHD Foundation for 2025.
Roxanne co-leads Transition and Activation Services for Blue Cottage, bringing more than 30 years of nursing experience to help hospitals move seamlessly into new facilities. A proud New Orleanian, her passion for design began as a NICU leader, where she guided her team through multiple renovations and ultimately a full campus relocation. That experience showed her how much the built environment shapes care delivery and inspired her to bridge the gap between clinicians and architects.
Since then, Roxanne has led projects across the country, from academic medical centers and safety-net hospitals to ambulatory clinics and freestanding EDs. One of her most meaningful efforts was guiding the transition of Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, where she had spent more than two decades before becoming a consultant. “It wasn’t just another assignment,” she says. “It was a chance to give back to a place that shaped me both personally and professionally.”
Looking ahead, Roxanne is energized by the shift in healthcare design toward adaptable, tech-enabled spaces that foster resilience, inclusivity, and dignity.
“We’re moving beyond just new buildings to environments that truly improve care delivery and well-being,” she explains.
For Roxanne, NIHD has been invaluable in amplifying the voice of nurses in design.
“It’s a rare space where nurses, designers, and other professionals can share ideas and shape healing environments together,” she says.