Reimagining Care Through Design: Emily Karbo’s Unique Career Path.
Emily Karbo, DNP, RN, EDAC, transitioned from a career in ICU nursing to healthcare design, using her clinical expertise to shape environments that improve patient care, staff workflow, and operational efficiency. Inspired by early experiences in hospice care and driven by a passion for human-centered design, she now blends compassion, collaboration, and innovation to make a lasting impact in the healthcare design community.
Read MoreFrom Cribs to Campuses: Roxanne’s Path to Healthcare Design
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.
Read MoreWhat’s All the Chatter About?
At this year’s Healthcare Design Forum, keynote speaker Ethan Kross delivered a powerful message on the impact of our internal dialogue and how it shapes our behavior, confidence, and decision-making. His insights on managing self-talk—especially through small shifts like using our own name—offered practical tools for overcoming doubt and speaking up with clarity and conviction in professional settings.
Read MoreIt's Graduation Season - But Where Are the Nurses?
As we celebrate the graduation of our eldest daughter from high school and her trade school (cosmetology) program, I couldn't help but notice a significant disparity at her recent completion ceremony. There were considerably more graduates in programs like cosmetology and aesthetics compared to medical assistant and nursing programs, with a ratio of approximately 4:1.
Read MoreFrom Bedside to Blueprint: How Susan Bower Is Transforming Healthcare Through Design.
Susan Bower’s expertise spans the entire planning continuum, from early strategic visioning and operational programming to transition planning and activation.
Read MoreEducating Clinical Leaders at the Design Table: 3 Key Points to Start the Design Phase.
As a bedside nurse and nurse leader, Kaycee was an alien on a strange land in a healthcare design role about 7 years ago. Even after being a nurse manager on a previous new floor project, she didn’t know what was her role was, how hard she should advocate for operational flow and what change orders did late in the project. In her new role, NIHD member Kaycee Shiskowsky has learned to integrate a focus on schedule, budget and clinical operational flow.
Read MoreThe Quest for Common Ground in Rural and Urban Development: Key Takeaways from the See Change Sessions
See Change Sessions is the collision of unconventional networking and collaboration by labs (workshops) and in-the-moment speaker topics to facilitate change across six different priority, themed areas – Where We Live; Beyond the Stars; Turning the Tide; Breaking the Buzzword; Cultures in Conversation; and Harmony & Dissonance.
Read MoreFrom Clinical Nurse Specialist to Healthcare Operations Planner: Meet Ron Kraus.
At the last HCD Conference, Board member Kevin Meek had an opportunity to work in the NIHD booth with Ron Kraus MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, ACNS-BC, a Healthcare Operations Planner with BSA LifeStructures. Recently joining the team at BSA LifeStructures in August 2022, Ron brings decades of clinical experience to the healthcare design operations team supporting clients and internal teams.
Read MoreMeet the Nurses in Design at Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS).
Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a very fortunate organization. They not only have one nurse as a part of their design team efforts … but TWO highly talented and experienced nurses! NIHD members Tara and Mary have collectively been a part of the NGHS system for over 75 years! Like many others in NIHD, their current roles never existed, until through their involvement in projects and operational improvements.
Read MoreThe Multi-generational Patient Population – How Can We Meet Their Needs Through Design?
We know that pediatrics and geriatrics are their own specialties with specific environmental and design requirements. But what about the differences and specific needs of the groups in between?
Read MoreFeeling Familiar: Training Fundamentals for your New Facility
When planning the New Facility Orientation and Training plan, one question that is often received is, “Who needs training, and how much time should be allocated?” In her 18 years leading projects, here is what Kelly Guzman MN, RN, EDAC, President and CEO of Yellow Brick Consulting, has learned.
Read MoreNIHD Presents: Designing Post-Pandemic Hospice Care Facilities
Join our webinar on March 2! This session will present the design requirements related to providing a supportive environment for patients, their family members, and healthcare providers.
Read MoreA Diverse Path into Transition & Activation Planning.
Meet NIHD member Bridget Graham, MBAH, PMP. She has been a Lead Project Manager with HTS, an Affiliate of HBS, for the last 2.5 years. Her career path has been diverse having worked in corporate healthcare benefits while at GE and Employer Relations for Union College, however, the skills and experience gained have only diversified her tool belt when working with clients.
Read MoreNIHD Presents “I Can’t Work Another Minute”: A Study of Nursing Resiliency.
Join our webinar on January 19! This presentation will review current research into the utilization of two types of resilience rooms, dedicated to helping nursing staff cope with on-the-job work stress. This research seeks to link staff satisfaction and retention to the institution of these rooms by expanding their usage throughout the acute care hospital environment.
Read MoreFrom Nurses Cap to Hard Hat: How Nurses Impact Design.
NIHD Member Maggie Duplantis RN, MHA, shares her career path into Design and Construction! She submits that everything done in her 20 years in the clinical space contributed to her success today as Director of Clinical Planning and Design of Houston Methodist.
Read MoreNIHD Presents Caregiver Wellness: Supporting Clinicians through Evidence-based Design
Join our webinar on December 1! Presenters will discuss current research exploring the built environment’s impact on the wellbeing of healthcare professionals, and how design and healthcare professionals can leverage research to improve their work environment.
Read MoreNIHD Presents: Level I Trauma Room Design: Research-Based Strategies for Improved Outcomes
Join our webinar on September 1! This webinar will present the findings from a vigorous research project on Level I trauma room design, titled “Toward a Model of Safety and Care for Trauma Room Design.”
Read MoreNIHD Presents: Understanding Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities
Join our webinar on August 18! This webinar will cover standard and transmission based precautious, take you through the most common types of HAI’s and then aim to connect the dots to show how appropriate flooring selections can help support an Infection Prevention and Control program in a healthcare facility.
Read MoreThe power of asking, "Why Not Me?"
After completing a diploma program, and then earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Teri Lura Bennett’s first career was as a registered nurse. She decided after working 12 years at the bedside that someone should be designing the spaces who knew what it was like to work in them! She thought, “Why not me?”
Read More