Healthcare Design - November 2015 - 72

unit for Ebola and other communicable diseases. Some of
those ideas were even shared with members of Congress.
"We teach by designing actual projects for actual clients,"
Mann says.
Nicholas Watkins, a principal and director of research,
and Alice Gittler, design researcher, of BBH Design (Raleigh, N.C.) teach an "Introduction to Healthcare Design
Research" course at New York School of Interior Design in
New York City. For a project in partnership with Gouverneur
Health in Lower Manhattan, students took part in a threeday observational study in two primary care clinics using a
tablet-based design app. "By familiarizing them with these
kinds of technology and methods now, we're positioning
them to be highly competitive in the job market," Watkins
says.
Allison says that with this increasing body of knowledge
and tools, it's critical that students also learn how to choose
the best resources and methods available. So at Clemson, a
research methods course is required in the first semester for
all Master of Architecture students, and the school also offers
a "Topics Course on Health Policy, Planning, and Administration," which includes a segment on Lean. "They must be able
to distinguish the signal from the noise within all the information that's available at their fingertips," he says.
Running start
Students are finding experience and career guidance outside the classroom, as well, as design firms play an active
role in mentoring the next generation. During her studies
at Texas A&M, Renee LaCroix had a summer internship at
WHR Architects in Houston. She returned after graduating with a Master of Architecture degree and certificate in
health systems and design to serve a one-year Tradewell
Fellowship at the firm-an experience that helped solidify
her career path in medical planning. "Having worked for
a year really intensely on medical planning, I was able to
find a real appreciation for it," she says. Her time at the firm
included attending client meetings, participating in team
projects, and being exposed to educational opportunities
that she wouldn't have had otherwise.
"There's so much to learn about healthcare design; it's
so detailed and there are so many factors in the design,"
she says. "Sometimes it's good to be young and green
like that because you have more ideas, but it can also be a
challenge because you need your design skills to work in
the long run."
Clemson's Allison says the most successful students are
the ones who prepare themselves for a lifetime of learning.
"Think of your first job after graduation as the first step in
your post-graduate education," he says. "Seek positions
where you can receive good mentoring, be given good opportunities, and learn how to do good work." HCD
Anne DiNardo is senior editor of Healthcare Design. She can
be reached at anne.dinardo@emeraldexpo.com.

HCDmagazine.com 11.15

FACES OF THE FUTURE
One thing is certain: Today's architecture
and design students are inspired and
ready to bring new ideas and changes
to the industry. Healthcare Design spoke
with students at leading universities to
find out what put them on their career
paths and what challenges and solutions
they've already got up their sleeves.
Listen up-the future is calling.

http://www.HCDmagazine.com

Healthcare Design - November 2015

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