Colleen Newland, AIA (left) and Parini Mehta, AIA (right) are the 2019 U40 List recipients.
AAH is excited to announce this year’s U40 List recipients. Parini Mehta, AIA, LEED AP, is an Associate Principal with CO architects and has managed large, prominent healthcare projects throughout California in her ten years of healthcare experience. Colleen Newland, AIA, EDAC, is a Strategic Designer at Philips Design in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she combines research with her architectural background to create design solutions for a variety of healthcare service lines. We hope you enjoy this year’s Summer Leadership Summit!
What is your experience in healthcare architecture thus far?
Parini: My first project in healthcare architecture was the largest hospital construction project in Los Angeles at the time, LA County + USC Medical Center. Not only was I learning the skills of a technical architect, but I was working on a facility that was designed as the safety net hospital for the indigent. Each subsequent client and project increased my knowledge and curiosity. The New Stanford Hospital taught me the rigors of healthcare design as well as the importance of patient and provider experiences. Cedars-Sinai taught me about healthcare strategy and operations. Kaiser Permanente taught me brand experience, consistency, and integrated project delivery. Scripps Health taught me about master planning and care team collaboration. A senior living project taught me how to design for an aging population with cognitive impairments. Medical education projects taught me about how the future generation of doctors and nurses will operate.
Colleen: I transitioned to healthcare architecture six years ago when I joined Philips Design. Since then I’ve worked on an array of spatial and service design projects across the healthcare spectrum. Using my architectural background as a foundation, I combine qualitative and quantitative research with service design thinking to create design innovations in a variety of service line areas such as radiology, pediatrics/NICU, cardiology, endoscopy, and emergency/pre-hospital.
What are you most passionate about in healthcare design?
Parini: As the industry moves forward, I am passionate on seeking design solutions that address current challenges in healthcare such as uncertainty in policy, reimbursements, and disparity in populations; solving the complex requirements and creating pleasant environments that enhance user’s experience; and innovating the process of working with users, owners and contractors to meet these goals.
Colleen: I’m interested in weaving new technologies and interactions into more meaningful healthcare experiences that extend beyond the physical environment, and I’m particularly passionate about pediatric radiology and neonatal intensive care unit design.
What are you most looking forward to while at SLS?
Parini: I am looking forward to the element of surprise! I have no idea what to expect, except that I will probably learn a lot, be inspired by the experts, and meet many amazing people from across the country who share common passions in healthcare design.
Colleen: It’s my first time at the summit, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to gather with and learn from this talented community. Plus, Chicago is always nice.
Are you currently involved with the AAH? If not, are there any ways in which you would like to get involved?
Parini: I am not currently involved with the AAH but share their priorities of advancing the practice of healthcare architecture. I am hoping through the SLS I will meet many like-minded AAH members and that I can be a part of a larger organization that is focused on improving both the quality of healthcare design and the design of healthy communities.
Colleen: I’d certainly like to be more involved. I’m a big fan of the Knowledge Repository and I’d like to find more ways to contribute and share back.