In 2013 I sat down to write my first blog for Healthcare Design, introducing myself as the newest member of the editorial staff. I was coming from a 10-year post covering retail design, where I thought I’d learned the language of architects and designers and how to cover layout planning, lighting, wayfinding, materials and finishes, and all the other details that go into the built environment.
However, one interview into a flooring trends article, I realized healthcare was a different animal.
Feeling a little overwhelmed by building codes, facility types, and project team members’ roles, I picked up the phone and began talking to sources and meeting industry leaders at our conferences and events. And I soon realized how committed the healthcare design community is to knowledge sharing to help drive this industry (and an editor’s understanding of it) forward.
Healthcare Design brand and sector evolves
Eleven years later, this sector has evolved quite a bit in the time I’ve been covering it, from strides in sustainability and behavioral health design to responding to the needs of staff and the shift in care delivery to more outpatient facilities.
And at the end of 2023, HCD announced its own evolution, with Jennifer Kovacs Silvis taking the helm as our new brand director and my promotion to editor-in-chief. I’m thrilled with this new opportunity, and already, the year is off to an exciting start. We’ll soon launch the biennial A/E/C Survey this month as well as kick off Healthcare Design’s Breaking Through conceptual design competition that celebrates out-of-the-box thinking. Reservations for entries are due Feb. 2.
Speaking of innovative ideas, this month’s Product Issue spotlights winners of the annual Nightingale Awards, as well as a deeper look from some of this year’s awards judges on where manufacturers and suppliers are succeeding in meeting the industry’s product needs and where there’s room for improvement. Finally, don’t forget to check out the Buyers’ Guide for a listing of companies that specialize in the products and services you need to hit the ground running in 2024.
As I settle into my new role, I’ve got some new ideas and topics ready to explore, including expanded opportunities for industry contributors. Stay tuned for more.
I also welcome any feedback or ideas you have on projects or industry trends you’d like to see us dig deeper into. Cheers to an exciting new year!
