With a catchment area spanning all of Vermont and northern New York, the University of Vermont Cancer Center is a success story in high impact, quality care across research, education, and clinical pillars of their mission. Drs. Jessica Heath and Christa Varnadoe share their complementary perspectives on the renown organizational responsiveness to community-identified needs – including cutting-edge therapies – across a cultural duality of rural and micropolitan populations.

Renown Health's Samantha Koblitz reflects on the importance of trusted partners during shifts in design approach and decision-making with Interface's Leslie Echols and Perkins&Will's Nicki Hellem and Holly Ewing. By giving users and leadership hands-on participatory roles in flooring selection, Renown Health was afforded deeper insights into their culture while promoting creativity in their steadfast commitment to the communities they serve.

Dr. Richard Kyte, Director of the D. B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership and Endowed Professor of Ethics at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin, approaches the concept of ‘Third Place’ from the lenses of leadership and ethics.

As the expert coordinators of a successful surgery, the circulating nurse role is one of the most pivotal to include in operating room design. Shilpa Bhardwaj shares her doctoral research centering and her insights on inclusivity, representation, and advocacy during the design process of high-stress environments.

Francis encourages designers to consider relationship over form as we enmesh evidence and lived experience to design spaces for mental health that promote connection, contemplation, and skillbuilding.

Joey Shea of Interface shares his perceptions on the role of communities in conscious decision-making during the design life-cycle and tips to stretch purchasing power into sustainable, future-forward growth of healthcare systems.

Along the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain West, hospitals have constructed parking lots for campers for equitable healthcare access. Ruth Tretter, Assistant Professor at the Mark & Robyn Jones College of Nursing – Montana State University shares her experiences and the science behind this ever-growing population seeking care.

Violence against nurses in particular has risen over 70% in the last couple years. Kelsey Springer, RN, shares her experience and call to action for design changes that can save lives of healthcare staff.