At a recent Healthcare Forum hosted by the New York chapter of Professional Women in Construction (PWC-NY), leading voices from the region’s top medical institutions offered a deep dive into the evolving landscape of healthcare design. The panel brought together Suzen Heeley of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Tina Macica of Montefiore Einstein, and Suzanne Musho of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, moderated by Raquel Diaz of Gilbane Building Company. The session highlighted current design innovations, construction strategies, and the transformational role of technology in modern medical facilities.

Designing for Longevity and Healing Environments

One major focus of the discussion was how healthcare environments are evolving to meet both patient and operational needs. Tina Macica emphasized the importance of durable, sustainable materials that stand up to the high-use nature of healthcare spaces. She noted that today’s healthcare design favors “timeless design with a mix of warm and cool palettes” and that facility planning must consider longevity and regulatory constraints.

“I hope that design and integration of medical equipment can eventually result in use of a smaller footprint, eliminating visual clutter and minimizing noise,” Macica said. “This would benefit patients and their families and address caregiver fatigue from such sounds as unnecessary alarms, for example.”

Suzanne Musho echoed the sentiment, framing healthcare design as a chance to uplift and inspire. “Healthcare design is an amazing opportunity to conceive spaces that heal, repair, and restore. The excellence of care that patients receive within the walls of hospitals should be architecturally evident the moment patients and their families and friends enter hospitals,” she said.

Adapting to Financial and Operational Pressures

Suzen Heeley pointed out the pressures healthcare systems face to balance speed, cost, and innovation. “The pace of changes in healthcare has accelerated and we must react more quickly,” she said. “Speed to market is more important than ever, while pressures on revenue and financial sustainability are driving the need for creativity in developing revenue opportunities, designing in flexibility that doesn’t impact operations and revenue.”

Heeley also highlighted how external pressures—like climate change and workforce shortages—are shaping construction strategies. Hospitals now build to higher flood and wind standards and incorporate climate resiliency measures. "Hospitals have focused on constructing more resilient buildings," she said, with projects adapting to 150+ mph wind resistance and 1,000-year flood benchmarks.

Innovation: From Prefab to AI

The panelists addressed how construction methodologies are evolving, with a sharp uptick in prefabrication driven by schedule demands and labor constraints. According to Heeley, hospitals are increasingly using prefabricated components to cut costs and ensure consistent quality.

Technology is playing a pivotal role. “Artificial intelligence will impact so many facets of our industry, from construction to material/product development to design, and hopefully will condense timelines and project schedules,” Heeley said. She noted examples like AI-driven medical imaging that rivals traditional MRI tech in accuracy.

Macica added a note of caution: “While artificial intelligence will certainly be an important tool going forward, we need to ensure that AI is set up appropriately from the outset, and able to learn along the way, in order to achieve the goals intended.”

Pathways for Women in the Industry

The event also served as a platform to discuss mentorship and career development for women in construction and design.

Macica reflected on her path from architecture school to healthcare and public infrastructure work: “My advice to women in the industry is to listen closely to what executives are asking for, ask strategic questions for clarification, take the lead, learn to expedite, and be agile.”

Heeley shared her journey from architecture firms to healthcare leadership: “Being a woman in a male-dominated industry was challenging and it taught me so many lessons. As I’ve continued on this career path, I experience the impact of my work on patients, visitors, and staff; and it brings fulfillment in a way I never could have imagined.”

Musho, who balances design and leadership, urged women to lead with passion and vision. “I chose architecture as my profession because I believe in the power of design to change the world,” she said. “One simple idea can transform a community, an industry, and maybe even more importantly, individual thought.”

Her advice: “Bring your particular brand of excitement and experience to every moment. Creativity and curiosity matter and are growing even more important. Always take the opportunity to show who you are.”

Originally reported by Regina Rivera in Health Care Design.