Architecture-for-health lectures eye leadership role in healthcare

A distinguished group of healthcare administrators and facility designers discussed how leadership can elevate the level of care provided by the United States’ healthcare system at the Spring 2014 Architecture for Health Lecture Series at Texas A&M.

Healthcare delivery in the United States is at a crossroads, said George J. Mann, holder of the Ronald L. Skaggs, FAIA Professorship in Health Facilities Design, who coordinates the series.

“The U.S. needs to re-examine its fundamental approach to staffing, designing, building, operating, maintaining and containing costs of healthcare networks because of tremendous, accelerating change affecting the system,” said Mann, the first holder of the Skaggs-Sprague Chair in Health Facilities Design.

This semester’s series, he said, featured speakers with proven track records and demonstrated leadership building healthcare networks that deliver high quality, accessible, affordable, preventive and curative health care to large population groups, he said.

Jan. 17

Architecture for Health at a Crossroads:
Where Do We Need to go From Here? How Do We Get There?”

Ward Wells, head of the [Department of Architecture] (http://dept.arch.tamu.edu/) , Mardelle Shepley, director of Texas A&M’s [Center for Health Systems & Design] (http://chsd.arch.tamu.edu/) , and George J. Mann, lecture series coordinator, will present short talks to kick off this spring’s series at 11:30 a.m, Friday, Jan. 17 in Langford C105.

Jan. 24

A 30-Year Odyssey to the Best Survival in the History of War — The Perspective of a Former Air Force Surgeon General

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. P.K. Carlton Jr., will keynote the spring 2014 series with “A 30-Year Odyssey to the Best Survival in the History of War — The Surgeon General's Perspective,” 11:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 24 in Langford C105.

Carlton, former head of the Office of Homeland Security at the Texas A&M Health Science Center and a Fellow of the [American College of Surgeons] (http://www.facs.org/) , completed a distinguished military career as the surgeon general of the Air Force from 1999-2002, directing more than 42,000 staffers assigned to 78 medical facilities throughout the world. He heads PK Concepts LLC, a healthcare consulting firm.

Carlton will be introduced by Ronald L. Skaggs '65, chairman emeritus at HKS, an outstanding alumnus of the College of Architecture, a distinguished alumnus at Texas A&M and a member of the American Institute of Architects' College of Fellows.

Jan. 31

Health and Health Facility Needs of Low Income Groups In the United States and Abroad

Jorge Vanegas, dean of the Texas A&M College of Architecture and research professor, [Texas Engineering Experiment Station] (http://tees.tamu.edu/) , will present “Health and Health Facility Needs of Low Income Groups In the United States and Abroad,” 11:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 31 in Langford C105.

Feb. 7

The Need to Emphasize Preventive Health
Incentives to Improve Health and Control Costs

James N. Burdine, interim dean of the [School of Rural Public Health] (http://www.srph.tamhsc.edu/) , Texas A&M Health Science Center, will present “The Need to Emphasize Preventive Health Incentives to Improve Health and Control Costs,” 11:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 7 in Langford C105.

Feb. 14

Case studies of HKS Ambulatory Care Centers and
Suggestions for Students Interviewing for Positions

Ronald E. Gover, principal and senior vice president, [HKS Inc.] (http://www.hksinc.com/) , will present “Case Studies of HKS Ambulatory Care Centers and Suggestions for Students Interviewing for Positions,” 11:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 14, Langford C105.

Feb. 21

Healthcare Buildings With Soul at Nemours

Leonard Berry, presidential professor for teaching excellence at Texas A&M’s [Mays Business School] (http://mays.tamu.edu/) and holder of the M.B. Zale Chair in Retailing and Marketing Leadership and Jeffrey S. Kent, managing director of facilities for [Nemours] (http://www.nemours.org/welcome.html) , a children’s healthcare system, will present "Healthcare Buildings With Soul at Nemours,” 11:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 21, Langford C105.

Feb. 28

Army Medicine to Army Strong: Caring for 3.9 Million Beneficiaries

David Rubenstein, clinical associate professor of health administration at Texas State University and a retired Army major general who culminated 35-year military career as the head of its [Medical Department Center and School] (http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/Default.aspx) , will present “Army Medicine to Army Strong: Caring for 3.9 Million Beneficiaries,” 11:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 28 in Langford C105.

The MDCS educates and trains all the Army’s medical personnel and formulates its medical organization, tactics, doctrine and equipment.

March 28

Case Studies of Ambulatory Care Facilities
and Where We Need to Go in the Future

Representatives from global design firm [RTKL] (http://www.rtkl.com/) , John L. Castorina, senior vice president; Bethany Childress, lead project designer and Chris Grossnicklaus, designer, will present “Case Studies of Ambulatory Care Facilities and Where We Need to Go in the Future,” 11:30 a.m., Friday, March 28 in Langford C105.

They will be introduced by Harold Adams '61, a Texas A&M distinguished alumnus, an outstanding alumnus of the College of Architecture and a member of the American Institute of Architects' College of Fellows.

April 4

Care Transformation and Staffing in
Performance-based Ambulatory Care Facilities

Jennie Evans, vice president of HKS Inc. and president of the Nursing Institute of Healthcare Design, will present “Care Transformation and Staffing in Performance-based Ambulatory Care Facilities,” 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 4 in Langford C105 .

April 11

Speaker to be announced

Date to be announced

The Challenges and Accomplishments
in Delivering Healthcare to Veterans

Additionally, Rick Bond, associate executive director, [Office of Construction & Facilities Management] (http://www.cfm.va.gov/) , U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, will present “The Challenges and Accomplishments in Delivering Healthcare to Veterans” in Langford C105 on a date to be announced.