Graduate students awarded AIA
fellowships for research projects

Last May, two graduate architecture students at Texas A&M earned American Institute of Architects fellowships to pursue research projects in healthcare architecture. One is studying factors affecting the usability of restorative outdoor spaces in pediatric hospitals, and the other is developing design guidelines for a cancer therapy regimen that may become available to U.S. residents in the future.

Samira Pasha, a doctoral student in architecture, and Dyutima Jha, a Master of Architecture student, both received an Arthur N. Tuttle Jr. Graduate Fellowship in Health Facility Planning and Design.

Pasha, whose research focuses on the design features of outdoor spaces at pediatric hospitals, is investigating the main factors discouraging garden and outdoor space visitation for patients and their families.

“Research shows that outdoor spaces (at hospitals) utilizing nature can cut costs directly or indirectly by reducing length of stay, fewer pain medication requests, and higher patient and staff satisfaction,” Pasha wrote in her research abstract. “Yet, if outdoor spaces fail to attract visitors, their economic return remains uncertain.”

Jha is developing design guidelines for using carbon therapy at cancer treatment centers in the U.S., a technique not yet available here, but used in Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, Austria and Japan.

“My study aims at understanding this technology in the context of the American healthcare system,” she wrote; her research will include a visit to a prototype carbon therapy center in Germany.

After creating the guidelines, she said, she will design a treatment facility as part of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston’s expansion scheme.

Since established in 1987, 25 Texas A&M architecture students have received the AIA Arthur N. Tuttle Jr. Graduate Fellowship in Health Facility Planning and Design.

Following is a list of Aggies who have received the prestigious fellowship and, when available, the receipient’s research subject.

1967
Terrence R. Gent

1969
Ernest J. Brinkley

1970
Robert E. Kelly, AIA

1973
Edward G. Stanislowski
"Waco General Hospital"

1981
David A. Lopez, AIA
"Community Hospital, Kingwood, TX"

1984
Debra Phillips, AIA
"Design Concepts for Cost Containment in Health Facilities"

1985
James N. Vandenberg, AIA
"The Future of Computerized Diagnostic Center"

1992
Kenneth R. Falcon
"Trends in Cancer Care as They Affect the Design of a Comprehensive Cancer Center"

1994
Marcus A. Budaus
"Issues and Trends in Designing Children's Health Facilities for the 21st Century"

1996
Brenda K. Byrd
"Children's Outpatient Care—A Comprehensive, Community Approach to Ambulatory Care for Children"

Alicen Hall Herrin
"Hospital Related Facilities for the Elderly: A Continuum of Care"

1997
Carl D. Lintner, Assoc. AIA
"The Cancer Patient's Perspectives on Facilities Design"

1998
Kristy Walvoord Franta
"Future Issues and Trends in the Design of Women's Healthcare Facilities"

1999
David O. DeLeon
"Issues and Trends in the Design of Pediatric Oncology Facilities in the 21st Century"

2000
Richard Lee Rucksdashel
"Issues and Trends in the Design of Cardiac Care Facilities in the 21st Century"

2001
Bhargav Goswami
"Design of Rehabilitiation Facilities as Components of Acute Care Hospitals"

2002
Prithi P. Venkatram
"Designing for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Related Dementias"

2003
Myo Boon Hur, Assoc. AIA
"Design of Rehabilitation Facilities for the Elderly"

Hilal Ozcan
"Healing Environments: A Holistic Approach to the Physical Setting to Social Interaction Function in Pediatric Intensive Care Units in the USA and Turkey"

2005
Rodney Shane Boren
"Cherokee Nation Masterplan"

Min -Young Seo
"Culture and Eldercare"

2006
Jin Gyu Park
"Environmental Color for Pediatric Patient Room Design"

2007
Zhipeng Lu
“Walking for Healthy Living: Walkable Corridors in Assisted Living Facilities”

2009
Dyutima Jha
“Carbon Therapy Center Design Guidelines”

Samira Pasha
“Usability of Outdoor Spaces in Children’s Hospitals for Patients and Their Families”

- Posted: June 17, 2009-