Fellow Kimia Erfani, EDAC, who works in Page’s Los Angeles office, has a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master’s in human-environment relations from Cornell, and recently completed a Doctorate in Architecture from the University of Michigan. She is interested in the interplay between social technology and the built environment to enhance older adults’ social well-being and quality of life. “By embracing thought leadership and a commitment to design excellence, I will be able to leverage the power of ‘healing through design’ to advocate for people’s health as well as our planet’s health,” she says. Her Tradewell research project focuses on adopting the principles of trauma-informed design to enhance the mental health care of children/adolescents in spaces that can assist in early detection and treatment (i.e., educational settings).  

Commented Tradewell Fellowship lead curator Renee Fiala, AIA, ACHA, EDAC, a former Tradewell Fellow herself, “this amazing program is designed to amplify the fellows’ exposure and opportunities while allowing them to take a deep dive into a research topic, ultimately developing and strengthening our future leaders in healthcare design.”

Named in honor of the late Gary Tradewell, a former vice president and healthcare planner, the fellowship began in 1997. In addition to being guided by multiple firm mentors—including architects, senior medical planners, designers, and leaders in the field—Tradewell Fellows are included in healthcare projects from the initial planning stages, have direct contact with healthcare clients, and attend a national conference of their choice.