Biography

Her passion for healthcare design goes back to the first three weeks of her daughter’s life in a NICU. She had outstanding neonatologists who were trying to provide the best possible care in an extremely deficient environment. This experience has informed and focused her work for more than two decades.

Full Biography

Uma Ramanathan AIA
Principal, Shepley Bulfinch
Women in Design Award of Excellence, 2018 winner

WID 20th Anniversary Uma Ramanathan Model Graphics v6 7

Oishei Children's Hospital represents just one of the many pediatric care facilities I’ve had the privilege of planning and designing. While each project is unique, the driving force behind all these projects is the same: it’s not just about creating a beautiful building, but rather about bettering outcomes and creating spaces that work—both now and in the future.

In designing these spaces, we strive to support the seven dimensions of wellness (physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental, and occupational) not only for the sick children, but also for their families, hospital staff, and visitors. I believe that when you care for a child, you’re really caring for the whole family, and that the wellbeing of doctors, nurses, and other staff is undeniably linked to their ability to provide care. Relationship building is key to the success of any design project. These relationships are critical to our ability to design spaces that promote wellness.

Image credit: Elisif Brandon

As architects, we design buildings for our clients, however our impact on an organization can be far more than the physical space we’ve designed. These projects can be the catalyst for positive change in the organization—a phenomenon I’ve been delighted to experience.

Image credit: Elisif Brandon

Uma Ramanathan FAIA (2018)

Biography