The Health Design Podcast

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• Lattisha Bilbrew, surgeon, mentor, speaker. 26.06.2026 37min

  Dr. Lattisha Bilbrew is a board-certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery and the first Black woman to become a partner at Resurgens Orthopaedics—Georgia’s largest orthopedic practice. She is one of fewer than five practicing Black female orthopaedic surgeons in the entire state, breaking barriers in a field where fewer than 2% of surgeons are women of color. Born in Birmingham, England to Jamaican parents, Dr. Bilbrew’s story is one of resilience, faith, and purpose. Dr. Bilbrew’s research interests include diversity and inclusion within orthopaedic surgery. Her work on racial disparities in the treatment and evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome has been published in peer-reviewed medical literature. An advocate for health equity, Dr. Bilbrew travels annually to Washington, D.C., representing the AAOS before members of Congress on issues such as Medicare reform, prior authorization, and physician-owned hospital access. Her leadership and influence have earned her numerous honors, including recognition in The Atlantan Magazine as one of Atlanta’s Top Orthopaedic Surgeons, Georgia Trend’s “Top 40 Under 40,” and Modern Luxury’s “Most Powerful Women of Atlanta” and “Influential Atlantans in Medicine.” Episode Description: Dr. Bilbrew shares her powerful journey into medicine, inspired by a personal family experience that shaped her mission to lead with empathy and compassion. As one of the few Black women in orthopedic surgery, she reflects on embracing identity, breaking barriers, and navigating bias with pride in her Jamaican heritage. She discusses how individual empathy and systemic advocacy work hand-in-hand to advance health equity, from patient-level connection to policy-level change. Dr. Bilbrew also highlights the importance of mentorship, community engagement, and preparing future clinicians to serve with purpose, integrity, and understanding. Dr. Bilbrew is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller, Yes, I Am The Surgeon: Lessons on Perseverance in a World That Tells You No, a compelling memoir of resilience, representation, and faith. Her forthcoming book, Measure Twice, Cut Once: Lessons on Confidence in a World That Tells You No, explores the power of preparation, purpose, and self-trust in overcoming adversity.
• Jonathan and April Fluevog , Simply Estate Services. 12.06.2026 35min

  Simply Estate Services exists to take executors from overwhelmed to fully supported, and our work reflects the lived experience behind that mission. April grew up navigating three contested grandparents estates, and those years shaped the foundation of what we do today. Executors often inherit responsibility without guidance, and the weight of decisions, timelines, and family dynamics can stop progress for months. We step in as the end to end partner who keeps momentum steady, clarifies every next step, and manages the entire process of preparing a property for market. We specialize in working with lawyers, notaries, real estate agents, and executors, and our role goes far beyond clearing contents. We organize belongings, coordinate repairs or maintenance, manage redistribution of items, oversee trades, and handle every detail required to bring a home to sale readiness. Our focus is on realistic value rather than imagined value, on clarity rather than assumption, and on ensuring the executor remains in control while no part of the workload falls on their shoulders. Executors trust us because we reduce emotional strain, shorten timelines, and provide a single point of coordination that keeps estates moving forward with confidence. Our work has become a vital support system for families and legal teams, and we are proud to bring order, compassion, and professionalism to a process that is often confusing and isolating. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-fluevog-jr-761aa23/ Website: www.fluevogfilms.com
• Michelle Ossmann, Global Research Director for MillerKnoll 29.05.2026 33min

  In this episode, Dr Michelle Ossmann, nurse practitioner and socio-spatial scientist, explores hospitality in healthcare, ICU design, and evidence-based healthcare architecture. Dr. Ossmann is the global research director for MillerKnoll. Trained as a socio-spatial scientist and nurse practitioner, she leads the research team to investigate front-end innovation and back-end organizational outcomes across a range of place types. She serves in an advisory capacity for various Fortune 500 companies, health systems, and academic and professional programs, and publishes and presents widely. Dr. Ossmann received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing and her MBA from Emory University, and her PhD in Architecture from The Georgia Institute of Technology. For more information on research discussed on today’s podcast, visit millerknoll.com. You can also connect with Dr. Ossmann on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-ossmann/, where she shares additional research and insights.
• Karen Parzych, Higher Education Market Leader with expertise in Medical and Health Sciences Education. 15.05.2026 28min

  Karen is a Higher Education Market Leader with expertise in Medical and Health Sciences Education. Passionate about making the world a better place by creating spaces that bring people together, she has contributed to the design innovation of notable projects across the continental US. She specializes in medical, nursing, and health professions higher education facilities including the programming, planning, and detailing of inter-professional immersive simulation suites, active learning classrooms, anatomy labs, and student life spaces. With this deep understanding of unique design requirements, Karen helps institutions develop spaces to serve the current and future needs of the ever-evolving landscape of health sciences education. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech with a Minor in Leadership & Social Change, and is a professional member of AIA, NCARB, the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). For your show notes, here is a recent article I wrote about medical school design on SLAM's blog: https://slamcoll.com/blog/wellness-focused-medical-school-design/
• Carolyn Philstrom , Healthcare chaplain and rare disease advocate 17.04.2026 36min

  Carolyn Philstrom is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and works as a healthcare chaplain, with experience at both a major academic teaching hospital and in hospice. She lives with her husband Rory and their two children Edan, 7 and Josephine 3. Edan was one of the first humans to be diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy on the newborn screen in Minnesota and was treated before the onset of symptoms. He is a miracle child, developing without signs or symptoms of SMA. She is an independent rare disease advocate, working to advance newborn genomic sequencing, helping SMA patients in other countries create patient advocacy groups, and assists companies who are dedicated to affordable and accessible gene therapies expand and advance their mission. Carolyn is a proud monthly donor to Genomes2People, Dr. Robert Green's (Harvard University) non-profit working to advance genomic medicine. Most recent blog about our story (2025) Blog I wrote for Harvard University (2024) Speech I gave for Harvard University (2024) Washington Post article about newborn screening Bloomberg Article about newborn screening Dr. Tim McLerran is a physician-turned product leader with a mission to bring human and machine intelligence together in the service of clinical challenges. During a research fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, Tim co-developed methods to rapidly measure the molecular milieu of human blood using mass spectrometry. This exposed him to the massive volume of data in precision medicine, and precipitated a realization that artificial intelligence would have to be a part of medicine in order for us to make full use of the data available for each patient. As an entrepreneur and product leader, Tim has developed and deployed systems which provide AI support to clinicians in diagnosis, management, documentation, and patient communication. He is dedicated to the quadruple aim of healthcare, practices user-centered design, favors lean and agile methods of software development, and actively advocates for the ethical principles laid out by the American Medical Association in their November 2024 statement "Augmented Intelligence Development, Deployment, and Use in Health Care.
• Perry Ashenfelter, Architect 02.04.2026 38min

  Perry Ashenfelter is a licensed architect passionate about creating healthier environments that bridge the relationship between architectural design, sustainability, and the urban experience. Her professional work spans a large range of scales from residential to higher education and healthcare, as well as large scale urban resilience projects. Perry has a diverse background with extensive construction management experience and technical training from her studies in structural engineering. She values the importance of considering all perspectives in developing comprehensive and creative solutions in a collaborative manner with project teams. Perry’s academic pursuits have focused on how design, as a tool, enables adaptation and encourages new approaches for sustainability from the building scale to the public realm. She is enthusiastic about increasing carbon literacy and reducing the carbon footprints associated with the built environment. Most recently, Perry's health care work has included the renovation and expansion of a world class veterinary medical center facility to match the level of care and expertise they provide to their patient community. While the patients receiving care and treatment may appear to have drastically different needs from their human counterparts, designing for the needs of the most vulnerable whether a patient or family member, and designing for the well-being of the care givers inhabiting these spaces supports the vitality of our overall healthcare infrastructure.
• Nicole DeKay organisational psychologist 19.03.2026 43min

  Nicole is a well-being centered Industrial-Organizational Psychologist. Founder of Humanalysts – which is dedicated to democratizing the employee experience. She is an advocate for employee wellbeing and harm reduction, educating employees and employers on what workplace harm, trauma, or abuse can look like and how to stop it. She brings in multidisciplinary experience as an analyst to executives where she’s worked in environmental health and safety research as well as marketing & sales where she led the launch of a multi-billion dollar new business development program, ran the analytics function at a small startup, and built HR analytics and survey infrastructure from the ground up for a fast growing company. She studied Adverse Work Experiences, adapted from Adverse Childhood Experiences, in her doctoral program in Industrial Organizational Psychology and is passionate about creating more humane workplaces.
• Chelsea Turgeon, former doctor and founder of The Spiritually Ambitious Entrepreneur podcast 05.03.2026 37min

  Dr. Chelsea Turgeon is a business mentor and founder of The Spiritually Ambitious Entrepreneur podcast and community. She left OBGYN residency in 2019 and built a six-figure coaching business from cafés around the world. If you want to build a business that feels like *you*, changes lives, and funds your freedom, subscribe to *The Spiritually Ambitious* Substack.
• Eric Matis, Brand Stategist at Cactus 19.02.2026 36min

  Eric is a strategist focused on designing experiences people genuinely desire. Over nearly 20 years, he’s worked across hospitality, transportation, and member-based communities—domains where brand, environment, and service design meet. His portfolio includes global experience strategy for Hilton’s luxury brands, premium mobility design at Uber, and the member experience vision for NeueHouse. That same foundation has made Eric a trusted partner in health and well-being, where the stakes are high and the details matter. At Cactus, he leads strategy for a high-touch longevity startup in the Middle East and has helped reimagine care delivery and environment design for Canyon Ranch, Mayo Clinic, and more. An anthropologist by training, Eric blends cultural insight with business logic and spatial storytelling. He works closely with CEOs, product leaders, and architects to shape offerings from the ground up. In this episode of the Podcast, brand strategist Eric Matis explores how lessons from consumer brands can transform healthcare experiences. Drawing on his years at Red Scout, Cactus and his multidisciplinary background, Matis discusses brand strategy as the art of finding focus through intention and how those principles apply to patient empowerment, service design, and cultural change in healthcare. Hear how healthcare can move beyond compliance toward engagement, respect, and desirability—from oncology clinics to digital health tools.
• David Maslach, Associate Professor of Management, Florida State University 05.02.2026 38min

  Usually, I feel like a Nincompoop. I am embarrassed. I feel like a failure. I can't do things right. Always. But, it means I try. As an Associate Professor of Strategy and Innovation at Florida State University, I study how firms innovate and learn from failure. I have (co)founded three ventures, one failed, two are doing okay. One is R3ciprocity.com, a platform for researchers to create "non-rejectable papers" through the power of community and AI. R3ciprocity aims to allow researchers to create nearly non-rejectable research papers and grants, and have fun too! Through R3ciprocity, I also engage with a global audience of researchers and practitioners, sharing insights and hope to millions of people on research, innovation, and strategy. I dabbled and failed to publish research in many contexts including editors, prospective entrepreneurs, medical technology, Formula 1 Racing, software development, content creators, and automobile recalls. Occasionally, it has gotten through. He has taught undergraduate, MBA, and doctoral courses on Strategy, Organizational Theory, Research Methods, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He is currently on the Editorial Board of Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, Strategic Organization, serves as the Secretary of the Strategy Division in the Academy of Management. He has published in such outlets as Harvard Business Review, Journal of Management, Journal of World Business, Management Science, Organization Science, and Strategic Management Journal. He has a PhD in Strategy from the Ivey School of Business (Western University), and degrees in Chemical Engineering, Management Science, and Sociology from the University of Waterloo. He held non-academic positions in scientific programming and public policy. He (co)founded the Ivey Medical Technology Innovation conference, CSOL, and R3ciprocity. The Carnegie School of Organizational Learning (CSOL) is the preeminent conference on decision-making and learning within and between organizations. Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3886vB9hdqnmHkOZRFlyih?si=554c3eb0b6bd4a39 YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/r3ciprocityTeam Platform: https://www.r3ciprocity.com
• Peter Quarry , Author and Psychologist 22.01.2026 30min

  Peter Quarry studied psychology at Melbourne University in the mid-1970s. He worked initially as a counsellor of the unemployed, then pivoted to public speaking, workshop facilitation and content creation. In the 1980s, he co-founded Ash Quarry Productions and became the on-screen expert presenter of corporate training videos that, over the next two decades, gained global recognition. His work was translated into multiple languages and won dozens of international awards. By the early 1990s, Peter was invited to appear on ‘Good Morning Australia’, where he secured a regular slot as the sometimes fun, sometimes serious, ‘Resident Psychologist’, answering viewers’ letters. In 2021, his debut book, If I Were You – A psychologist puts himself on the couch, was published. He is a regular contributor of psychology-related articles for major Australian newspapers, including the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review. He is currently writing a new book exploring death anxiety - and how to overcome it. peterquarry.com
• Laura Nelson, co-founder of Sober Life Rocks and author of The Inclusive Event Planner. 08.01.2026 36min

  Laura Nelson is the co-founder of Sober Life Rocks and author of The Inclusive Event Planner. With a strong background in leadership and events, she champions sober-inclusive gatherings that foster real connection. Her work is inspired by her own sobriety journey and a mission to help professionals design meaningful, welcoming experiences for all. She is also excited about their first conference, Amplify, a sober-focused event amplifying sober voices, on January 15, 2026. Join her in the Sober Life Rocks Community on LinkedIn and grab a free copy of her book at SoberLifeRocks.com. See also: • Amplify Sober Voices – their first conference dedicated to amplifying sober voices, happening January 15, 2026, in Orlando. You can find more here: amplify.soberliferocks.com. • The Inclusive Event Planner – her book on creating sober-inclusive, connection-driven gatherings. Details are here: inclusiveeventplanner.com.
• Brandi Mac, Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, Addiction Reform Advocate, and Author 22.12.2025 35min

  Brandi Mac is a critical care nurse practitioner, addiction reform advocate, and author of Do What You Can Live With: A Survival Guide for Families Navigating Addiction, Grief, and Impossible Choices. Blending clinical insight with lived experience as the mother of a daughter in recovery, Brandi’s work centers on trauma-informed, harm-reduction, and family-centered care. Through her writing, speaking, and digital platform, she challenges stigma, exposes gaps in the system, and offers real-world support for families fighting to stay connected through the chaos. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandi-mccurdy-185323212?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Email: brandi@brandimac.com Website: https://www.brandimac.com/ Podcast: Do what you can live with
• John Malios, retired clinician and patient advocate 18.12.2025 28min

  Dr John Malios is an experienced general practitioner and medico-legal examiner, retiring after a 50-year career in general practice. He founded the Oakleigh and District Health Centre (now The General Practitioner) in 1972 and went on to serve as Convenor of Medical Panels Victoria (2012–2017) and Deputy Convenor (2007–2012). He continues to contribute as a Presiding Member on Medical Panel Tribunals and has extensive expertise in medico-legal impairment assessment under the AMA Guides for WorkSafe and Wrongs Act claims. Dr Malios also delivers training for the Personal Injury Education Foundation (PIEF). Currently, he is an occupational health consultant in private industry, Medical Advisor and committee member of Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Australia, a member of the consumer advocacy group for Primary Aldosteronism, and an Associate Investigator with the Hudson Institute’s Primary Aldosteronism Centre of Excellence (PACE). Dr Malios is a Life Member of the AMA and RACGP, and a member of the Australian College of Legal Medicine.
• Parker LaCombe and Sydney Harris, patient advocates,MindCareConnect 04.12.2025 36min

  Parker LaCombe is a passionate advocate, strategist, and internationally recognized subject matter expert in mental health, peer support, and systems transformation. As the co-founder of MindCareConnect and firm believer that recovery is possible for all who navigate mental health and substance use challenges, Parker uses her lived experience to bridge the gap between clinical and peer perspectives—co-creating more inclusive, trauma-informed, and human-centered systems of care. Her contributions have been recognized nationally and internationally, earning her the 2024 STAR Peer Support Worker of the Year Award from SAMHSA and recognition as a Rising Star in the 2018 National Lifesavers newsletter by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Parker continues to champion stigma reduction, workforce equity, and peer leadership in mental health and suicide prevention efforts across the globe. Sydney Harris is an international mental health strategist with over 15 years of experience across public and private sectors, dedicated to transforming care into models that are person-centered, accessible, and holistic. She has led major initiatives including the Austin State Hospital Redesign and cross-sector collaborations addressing the intersections of mental health crises, homelessness, and the justice system. Sydney is the co-editor of Redesigning the U.S. Mental Health Care System (Oxford University Press), contributing two chapters to the volume, and the recipient of the prestigious George Pressler Under 40 Award recognizing leadership and vision in healthcare planning, design, construction, and operations. She is the co-founder of MindCareConnect, which elevates lived experience to shape mental health policy and innovation, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. MindCareConnect Website: https://www.mindcareconnect.org/
• Terry Tucker, author, speaker and patient advocate 20.11.2025 32min

  Terry Tucker is a speaker, author, and podcast guest on the topics of mindset, motivation, and self-development. He is the Founder of Motivational Check LLC. Terry has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The Citadel and a Master’s degree from Boston University. Among his many diverse roles, he has been a college basketball player, a marketing executive, a hospital administrator, a SWAT Hostage Negotiator, a business owner, and for the past 13 years, a cancer warrior. He is the author of the book Sustainable Excellence, Ten Principles To Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life, and a featured author in the book Perspectives On Cancer, Stories of Healing, Hope, And Resilience. Terry has also been published in Authority, Thrive Global, and Human Capital Leadership magazines, along with being quoted and highlighted in the books Your Blueprint for Purpose by John Creekmur and Audaciousness, Your Journey To Living A Bold And Authentic Life by Maribel Ortega and Helen Strong.
• Stephen Garner, patient advocate 06.11.2025 31min

  Stephen Garner is a patient researching their own disease, exploring the frontiers of human knowledge, and developing new frameworks as an ethical theorist. After reducing the severity and frequency of his own autoimmune symptoms through targeted nutrition, biochemical modeling, and self-experimentation, Stephen now shares his experience, and findings, to help others better understand and manage chronic illness. With a background in emergency services, information technology, and scientific theory-building, he brings a systems-oriented lens to the intersection of health, ethics, and personal agency. His current work focuses on giving the body the tools it needs to maintain systems coherence; combining insights from microbiome science, immune regulation, and cognitive framing.
• Alastair Santhouse, Psychiatrist and Author. 23.10.2025 40min

  DR ALASTAIR SANTHOUSE is a consultant neuropsychiatrist working at the Maudsley Hospital in London. He began his medical career working in internal medicine before retraining to become a psychiatrist. He is a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and formerly served as president of the Psychiatry Section of The Royal Society of Medicine, as well as vice chair of the liaison psychiatry faculty at The Royal College of Psychiatrists. He is the author of 2 books, most recently No More Normal: Mental Health in an Age Over-Diagnosis. His first book was Head First: A Psychiatrist’s Stories of Mind and Body
• Dr. Gary Sprouse Author and Primary Care Physician 09.10.2025 30min

  Dr. Gary Sprouse is a retired primary care physician who practiced in Maryland for 38 years. He graduated from George Washington University Medical School in the top 10% of his class and is a member of Mensa. He is committed to helping people improve their mental health. He has taken everything he has learned about stress reduction and crafted his award-winning book, Highway to Your Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress. Reading just one chapter can change your life! Best-selling author and motivational speaker Jack Canfield reviewed the book and said: “In the span of getting to know Dr. Gary Sprouse and reading his book, I have been introduced to many new concepts and ideas. His ideas and models for stress reduction are life-changing. You will absolutely love this. A must-read.” Dr. Sprouse is extremely passionate about bringing happiness into people’s lives through humor, compassion, and understanding. He has a unique perspective on stress that no one else is talking about. He has uncovered a groundbreaking new way to define where the majority of human stress originates. This new insight and the tools he developed to deal with stress are changing lives. Dr. Sprouse also collaborated on a book with Jack Canfield. The new book, Mindset Matters, is a best-seller on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Website: https://www.thelessstressdoc.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/lessstressdoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lessstressdoc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-less-stress-doc Happiness Highway Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@HappinessHighway-vk3xu
• Kimberly Warner, filmmaker, author, and patient advocate, 'Unfixed'. 06.10.2025 36min

  Kimberly Warner is a filmmaker, author, and patient advocate whose work explores what it means to live fully in a body that doesn’t always feel well. After studying pre-med and biology at Colorado College and pursuing graduate training in naturopathic and classical Chinese medicine, she veered from a clinical path toward a creative one, trading diagnostics for documentary and turning questions of health into stories of meaning. After developing a rare neurological disorder in 2015, Kimberly turned her artistic focus inward, embracing stillness, intimacy, and relationship as the foundation of her work. In 2019, she launched Unfixed, a media project that now includes award-winning films, limited series, podcasts, memoirs, and live roundtables. Her work has been recognized by PBS, Harvard Medical School, and the Invisible Disabilities Association, among others. Kimberly leads a larger advocacy role within the chronic illness community where she writes and speaks about her own patient experience. She is a member of the Global Advocacy Alliance, the PPAA (Patient and Physician Advocacy Alliance,) is a visiting faculty member with Global Genes, helped create a Course for Clinical Confidence—a medical school certificate course, is on the editorial board of the Journal of Health Design and is an ambassador for VeDA. She is also Life on the Level’s Best International Contribution Award, Rainbow Advocacy’s Most Innovative Storytelling Award, and the recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Media Impact Award. Her forthcoming memoir, Unfixed: A Memoir of Family, Mystery, and the Currents That Carry You Home, will be published by Empress Editions in October 2025. She lives in rural Oregon with her husband, David, where they tend their small farm between creative projects. When she’s not editing films, harvesting calendula, or writing for her beloved Substack audience, she’s practicing what she preaches: loosening her grip, staying curious, and letting uncertainty become a place of peace. Links: Preorder memoir: https://a.co/d/185zEos Main website: https://unfixedmedia.com/ Substack (for essays and interviews): https://unfixed.substack.com/ Tax deductible donations: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTIyMDgx 2025-26 projects * Unbound (short film): https://unfixedmedia.com/unbound * Unsung (short film): https://unfixedmedia.com/unfixed-unsung * Liberation of Being (patient memoir): https://unfixedmedia.com/liberationofbeing * Unfixed: What Time Makes of Us (feature film, focusing on 6 members of the original cast of the Unfixed docuseries)