Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series

The Robbins College Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series brings innovative researchers who are positively impacting the health and well-being of their communities to the Baylor University campus to speak on their research and its impact.

"Designing for safety: A human-centered systems approach"

April 13, 2026 | 10:00am | Cashion 506 & Online

Anjali Joseph, PhD, EDAC

Professor of Architecture and Industrial Engineering, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Endowed Chair in Architecture+Health Design, and Director for the Center for Health Facilities Design and Testing, Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture, Clemson University

In the Spring 2026 Robbins College Dean's Distinguished Lecture, Anjali Joseph, will present, "Designing for safety: A human-centered systems approach."

Designing for safety is essential to improving human health, performance, and well‑being in healthcare environments. This presentation explores how an evidence‑based healthcare facility design process can help reduce preventable harm and improve the human experience by shaping the physical conditions that influence clinical workflow, cognition, and communication. Drawing on research from patient room and operating room studies, this session highlights how human‑centered design, systems thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration improve safety, efficiency, and user experience. Attendees will gain insight into how simulation-based evaluation of physical and virtual mockups can engage and empower clinical teams during the design process. The built environment functions as a critical component of healthcare delivery—and thoughtful design can enhance outcomes for patients, families, and care teams across diverse care settings.

ABOUT DR. ANJALI JOSEPH

Anjali Joseph, PhD, EDAC, is the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Endowed Chair in Architecture + Health Design and Director of the Center for Health Facilities Design and Testing at Clemson University. A leading scholar in evidence‑based design, she conducts research at the intersection of human factors, healthcare environments, and patient safety. Dr. Joseph has served as Principal Investigator on major federally funded projects, including AHRQ‑supported patient safety learning labs focused on improving safety in emergency departments and operating rooms. Her work has shaped national conversations on integrating the built environment as a key component of safer, more supportive healthcare systems through rigorous research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and human‑centered design.

Past Lecturers

• Tyler Cooper, MD, MPH, President and CEO, Cooper Aerobics/Cooper Clinic (Fall 2023)
• Michael J. Joyner, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic (Spring 2024)
• Katherine A. Hutcheson, PhD, Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Fall 2024)
• Fabrisia Ambrosio, PhD, MPT,  Atlantic Charter Director of the Discovery Center for Musculoskeletal Recovery, Schoen Adams Research Institute and Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School (Spring 2025)
• Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, University of Texas Medical Branch  (Fall 2025)