Leading with Passion and Purpose with Karen Freeman

In this empowering interview with accomplished architect Karen Freeman, she radiates hope amid the challenges of the healthcare field, where we’ve witnessed an alarming exodus of workers. Karen shares her personal journey from a small town to becoming a leader in healthcare design and architecture, with a balanced focus on young patients and the workers who care for them, while illuminating her mission to support women in advancing their careers.

With passion, she shares her own winding journey into pediatric design. An architect molded from a childhood love of Legos, she found clarity and purpose in healing spaces for little ones. She discusses the importance of inclusivity in healthcare design, particularly in creating supportive environments for healthcare workers with neurodiversity. Now a leader in her field, she avows to lift other women through the Women in Healthcare organization as its national president. She urges - be a sponsor - don't just mentor, speak their names, clear their way. 

As she steps into a thrilling new role leading a global pediatric practice, Karen stays grounded in purpose. With exciting new projects on the horizon, Karen's vision for the future of pediatric healthcare design shines brightly. Her authenticity, compassion, and wealth of knowledge shine through. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in architecture, healthcare, women in leadership, or making a difference in the world. Karen's story and perspective will motivate and empower you.

Show Notes: 
00:00 Introduction to the Episode
00:48 The Challenges Faced by Healthcare Workers
01:04 The Importance of Neurodiversity in Healthcare
02:02 Karen's Journey into Architecture and Design
04:18 Karen's Passion for Pediatric Healthcare Spaces
05:41 Designing Spaces for Neurodiverse Healthcare Workers
10:24 Karen's Early Interest in Architecture
15:43 The Role of Women in Architecture and Healthcare
20:14 Karen's Role in the Women in Healthcare Organization
24:14 Karen's Definition of Success
26:38 Karen's Future Goals and Aspirations
31:37 Lighting the Way for Others

Guest Bio: 
Based in Atlanta, Karen is an HOK principal and the firmwide practice leader for Pediatrics. With more than 25 years of planning and design experience, she balances the needs of occupants and clients with the project’s broader goals to broker the compromises so critical for success. She has delivered more than 4 million square feet of healthcare space in her career and has special expertise in and a passion for pediatrics and subspecialty care for children’s health.

Karen is a founding member and the national president of Women in Healthcare, a national nonprofit that empowers and supports the mentorship and growth of women in healthcare leadership roles. She holds a Six Sigma Lean Black Belt in Healthcare (LBBH) and is one of fewer than 450 board-certified healthcare architects in the U.S. per the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA). As a frequent speaker and author, Karen’s thought leadership has been featured internationally in media outlets including Healthcare Design, Building Better Healthcare Magazine and Hospitencia.com.

Learn more about Karen’s work and connect with her:
Website
HOK Forward
LinkedIn

Resources & Links: 
HOK Establishes Centers of Expertise for Pediatric and Behavioral Health Design (Article)
Designing for Neurodiversity in Pediatric Healthcare Spaces (Article)
Pediatric Mental Health Crisis Needs Bold Design Strategy (Article)
Pediatric Design for Improved Patient Experiences (Article)
Inclusive Design for Complex Buildings (Article)
How to Create More Inclusive Pediatric Healthcare Environments (Article)