KU News Release

Fine arts, architecture faculty collaborate to improve health care for Kansans

LAWRENCE — Several faculty members at the University of Kansas are pooling their talents to improve Kansas health care, but they’re not from the university’s medical school.

Faculty from KU’s Department of Design initiated Design for Wellness, a program to enhance healing in Kansas hospitals and health care facilities through the use of design. Others from Department of Music and Dance and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning will contribute.

Based on scientific data and the clinical experience of their medical counterparts, the group will use creative approaches to make the healing environment less institutional. The integration of holistic design will also result in a more effective and efficient environment for health care workers and patients.

It is hoped that the project will attract graduate students who seek interdisciplinary health- and wellness-related work, and the support of companies and foundations.

“It is through proposed alliances with industry and grants and foundation support that KU Design for Wellness will be able to understand how design contributes to the quality of Kansas health care,” said Greg Thomas, chair of the Department of Design.

The nine professors have already made an impact in several areas of health care using their understanding of how design, architecture and unique wellness approaches affect the patient, medical outcomes and quality of care.

Some of work the team has completed includes:

— creation of a full-scale example of an evaluation room for a family practice/doctor’s office
— development of a health care research summit at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, which was attended by top designers, health care providers, researchers, leaders of professional organizations and funding agencies
— design and research for the $20 million, 20-bed neuro-ICU of the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta
— creation of “Creatives Against Cancer,” an organization that aids in funding cancer research for the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif.

“We plan to grow Design for Wellness into a large research and development entity located within an academic environment but operated by practicing professionals,” said Thomas. “This is another innovative way that KU can serve Kansas.”

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.