Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Canada is building new hospitals and clinics. The new healthcare spaces cost billions of dollars. Hospitals are a main cause of pollution and waste, and not enough is being done to fix this problem. This problem causes a risk for wildfires, flooding, and heatwaves, and is harmful to people and the Earth. The health of our Earth is important because if it is sick, so are we. This means there is a connection between human health and the environment. It means when we take care of the Earth, we also protect our own health. How can we design hospitals and healthcare spaces that support healing, welcome everyone, and protect the environment? I want to learn this through my research. I will use two research methods: Interpretive description and community-based participatory research. These methods help people work together and share ideas. I want to learn what ideas architects, engineers, builders, nurses, doctors, structurally disadvantaged populations, spiritual leaders, patients and experts in the environment think make a healthy and environmentally friendly healthcare space. To find people for my research, I will email my professional contacts and ask them to share my invitation. I will interview participants one-on-one or in groups and record our conversations using digital tools like Zoom. I will look for both clear and hidden patterns in the conversations and then write about what I learn. Hidden patterns may have to do with gender roles, power, and privilege, or with how people's identities connect and overlap. I will also pay attention to how people are treated, who has more say, and if everyone gets a fair chance to share their ideas. I will hold a second round of one-on-one and group interviews to verify the participants' responses and my understanding. Once I find out the results, I will work with the participants to develop ideas and solutions for designing healthcare spaces that are welcoming, help people heal, and are environmentally friendly.