Experience

  • 2024 — Now Founder at Grama Care Consulting

    Atlanta, GA

    - Led visioning, planning, and conceptual design for a transitional maternity home in Atlanta, GA.

    - Led visioning and master planning for a health and wellness campus in Muskegon Heights, Michigan.

    - Principal Investigator on project "Care Happens in the Community - A Participatory Research Approach to Developing Birth Center Design Guidelines" funded by the American Association of Birth Centers Foundation.

    - Led schematic design, design development, and construction documentation packages for residential projects in Atlanta, GA.

    - Served as the lead facilitator for user group meetings, developed meeting agendas, and updated drawings to incorporate user feedback.

  • 2021 — 2024 Designer & Researcher at Perkins&Will

    Atlanta, GA

    - Assisted in preparing the schematic design, design development, and construction documentation packages for the expansion and renovation of a patient tower of a major health system in Lawrenceville, GA

    - Assisted in preparing the schematic design package for the renovation of a women’s health department of a major health system in Atlanta, GA

    - Assisted in master planning, conceptual design, feasibility assessment, and spatial data benchmarking for two campuses of a major healthcare system in Atlanta, GA

    - Coordinated with diverse consultants across MEP, structural, and dietary functions

    - Participated in user group meetings, developed meeting notes, and updated drawings to incorporate user feedback

    - Assisted senior leadership with developing the project narrative and proposal for a behavioral health crisis diversion facility

    - Recipient of the Innovation Incubator grant at Perkins&Will and served as the co-investigator of a study titled “Falling Through The Cracks- Reimagining Post-Acute Care”

  • 2021 — 2022 E. Todd Wheeler Health Fellow at Perkins&Will

    Atlanta, GA

    - Conducted qualitative research on healing environments for patients with behavioral health needs in the Emergency Department

    - Presented findings at EDRA53, Clemson University 2022 International Nursing Conference for Excellence in Healthcare Design and internal Perkins&Will Healthcare COE calls

    - Worked with studio leadership to advance healthcare design, creative thought, and applied research through speaking engagements, research articles, and perspective pieces on the Perkins&Will blog

    - Research study was the recipient of the Joel Polsky Prize from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)

  • 2019 — 2021 Research Assistant at Cornell University

    Ithaca, NY

    - Supported research and development efforts of principal investigator Dr. Mardelle McCuskey Shepley by cataloging data and research into databases

    - Assisted principal investigator with coordinating and citing relevant sources

    - Prepared materials for submission to peer-reviewed journal publications

    2020 — 2021 Teaching Assistant at Cornell University

    Ithaca, NY

    - Assisted instructors with course delivery, and prepared presentations and materials for in-class lectures and studio sessions

    - Conducted design software workshops for students, facilitated virtual workshops, graded assignments

    - Courses taught - DEA 1110 (Summer 2020, Winter 2021), BIOG 4980 (Spring 2021), FSAD 2660 (Spring 2020), DEA 1500 (Fall 2020)

  • 2019 — 2020 Graphic Designer at Cornell Institute of Healthy Futures

    Ithaca, NY

    - Developed program brochures and agenda for biannual round table sessions

    - Developed design strategy for marketing packages, including print materials, banners, and newsletters for outreach to potential member organizations

  • 2017 — 2019 Junior Architect at Total Alliance Health Partners International (TAHPI)

    Dubai, UAE

    - Assisted in the design development, construction documentation, and submittal packages for 4 projects in the Middle East and South Asia region

    - Assisted in the schematic design of 21 Cancer Care Centre prototypes for Assam

    - Cancer Care Foundation in collaboration with TATA Trusts

    - Assisted the Regional Director in developing materials for the International Health Facility Guidelines (iHFG)- healthfacilityguidelines.com/

  • 2016 — 2016 Intern Architect at Vertigo Design LLC

    Dubai, UAE

    - Assisted in the conceptual and design development for an interior fit-out of a prefabricated hospital in India; master planning of an industrial park in India

Education

  • 2019 — 2021 Master of Science at Cornell University

    Ithaca, NY

    - Master of Science in Design + Health, minor in Human Development, GPA - 3.9

    - Honored as the 2022 Cornell University Graduate School Degree Marshall, awarded annually to the most academically distinguished student

    - Recipient of full tuition-based scholarship for Teaching Assistantships

    - Other scholarships - K.C. Mahindra Scholar, AIA-AAH Arthur N. Tuttle Graduate Fellowship, Patricia J. Harris Memorial IFMA Scholarship, Women Entrepreneurship Cornell cohort '20-'21, Epperson Entrepreneurship Fellow

    - Student contributor to the FGI Recommended Standards for NICU Design

    - President, D+EA Graduate Student Association

    - Design Chair, Cornell University Healthy Futures Graduate Chapter (CUHFG)

  • 2012 — 2017 Bachelor of Architecture at National Institute of Technology, Calicut

    Calicut, India

    - Graduated in the Top 5% of Class

    - Undergraduate thesis received the highest grade in the cohort

    - Nominated for National Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis

Awards & Recognitions

  • 2024 Research Grant from the American Association of Birth Centers Foundation

    Awarded research grant from the American Association of Birth Centers Foundation for a study titled “Care Happens in the Community: A Participatory Research Approach to Developing Birth Center Design Guidelines”

  • 2023 Joel Polsky Prize from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)

    Awarded the Joel Polsky Prize by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)

  • 2023 Innovation Incubator grant from Perkins&Will

    Awarded the Innovation Incubator grant at Perkins&Will and served as the co-investigator of a study titled “Falling Through The Cracks- Reimagining Post-Acute Care”

  • 2021 E. Todd Wheeler Health Fellowship from Perkins&Will

    Recipient of the E. Todd Wheeler Health Fellowship at Perkins&Will for a study titled “Care in the Time of Crisis: Designing for Patients with Behavioral Health Needs in the Emergency Department”

  • 2021 Arthur N. Tuttle Jr. Fellowship from AIA-AAH

    Awarded the AIA-AAH Arthur N. Tuttle Jr. Fellowship for a study titled “Understanding The Couplet Care Environmental Model And Its Effect On Bonding Between Mother And Infant”

  • 2021 Patricia J. Harris Memorial Scholarship from IFMA

    Awarded the Patricia J. Harris Memorial Scholarship from IFMA

  • 2021 Epperson Entrepreneurship Fund from the Center for Regional Economic Advancement

    Recipient of the Epperson Entrepreneurship Fund by the Center for Regional Economic Advancement

  • 2021 Degree Marshall from Cornell University

    Honored as the 2022 Cornell University Graduate School Degree Marshall, awarded annually to the most academically distinguished student

  • 2019 K.C. Mahindra Scholarship from KCMET

    Recipient of K.C. Mahindra Scholarship from KCMET, India

Speaking

  • 2023 - Reinventing Health, Hospitality and Design Symposium at CIHF Industry Roundtable

    Ithaca, NY

    - Roundtable Participant, CIHF Industry Scholar

  • 2022 - Reimagining Behavioral Emergency Environments at National Update on Behavioral Emergencies Conference

    Scottsdale, AZ

    - Workshop Facilitator, Organizing Committee

    - Planned and facilitated human-centered and lean-process-infused workshops bringing together process consultants, clinicians, healthcare designers, and students

    - Worked alongside participants to prototype environments in an interactive format

    - Facilitated efforts to bring diverse voices and clinical insights to the FGI guideline development process

  • 2022 - Reimagining Career Pathways For Emerging Professionals in Research-Informed Practice at Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) - Health in All Design

    Greenville, SC

    - Co-presenter, Sabah Mohammed, Kinjal Shah, Neha Rampuria and Kalpana Kuttaiah

  • 2022 - Couplet care environmental model at The Annual Gravens Conference on the Environment of Care for High Risk Newborns

    Clearwater, FL

    - Poster Presenter, Workshop Facilitator

    - Poster presentation at the annual Gravens Conference in 2021 and 2022

    - Planned and facilitated human-centered and lean-process-infused workshops bringing together process consultants, clinicians, healthcare designers, and students

    - Worked alongside participants to prototype environments in an interactive format

    - Facilitated efforts to bring diverse voices and clinical insights to the FGI guideline development process

  • 2022 - Internal Presentations at Perkins&Will

    - Presenter, Innovation Incubator firmwide presentation, Perkins&Will, May 2023

    - Presenter, Design Review- Balkrishna Doshi, Perkins&Will Atlanta, Mar 2023

    - Co-presenter, Boston Design Discussions, Perkins&Will Atlanta, Aug 2022

    - Co-presenter, Healthcare Center of Excellence, Perkins&Will firmwide, Jul 2022

    - Co-presenter, Healthcare Center of Excellence, Perkins&Will firmwide, Apr 2022

Teaching

  • 2023 Guest Lecturer at Cornell University

    - DEA 5305 - Health & Healing Studio led by Dr. Mardelle McCuskey Shepley

    - Invited to present graduate research on the Couplet Care Environmental Model in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

    - Participated as a juror for the final project review

  • 2023 Guest Lecturer at Yale University

    - 1104 Advanced Design Studio - Designing Delivery led by Kim Holden and Emily Abruzzo

    - Invited to present research on the Couplet Care Environmental Model in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

  • 2023 Guest Lecturer at Texas State University

    - ID 4324 Studio IV Contemporary Design Issues led by Dr. Intisar Ameen Tyne and Dr. Asha Latha Hegde Niezgoda

    - Invited to present research on ‘Reimagining Acute Behavioral Health’ and embedding research in practice

    - Invited to participate as a juror for the schematic design review and final review

Certifications

  • 2022 - WELL AP from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)

    WELL-AP-0000130594


  • 2022 - LEED Green Associate from U.S. Green Building Council

    11475576-GREEN-ASSOCIATE


  • 2021 - Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) from The Center for Health Design

    CHD-200741


  • 2018 - Health Facility Planning from Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

  • 2018 - Registered Architect from Council of Architecture - India

    CA/2018/90729



Volunteering

  • 2022 — Now Contributor at Facility Guidelines Institute

    - Contributing member of the Health Guidelines Revision Committee

    - Women's and Children's Health environments expert

    - Outpatient Document Group- Behavioral Health Task Group

    - Co-author of Recommended Standards for NICU Design

  • 2021 — Now Volunteer, Workshop Facilitator at Sextant Foundation

    Facilitator for Reimagining workshops - R-NICU and R-Behavioral Health Emergency Environments

  • 2022 — 2023 Volunteer at Women in Healthcare, Georgia Chapter

    Atlanta, GA

    - Institutional Liaison Committee

    - Emerging Leader 2022

  • 2020 — 2021 Volunteer at IFMA, NY Chapter

    NY


  • 2019 — 2021 Fundraising Coordinator at Asha for Education

    Ithaca, NY


  • 2016 — 2016 Volunteer at Dubai Design Week

    Dubai, UAE


  • 2015 — 2016 Volunteer at Compassionate Kozhikode

    Calicut, India