Derek, a Director of Anshen + Allen Architects, was the driving force in creating the firm's multi-office healthcare practice in the US & abroad and in mentoring several generations of healthcare architects. His contributions to the profession of healthcare architecture span more than 45 years and have led to improved facility design throughout the US and the world. He has been instrumental in transformational initiatives throughout his career and has designed hospitals and bio-medical research facilities in 15 countries and received more than 75 awards for design, numerous papers and presentations on health.
He has contributed to the profession as a board member for Laguna Honda Hospital Foundation and Marin General Hospital. He was the Co-Founder and Chair of the Medicapower Corporation developing a technology to safely convert medical waste to energy. Other positions he has held have been Senior Advisor for Aditazz, Co- founder Center for Health Design (C4HD)
Derek has received a number of awards including the Changemaker Award, Center for Health Design 2012; Lifetime Achievement Award, American College of Healthcare Architects 2008; Distinguished Practice Award, AIACC 2008; One of the 25 most Influential People in Health Care Design 2009; and International Academy for Design & Health - 2019 Lifetime Fellowship.
Significant Healthcare Projects:
Derek has worked on projects in Beijing, Canada and Australia. Significant projects in California include: The Good Samaritan Hospital of the Santa Clara Valley, California, The Lucille Salter Packard Childrens’ Hospital Stanford University, The Norris Cancer Research Hospital, University of Southern California, and Convalescent Hospital for Children, San Diego to name a few.
Impact on the healthcare architecture profession:
Derek’s commitment to leveraging the role of architecture in the improvement of healthcare outcomes, patient and staff experience, and environmental quality, as well as reduction of medical error, has led to his collaboration with practitioners, educators, students, industry leaders, and both government and private agencies to bring evidence-based design into the mainstream vocabulary of healthcare architects, healthcare providers, and construction industry professionals.
Now a Director of Anshen + Allen Architects, one of the world’s largest architecture firms dedicated solely to the design of healthcare and research environments, Derek was the driving force in creating the firm’s multi-office healthcare practice in the US and abroad, and in mentoring several generations of healthcare architects.
Contributions to the advancement of the AIA include his participation on the following boards
- Member of the Scientific Committee, International Academy of Design and Health, Stockholm,
- Founding Editorial Board, Health Environments Research and Design
- Board member, The National Academy of Engineering (2002-2008)
- Fellow, The American Institute of Architects, The American Academy of Healthcare Architects,
- The Royal Institute of British Architects
- Brought evidence-based design into the mainstream