Debra J. Levin, Hon FASID, EDAC

Debra Levin is a trailblazer in healthcare facility design, research, education, and advocacy. Under her leadership, The Center for Health Design has become a pivotal force in advancing the quality of healthcare environments. Her work has transformed how hospitals, clinics, and healthcare spaces are designed, putting The Center at the forefront of the healthcare design industry.

A long-time champion of evidence-based design, Debra spearheaded the growth of The Center’s flagship research initiative, the Pebble Project, which expanded from four participants to more than 80 internationally recognized partners. Her leadership also led to the creation of the Healthcare Design Expo & Conference and the Environments for Aging Expo & Conference. In 2024, Debra orchestrated a key partnership with the American Hospital Association and the American Society for Health Care Engineering to expand the PDC Summit, establishing it as the central gathering place for healthcare design stakeholders to learn, network, and problem-solve.

Debra has forged successful partnerships with renowned organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the California Health Care Foundation, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and The Donghia Foundation, further elevating The Center’s mission and reach.

Under Debra’s leadership, The Center’s membership has grown to reflect a rich, multidisciplinary network of architects, interior designers, healthcare executives, professionals, researchers, product manufacturers, educators, students, and futurists. This inclusive community mirrors the diverse nature of the healthcare design field and strengthens The Center’s impact.

Debra’s relationship with The Center for Health Design dates back to 1989, when she was hired to produce the Symposium on Health Care Interior Design (now known as the Healthcare Facilities Symposium). The Symposium quickly gained a reputation for forward-thinking, people-focused ideas. When The Center was founded in 1993, Debra’s role expanded to manage its growing research and advocacy efforts. She was promoted to President and CEO in 2001.

A frequent speaker and panelist at industry events, Debra also contributes thought leadership articles focused on trends in healthcare design and the role of the built environment in shaping the future of healthcare spaces.

Debra holds a Master’s degree in Management and Organizational Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Management and a Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University’s College of Architecture. She served on advisory boards for the Healthier Hospitals Initiative, the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers, and Arizona State University’s Healthcare Design Initiative.

A Fellow of the Jim Whittaker Discovery Camp for Innovation and Leadership, Debra was named one of “Twenty People Making Healthcare Better” by HealthLeaders magazine in 2007. She was also recognized as one of the “Twenty Most Influential People” by Healthcare Design magazine in both 2009 and 2010. In 2011, she received the Presidential Citation from the American Institute of Architects/Academy of Architecture for Health, and in 2018, Debra was awarded the highest distinction by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) as an Honorary Fellow to the ASID College of Fellows.