Panelists
Chris Bauer, Managing Principal and co-founder of Dallas-based focusEGD, is a leading expert in experiential graphics design with over 40 years specializing in healthcare. Her firm, which has a global footprint, prioritizes healthcare projects, ranging from clinics to vast hospitals. Bauer understands that effective wayfinding and signage in healthcare must clearly communicate with a diverse audience, including those in crisis or speaking different languages. To achieve this, focusEGD meticulously maps user paths and behaviors to deliver concise information at critical points, ensuring the best possible visitor experience.
Robert R. Feldbauer, DBA, FACHE, is a distinguished senior healthcare executive with over 23 years of experience in healthcare operations and facilities, complemented by 22 years in military service. As Chief Facilities & Real Estate Development Officer at Children's Health System of Texas, he's instrumental in developing a new $5 billion pediatric campus. His career includes leadership roles at UC Health, managing a $1.3 billion master plan, and significant contributions in the Middle East and at Mercy Hospital Fairfield. Feldbauer consistently drives strategic vision, optimizes operations, and enhances patient services, earning national and international accolades for his pragmatic and collaborative leadership.
Paul Johnson, Lead Designer at Devenney Group Architects, leverages over 23 years of experience to transform healthcare environments. Driven by a passion for architecture's healing power, he designs empathetic, cost-effective spaces that support wellness from the moment a patient arrives on campus. Johnson's work, alongside Devenney Group's 60+ years of healthcare focus, consistently aims to create nurturing and functional architectural solutions that enhance the entire patient experience nationwide.
Katie Logan, Chief Strategy Officer at Gozio Health, brings over 20 years of strategic and operational expertise to digital healthcare engagement. Formerly a Managing Director at KPMG and a C-suite executive at Georgia's largest nonprofit health system, she specializes in transforming consumer experience, access, and digital strategy. Logan is a recognized leader in aligning innovation with mission, fostering collaboration, and building service- and patient-centric cultures within healthcare.
Hilary Thomas-Herd, a Senior Associate and Healthcare Interior Design Specialist at CannonDesign, brings extensive expertise to creating patient-centered healthcare environments. With certifications including CHID and EDAC, she focuses on evidence-based design for acute care, ambulatory, and medical office spaces, balancing aesthetics with therapeutic outcomes. Based in Arlington, Texas, Hilary leads projects by translating operational needs into intuitive spatial solutions that enhance user experience and guide staff and patients seamlessly. She actively contributes to the healthcare design community, sharing insights on design standards, environmental performance, and human-centric wayfinding, often discussing how well-designed interiors improve safety, reduce stress, and boost satisfaction.
Moderator
Leigh Ann Ripka, Vice President of Corporate Development at B&H Engineers, a DFW-based MEP-T design firm, spearheads firmwide strategy, market development, and client engagement. Her work supports projects in healthcare, education, and commercial sectors, prioritizing functionality, long-term value, and patient-centered design, driven by her passion for the built environment's impact on daily users. Additionally, as Program Chair for the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP) North Texas Chapter, Leigh Ann curates events that unite healthcare leaders and design professionals to foster best practices and advance discussions on patient experience, facility operations, and team collaboration.