Navigating Today's Healthcare Landscape

The Intersection of Development and Financing in Healthcare Real Estate

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  Todd Graham

  Todd Graham serves as Senior Vice President Debt Capital Markets – Structured Finance with Anchor Health Properties and has over 25 years of experience as an investment banker and private debt and equity investor with a focus on infrastructure and commercial real estate. During his career, Mr. Graham has acted as an advisor or placement agent on more than $1 billion of transactions. He previously served as Senior Managing Director at Veyron Global, an industry-leading investment firm where he specialized in executing a wide range of structured finance solutions for public, private, and not-for-profit entities. He previously served as Managing Director at NatAlliance Securities, leading the firm’s alternative asset investment banking practice and was Managing Director of Cantor Fitzgerald where he co-led the firm’s infrastructure finance practice within the Debt Capital Markets Group. Mr. Graham brings extensive experience in financing real estate and infrastructure assets and enterprises with an expertise in debt capital markets, structured finance, securitization, asset backed finance, and Public-Private Partnerships.

  Structured Finance, Anchor Health

  SVP Debt Capital Markets

  Todd Graham

  SVP Debt Capital Markets

  Structured Finance, Anchor Health

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  Justin Brasell

  Justin serves as Executive Managing Director of Transwestern’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Advisory Services Group and leads the Houston Healthcare & Life Sciences Brokerage Team. With 16 dedicated professionals, the Team leases over 8 million square feet of clinical & lab space, more than any other local firm, and has transacted over 2,000 lease and building sales in the last 5 years. The team specializes in agency leasing, tenant representation, investment services and strategic account management. Justin has been with Transwestern since 2007 and specializes in providing real estate solutions within this niche space to investors, developers, end users and VC firms. His expertise in leasing, investment services, development, construction and asset management, allows him to apply a holistic lens to any real estate opportunity, resulting in optimal outcomes for Transwestern clients

  Transwestern

  Executive Managing Director

  Justin Brasell

  Executive Managing Director

  Transwestern

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  Shehzad Roopani

  Shehzad “Shaz” F. Roopani has owned and advised numerous companies in healthcare, hospitality, and real estate development. In his previous role as Executive Vice President of ZT Corporate, a mid-market private equity firm, Shaz managed strategy and risk mitigation for various portfolio companies. During his tenure as an Associate at Grant & Eisenhofer he specialized in complex litigation and arbitration, analyzing financing provisions, deal protections, proxy disclosures, and board conflicts of public companies for institutional investor clients. Shaz earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. Thereafter, he earned a Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law and a Master of Business Administration Emory University Goizueta Business School. Shaz was admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 2011. At Edloe Ventures, Shaz spearheads the group’s efforts in real estate development and acquisition. Additionally, as part of the Executive team at Edloe Health, Shaz brings his prior experience in private equity-backed healthcare operations to strategically grow Edloe Health’s footprint.

  Edloe Realty

  Managing Partner

  Shehzad Roopani

  Managing Partner

  Edloe Realty

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  Paul McCleary

  A healthcare-focused member of the enterprise Business Development team at the Hunton Group family of companies, founded by R.O. Hunton in 1981 to radically improve the indoor environments where people live, work, learn, and play. For info, please visit www.HuntonGroup.com Before joining Hunton Group in 2024, Paul built a 30+ year career at the intersection of commercial real estate development, consulting, construction, and healthcare—holding progressively senior roles with Skanska, Boyken International (now Hill International), Medica Development, Medistar, and PAM Health. An engaged industry leader, Paul is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP), Construction Owners Association of America (COAA), and Greater Houston Partnership, and is a Life Member of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association. Paul holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin (1987) and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas (1994).

  Hunton Group

  Business Development – Healthcare

  Moderator

  Paul McCleary

  Business Development – Healthcare

  Hunton Group

The Next Frontier of Healthcare

How Outpatient Facilities and Telehealth Are Reshaping Care Delivery

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  Bhargav Goswami

  As Director of Facilities Planning Services, Bhargav leads a team of planners, designers, activation managers and customer advocates responsible for maintaining institutional standards and providing planning and design management of projects. His scope includes Strategic Facilities Development, Master Planning, Design, New Construction and Renovation of healthcare, research, and education facilities. Prior to this role, Bhargav served as a Principal and Senior Medical Planner for EYP and has 25 years of international experience in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. He has an MBA with a focus on healthcare from Rice University, a Master of Architecture with a Certificate in Health Systems Design from Texas A&M University, and a Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Planning & Design in New Delhi, India. Bhargav is a registered architect and a member of the American Institute for Architects (AIA). A knowledge leader in the industry, he is a regular speaker at healthcare design conferences and frequent author in industry journals. He was the recipient of the American Institute of Architects Graduate Fellowship in Healthcare Research and Design.

  The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

  Executive Director

  Bhargav Goswami

  Executive Director

  The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

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  Ashley Strickland

  Ashley Strickland is a Partner at Palo Duro Commercial Partners, overseeing the company’s brokerage services, and bringing over 12 years of expertise in commercial real estate. Specializing in tenant advisory and land brokerage, anchor and end-user leasing, and project development, Ashley has a proven track record of success and longstanding relationships in the industry. Previously, Ashley initiated the Healthcare & Wellness Division at NewQuest Properties, where she expanded the company’s medical brokerage portfolio with notable partnerships including HCA Healthcare, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Suvida Healthcare. Her dedicated focus and skillset enable her to work on various types of transactions from land acquisitions, hospital campus land planning and development, Medical Office Building ‘MOB’ strategy and layout, and leasing. Prior to this initiative, she was a Top Producer at NewQuest Properties marketing and leasing over 50 projects within a $2.3B portfolio and at Fidelis Realty Partners, a combined 6M square feet of Power Retail Centers, on average 500k-1M SF per center. Ashley is an award winner for Bisnow’s “Deal Maker of the Year” category at Houston Women Leading Real Estate Awards, on Houston Business Journal’s “Heavy Hitters List” , and awarded the Landmark “Land Deal of the Year.” A Cum Laude graduate with a B.A. in Real Estate and Finance from Southern Methodist University’s Edwin L. Cox School of Business, Ashley is a licensed broker and active in the International Council for Shopping Centers (ICSC). She enjoys spending time with her husband and family, Mark Strickland and two boys, Hudson and Wesley, and volunteers on the Mutton Bustin Committee at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

  Palo Duro Commercial Partners

  Partner

  Ashley Strickland

  Partner

  Palo Duro Commercial Partners

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  Tim Robinson

  Tim Robinson is currently the Vice President/Regional Director for the Corporate Advisory & Solutions group. He is currently responsible for the Management and Supervision of Operations of a 1.6 million sq. ft. portfolio including Property Management, Financial Reporting, Budgeting, T/I Project Management and Capital Projects for a number of Medical Office portfolios in the Greater Houston area. Over the past 20 years, Tim has honed his skills in the Houston Real Estate Market, including residential, commercial and medical office. Tim stays on the leading edge of the industry by participating in various events, including; BOMA Medical Office, the Annual Houston Medical Office Forum and the Healthcare Real Estate Summit.

  Lincoln Property Company

  Vice President/Regional Director

  Tim Robinson

  Vice President/Regional Director

  Lincoln Property Company

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  Cory Porter

  Cory’s focus is two-fold: building a business with enduring value and creating lifelong clients through superior project design, seamless project delivery and exceptional client service. His deliberate approach and expert guidance result in the successful projects and satisfied clients for which Browne McGregor is widely known. Cory is a registered architect who particularly enjoys the design of technically complex projects for select commercial real estate owners and developers.

  Browne McGregor Architects

  President

  Cory Porter

  President

  Browne McGregor Architects

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  Evan Alford

  Evan Alford serves as Vice President and leads the Healthcare Division at O'Donnell/Snider Construction. With more than 20 years of experience in commercial construction, he brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges and requirements of healthcare environments. Evan has successfully managed over $800 million in projects across the country, including hospitals, surgery centers, medical office buildings, and specialty care facilities. His leadership is defined by a collaborative approach, technical expertise, and a strong commitment to client success. Evan holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University.

  O'Donnell/Snider Construction

  VP and Healthcare Division Lead

  Evan Alford

  VP and Healthcare Division Lead

  O'Donnell/Snider Construction

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  John Bernatz

  John brings over 20 years of executive corporate real estate management expertise, with a strong track record of building successful strategies for clients in complex real estate environments. As the VP of Business Development at Shaw Industries, John works closely with strategic financial equity clients to develop long-term strategies that address capital renewal needs across intricate portfolios. His ability to navigate the complexities of healthcare and senior living real estate, combined with a focus on cost management, sustainability, and operational efficiency, ensures tailored solutions that meet both client objectives and market demands. John’s extensive experience includes leadership roles at CBRE, where he gained global expertise across multiple industry sectors, Terwilliger Plaza as the VP Operations for 1,000+ resident community and skilled nursing facility, and Oregon Health Sciences University, where he managed over 3 million square feet of complex academic and research facilities and infrastructure. His diverse background also encompasses manufacturing, product development, and hospitality, all of which inform his unique approach to real estate strategy. This breadth of experience is built on the foundation of being a noncommissioned officer in the US Army as a decorated combat medic and trauma nurse deployed to multiple combat zones. This enables John to deliver creative, people-first solutions that drive lasting business results. Beyond his professional achievements, John enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest and traveling the globe with his wife, Dyann, savoring food and wine from around the world.

  Shaw Industries

  VP

  Moderator

  John Bernatz

  VP

  Shaw Industries

Innovation in Healthcare

New Technology, Telehealth And Facilities of Tomorrow

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  Karen Mooney

  Karen Mooney is the Associate Vice President of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction department at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Her team manages strategic facilities planning for the organization as well as the implementation of a multi-billion capital construction program. Karen graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Construction Management and received her MBA from UT Tyler.

  University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

  AVP, Facilities Planning, Design & Construction

  Karen Mooney

  AVP, Facilities Planning, Design & Construction

  University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

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  Pouyan Layegh

  More than 25 years of experience working in healthcare operations and maintenance management, building operation technologies, utility management, planning, design, construction, and consulting engineering. He leads the management of all Engineering, Building Systems, Utility and Energy Management including project Engineering and Commissioning, Building Automation, Emergency Power Supply System (EPSS) and Electrical service utilities, Vertical Conveyance and Two-Way Radio Systems, space inventory and Building Information Management, Utility Outage Coordination, in support of MD Anderson facilities, which are comprised of more than 16 million square feet. Expert in building technology systems, Internet of Things (IoT), cyber and network security, power supply systems, utility management, energy conservation, sustainable and smart buildings. Experienced in construction management, master planning, facility renewal program, financial forecasting, institutional growth, and capital budgeting. A registered professional engineer (PE) in Texas, he has a Master of Business and Administration degree (MBA), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He is also an Accredited Professional in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED AP®).

  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

  Associate VP, Engineering and Building Systems Mgmt.

  Pouyan Layegh

  Associate VP, Engineering and Building Systems Mgmt.

  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

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  Mital Brahmbhatt, MHA, LMSW

  Mital Brahmbhatt brings 20 years of experience in healthcare, where she has successfully developed and led programs focused on population health and care coordination. With a strong commitment to enhancing the healthcare journey, she has a track record of adding value through innovative strategies. Mital holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Houston and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Texas Woman’s University. Throughout her career, Mital has overseen operations in intensive care units, built a psychosocial division for the largest pediatric cancer center, and developed the STAR Kids Medicaid program for a health plan. She has worked to advance care coordination from payer to hospital to community, demonstrating its positive impact on patient care. Mital is passionate about being a change agent both professionally and personally, dedicating her time to volunteer with three nonprofit organizations in the Houston area. Currently, Mital serves as the System Director, Care Coordination & Population Health for Memorial Hermann’s Population Health Service Organization and is an adjunct professor at Texas Woman’s University. She is also an AHA NextGen Leaders Fellow. Her teams focus on delivering comprehensive care coordination for approximately 500,000 ACO-attributed lives in the ambulatory space, while driving innovative workflows in value- based care, care coordination, population health, analytics and more. Mital’s purpose is to be an innovative, human-centered leader, advocating for patients, their families, and providers, while striving to support those in need throughout their healthcare journey

  Memorial Hermann Health System

  System Director, Care Coordination, Population Health

  Mital Brahmbhatt, MHA, LMSW

  System Director, Care Coordination, Population Health

  Memorial Hermann Health System

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  Jon Harper

  Jon is the Assistant Department Head to the Mechanical team. He has over 16 years of experience in design and analysis of mechanical systems for institutional facilities, healthcare, central utility plants, multi-use student union buildings, commercial kitchen facilities, and laboratories. He is skilled in using modeling software for energy models for LEED, load calculations for building design and pipe flow analyses. Jon graduated from the Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

  Shah Smith & Associates

  Principal

  Jon Harper

  Principal

  Shah Smith & Associates

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  Melissa Edwards

  Melissa Edwards is a nationally recognized leader in healthcare architecture with over 15 years of experience designing impactful, community-centered care environments across the country. As a Managing Partner of PhiloWilke Partnership—a Houston-based architectural design firm specializing in healthcare, academic, and scientific facilities—Melissa leads with a commitment to quality, teamwork, and integrity. Her passion lies in the transformative role healthcare facilities play within their communities. Melissa’s design philosophy is rooted in collaborative practice models and the strategic integration of technology. She brings a unique perspective to every project by aligning sustainable design principles with deep construction knowledge and system integration. A cornerstone of Melissa’s portfolio is her deep expertise in micro-hospital design. Under her leadership, PhiloWilke Partnership has completed over 50 emergency-centric micro-hospitals across the United States. These facilities, ranging from 9,000 to 46,000 square feet, are designed to deliver high-quality emergency care in suburban communities, integrating diagnostic imaging, streamlined admittance, and flexible medical office space. Melissa’s work in this area has helped redefine how healthcare is delivered at a neighborhood scale, maximizing efficiency while maintaining a strong focus on patient experience and operational sustainability.

  PhiloWilke Partnership

  Partner

  Melissa Edwards

  Partner

  PhiloWilke Partnership

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  Madeline Cleary

  Madeline is an Assistant Director on the Savills Healthcare & Life Sciences team, focusing on Tenant Representation in Houston, TX. She has an extensive level of experience in marketing and commercial Leasing, including but not limited to prospecting, tours, proposals, space planning, lease documentation, and negotiations. In her eight years in the industry, Madeline has strategically utilized her marketing background to boost leasing momentum for high-rise institutional assets. Before joining JLL, Madeline worked at CBRE on behalf of institutional owners leasing at 5555 San Felipe, 700 Louisiana, 888 Westheimer, and 3201 Allen Parkway, totaling approximately 2.6M RSF. She led leasing presentations to brokerage firms and reached out to brokers through prospective tenant promotional marketing, resulting in leads and proposals. While at JLL, one cold call to a prospective ENT practice resulted in a new client account with over 80 clinics across three states. She understands the value of aligning with her clients to assist them in their strategic growth.

  Savills

  Assistant Director

  Moderator

  Madeline Cleary

  Assistant Director

  Savills

Hospital Expansions And Partnerships

Challenges, Strategies, and Opportunities of Collaboration

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  Esmaeil Porsa, MD, MBA, MPH, CCHP-A

  Dr. Esmaeil Porsa serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Harris Health, which is a community-focused, academic, and safety-net healthcare system dedicated to improving the health of those most in need in Harris County, Texas, through quality care delivery, coordination of care, and education. Harris Health operates 45 community-based clinics, health centers and specialty locations, and two trauma hospitals: Ben Taub Hospital (Level I) and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital (Level III). The system provides high-quality care and treatment for nearly 1.6 million outpatient visits and more than 36,000 hospital cases each year with an operating budget of $2.9 billion. Prior to his returning to Harris Health in 2020, Dr. Porsa served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Integration Officer at Parkland Health where he had worked since 2007 in different capacities including the Medical Director of the Dallas County Jail Health program, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President for Professional and Academic Affairs and Interim Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Porsa completed a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio before earning his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center Medical School in San Antonio. He completed his training in internal medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston where he also served as the Chief Medical Resident. Dr. Porsa completed a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health as well as a fellowship program in primary care at the UTHSC-Houston Medical School in 2005. Dr. Porsa obtained his MBA degree in Health Care Leadership from the University of Texas in Dallas in 2017. Dr. Porsa has a special interest in improving population health through addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and health care delivery in correctional settings. He is the Texas Governor appointee to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards where he currently serves as the Vice Chair. Additionally, Dr. Porsa serves on several other professional organizations including as the President of the American Heart Association in Houston, Chair of the Teaching Hospitals of Texas, Chair of the Frontline Hospital Alliance, and Chair of the Health Care Advisory Committee at Greater Houston Partnership. Dr. Porsa has served as a member of the Certified Correctional Health Care Professional Board of Trustees for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) for the past decade.

  Harris Health

  President and CEO

  Esmaeil Porsa, MD, MBA, MPH, CCHP-A

  President and CEO

  Harris Health

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  Pam Brink

  Pam has thirty years of experience in construction and facilities project management, with the majority of her career spent in the healthcare industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Elmhurst College. Pam has recently joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as the Director, Capital Projects and is responsible for major capital clinical projects. She provides the leadership to ensure projects have the operational strategies and systems in place to achieve the desired expectations, promote a continuous improvement culture, identify ways to manage risk to achieve project goals and motivate a high performing team. Leadership positions previously held include: · Area Manager for Austin Commercial for a Design Build healthcare project in Houston. · Project Executive for The Boldt Company for healthcare projects in the Greater Sacramento area. · Assistant Director for Universal Health Services for behavioral health in the Western United States. · Various advancing positions with Sutter Health for their Master Plan for the Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento campus.

  MD Anderson Cancer Center

  Director, Capital Projects

  Pam Brink

  Director, Capital Projects

  MD Anderson Cancer Center

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  Daina Pitzenberger

  Daina is a Healthcare Business Development Senior Vice President for Project and Development Services Houston. In her role, Daina focuses on building JLL’s Healthcare business as well as client relationships. Daina has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry as a Registered Nurse and the past 10 years as a nurse planner and business developer for the architecture, construction, and project management industry. Daina is an accomplished business development strategist with extensive experience in strategic account management. With extensive Healthcare experience, she brings healthcare operational, compliance and capital project experiences for every type of healthcare project. She began her career working in nursing homes, and hospitals as a Hospital Supervisor and CNO for Maternal Child Health and Pediatric Services. From the hospital, she moved into development of a national home health care and infusion company developing offices across the nation. From this experience, she worked closely with hospital development strategists and physicians to operate and grow a national healthcare durable medical equipment franchise with a focus on cancer and chronic disease. With her many years of operations, regulations such as Medicare Part A and B, healthcare compliance, and Joint Commission experience, she offers our clients realistic input during strategic planning and design process for renovations and ground up facilities. She offers many lessons learned, best practices and compliance know-how due to her ongoing commitment to staying ahead of the ever-changing healthcare challenges in the industry, such as regulatory constraints and reimbursement changes.

  JLL

  SVP

  Daina Pitzenberger

  SVP

  JLL

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  Ashley Dias

  Ashley Dias is a Healthcare Practice Lead in Texas and a member of the firmwide Healthcare Practice Council. An architect, planner, and designer, Ashley is a thought leader on topics such as “Hospitals of Tomorrow”. Her experience includes many of the top academic medical centers in the U.S., more than 10 pediatric health systems, and more than 25 hospitals worldwide. Ashley provides strategic leadership of the Healthcare Practice, which is among the largest in Perkins&Will’s global firm.

  Perkins&Will

  Principal

  Ashley Dias

  Principal

  Perkins&Will

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  Ben Janes

  Ben James is a Senior Project Manager at Austin Commercial, specializing in the delivery of large-scale capital healthcare construction projects in Houston, TX. He currently leads teams on two major MD Anderson initiatives: the $1.2B Design-Build Clinical Services Building in collaboration with Perkins Will Architects, and the $2.3B Patient Care Building 1 alongside Austin Layton. Ben holds a Master’s in Construction Law from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and is in his second year as a JD candidate at South Texas College of Law Houston.

  Austin Commercial

  Senior Project Manager

  Ben Janes

  Senior Project Manager

  Austin Commercial

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  Rachel Calafell

  Rachel Calafell is a Principal and Senior Project Manager at Walter P Moore, where she has worked on a diverse array of projects including new facilities, adaptive reuse, and significant renovations since joining the firm in 2008. She has served as Structural Project Manager/Engineer of Record for award-winning projects at Houston Methodist, MD Anderson, Memorial Hermann, TMC, UT Health, UTMB, and Legacy Community Health. Rachel’s passion for tackling unique challenges, understanding and responding to client needs, and fostering collaboration resulted in her projects winning consecutive gold medals in Engineering Excellence ("Structural Systems") for 2023 and 2024, along with the esteemed Eminent Conceptor Award (2023) by ACEC Texas. Rachel is invested in nurturing the next generation of engineers through mentorship, leading educational sessions, and authoring industry publications.

  Walter P Moore

  P.E. & Principal

  Moderator

  Rachel Calafell

  P.E. & Principal

  Walter P Moore

The Future of Medical Spaces

Expansion, Design, And Facilities Trends

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  Cindy Lowery

  Director of Real Estate & Facilities, Facilities Plan

  Texas Children's Hospital

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  Marissa Vasquez

  Marissa is a Director of Facilities and Construction Projects at Houston Methodist Hospital since 2016. In this role, she oversees master planning efforts as well as design, construction and activation of large and small capital improvement projects for Houston Methodist’s Sugar Land, Clear Lake and Cypress Campuses. Focused on the healthcare sector for essentially her entire career, Marissa consistently pursuits her mission to build innovative environments that nurture healing for patients, visitors and staff alike. Her capability to bridge the various clinical programs, institutional levels and geographic settings reflect her ability to uniquely respond to the needs of each community. Marissa obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Panama, and her Master’s Degree in Construction Management from Texas A&M University, College Station. She is a licensed Architect in the State of Texas, a Certified Construction Manager, a Certified Energy Manager, and a LEED Accredited Professional. Prior to joining Houston Methodist Hospital, Marissa’s career included assignments with ExxonMobil in the Woodlands Campus, and Jacobs in the Metropolitan Houston area. In her spare time, Marissa enjoys watching her kids play sports, home improvement projects, long walks, and the occasional round of golf.

  Houston Methodist

  Director, Facility Design and Construction

  Marissa Vasquez

  Director, Facility Design and Construction

  Houston Methodist

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  Patrick Casey

  SVP, Facilites Construction & Systems Engineering

  Harris Health System

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  Renee Fiala

  Did you know design can improve health outcomes? Renee is passionate about empathetically listening to your struggles and helping you develop life-changing design solutions for your patients and staff. As a medical planner, Renee focuses on the early master planning and design phases and believes in an interactive approach, tailoring solutions to your specific needs. She's focused on developing your unique vision and steering the project like a ship throughout the decision-making process. Together with you, Renee can create a design to improve patient experience, reduce the stress of your staff, and optimize flows to improve efficiency and lead to better health outcomes. Recently honored as one of Healthcare Design Magazine's Rising Stars, Renee believes in pushing the envelope of what's possible in healthcare planning. She's also an advocate for mentoring the upcoming generation of healthcare designers, serving as the national lead curator for Page's Tradewell Fellowship and organizing the annual HCD AIA-AAH STERIS student design charrette.

  Page

  Senior Healthcare Planner, Associate Principal

  Renee Fiala

  Senior Healthcare Planner, Associate Principal

  Page

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  Davene Morgan

  Whether she's reimagining a small clinic tucked inside a medical office building or orchestrating the complex dance of a full hospital expansion, Davene approaches each project with the same philosophy: great design happens when functionality meets compassion. With 27 years of experience spanning healthcare and commercial sectors, Davene has mastered the art of translating complex medical needs into spaces that work seamlessly for both patients and providers. She's the bridge-builder who brings design teams and client stakeholders together, ensuring that every decision serves the ultimate goal – better patient care through thoughtful design. From initial concept to final construction, Davene champions efficiency without sacrificing the human touch, creating environments where healing can truly flourish. Davene doesn't just design/plan healthcare spaces; she crafts experiences that reduce anxiety, streamline workflows, and remind everyone who enters that behind every great healthcare facility is a team that never forgot why they're there – to heal, to care, and to make a difference in people's lives when they need it most.

  HOK

  Senior Healthcare Planner

  Davene Morgan

  Senior Healthcare Planner

  HOK

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  Phil Nevuld

  Phil Nevlud is the Division President of MAREK’s Houston commercial construction division, where he oversees sales, estimating, project management, and the delivery of specialty interior services. He began his career with MAREK in 1986 and has advanced through roles in project management, estimating, and sales leadership before being named Division President in 2020. A graduate of Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Phil has guided teams on complex commercial and healthcare projects requiring precision, safety, and collaboration. His leadership emphasizes strong partnerships with general contractors, architects, and clients to ensure successful project outcomes across a wide range of sectors. Phil is active in industry leadership, serving on boards for the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Houston Chapter, the Texas Construction Association, and the Associated General Contractors Houston Chapter. He also contributes to the Construction Career Collaborative (C3), advancing workforce development and raising standards for safety and training across the industry.

  Marek

  Division President

  Phil Nevuld

  Division President

  Marek

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  Kurt Lindorfer

  Kurt’s professional engineering career spans over 40 years. His expertise includes structural engineering design for Mission Critical Facilities such as Data Centers, Health Care Facilities such as Hospitals and Clinics and Life Sciences Facilities such as Biopharmaceutical Pilot Plants and Production Facilities around the United States and the World. His area of expertise is in designing buildings to be occupable after natural disasters including Tornados, Hurricanes and Earthquakes. He has been the structural engineer of record for conventional “fixed Base Buildings” ranging from 1-23 stories, “Base Isolated Buildings” ranging from 1-5 stories, and the retrofit and new construction of buildings incorporating Fluid Viscous Dampers ranging from 1-22 stories. He has published numerous papers on passive energy dissipation and presented the findings at various conventions in Boston, San Francisco and Milan. For over 23 years as the Founding Principal at PARADIGM Structural Engineers, Kurt spends most of his time developing new leaders at PARADIGM and mentoring staff in Chicago and San Francisco.

  PARADIGM Structural Engineers

  Founding Principal

  Moderator

  Kurt Lindorfer

  Founding Principal

  PARADIGM Structural Engineers

The Rise of Suburban and Secondary Market Healthcare

Where Growth is Happening and Why

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  Carolyn Wolff Dorros

  Carolyn Wolff Dorros is currently Executive Vice President of Wolff Companies, a real estate development company based in Houston, TX. She works on the oversight and management of the company’s financial asset portfolios as well as land development, strategic planning, marketing and communications. Ms. Dorros graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1997 and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she earned honors in her second year. She has served as President of the Harvard Business School Club of Houston and as Chair of her class’s 10 and 15 year reunions. Prior to joining Wolff Companies, Ms. Dorros was the Administrative Director of Neurosciences at Stanford Medical Center, where she also served as Director of Business Development. She also worked at Medsite, Inc., as a Product Manager and as APM/CSC Healthcare as a Research Associate. Ms. Dorros serves on the Boards of Texas Children’s Hospital, St. John’s School, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, New Hope Housing and the West Houston Association. She is also the past Chair of Breakthrough Houston. Ms. Dorros and her husband, Chris, have a daughter and a son.

  Wolff Companies

  EVP

  Carolyn Wolff Dorros

  EVP

  Wolff Companies

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  Jeff Mosely

  As the Senior Vice President, Chief Facilities Officer for the Memorial Hermann Health System, Jeff provides strategic leadership to a comprehensive facilities management program inclusive of Capital Construction, Real Estate, System Engineering and Security. Jeff has more than 30 years of healthcare experience beginning as a licensed electrical engineer within an architectural engineering firm to leading facilities management with renown institutions including Mayo Clinic and the University of Miami. Based on this experience, he brings a unique perspective to both healthcare planning/design and owner’s representation to the construction and real estate projects he leads.

  Memorial Hermann Health System

  Chief Facilities Officer

  Jeff Mosely

  Chief Facilities Officer

  Memorial Hermann Health System

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  Caryn Guajardo

  Caryn Guajardo has over 13 years of experience exploring the relationship between people, work environment solutions, and business performance. She is passionate about comprehending the objectives, strengths, challenges, and internal processes of organizations and using that information to create human-centered design strategies that produce transformative change. In her previous role at a Houston-based design firm, she worked with companies such as ExxonMobil, Dominion Energy, and Wells Fargo to program and plan their real estate portfolios. Currently, as the Associate Vice President of Facilities Portfolio Management, Caryn utilizes her expertise to lead teams specializing in campus master planning, space planning, space data management and reporting, real estate, interior design, and wayfinding.

  The University of Texas Medical Branch

  Associate Vice President, Facilities Portfolio Mgmt.

  Caryn Guajardo

  Associate Vice President, Facilities Portfolio Mgmt.

  The University of Texas Medical Branch

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  Sam O'connor

  Sam O’Connor serves as JE Dunn’s Director of Preconstruction for Healthcare, leading efforts across all 26 offices. With over 20 years of experience, Sam brings a deep understanding of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and early-stage project planning. His background includes years of healthcare provider partnerships to navigate project development from the ground up, equipping him with unique insight into both the clinical and capital sides of healthcare construction. Sam is a trusted client advocate from project conception through construction, known for his ability to align budget, design, and execution using Target Value Delivery strategies and JE Dunn’s data-driven preconstruction tools. Notably, he played a key leadership role in the dynamic UHS Women’s & Children’s Hospital in San Antonio, as well as the recently started MD Anderson Cancer Center in Sugar Land. With a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, Sam brings the strategic foresight and technical expertise necessary to ensure exceptional outcomes and certainty of results.

  JE Dunn Construction

  VP, Preconstruction Director – National Healthcare

  Sam O'connor

  VP, Preconstruction Director – National Healthcare

  JE Dunn Construction

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  Justin Boehm

  As the leader of our healthcare division, Justin manages highly technical and complex healthcare, community, and education projects. Justin is passionate about producing quality results and applying lessons learned to challenges on his projects. His ability to lead and problem-solve in collaboration with other professionals has produced excellent results on significant projects and yielded long-term partnerships. Justin believes that construction is a team sport and enjoys working with our project teams to overcome challenges. He is most drawn to projects that are difficult, unique and make a difference in people’s lives. Similarly, Justin is drawn to activities that enrich the lives of the community, serving on the board of AMFP Houston, the Texas Association of Healthcare Facilities Management and the Urban Land Institute. Justin is also a certified Healthcare Constructor (ASHE) and certified LEED AP builder. Justin enjoys physical pursuits, staying active in triathlons, charity races, hunting, fishing and shooting sporting clays. Justin also enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons outdoors. The family has a goal of visiting every National Park in the United States.

  Harvey Cleary

  Director, Shareholder

  Moderator

  Justin Boehm

  Director, Shareholder

  Harvey Cleary

Remarks from the Podium

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  Doug Hatler

  Doug Hatler serves as vice president of enterprise sales at Boingo Wireless, where he is responsible for bringing in-building wireless connectivity to the healthcare, hospitality, commercial and high-rise residential real estate industries. He is a go-to-market specialist with over 25 years of experience scaling startups and early-stage companies in innovative infrastructure technologies, including telecommunications, water, environmental remediation and information technology. He has previously held leadership positions at Intel, IBM and 374Water. Hatler combines data-driven decision-making with hands-on leadership to deliver sustainable success. He holds a BS and MS in science and engineering and an MBA in marketing, finance and new venture development.

  Boingo Wireless

  VP of Sales

  Doug Hatler

  VP of Sales

  Boingo Wireless

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  Whitney Fuessel

  Whitney is a Partner and Regional Practice Director for Health in the South-Central Region for HKS, while officing in Houston. With over 28 years of experience in health, specifically focusing on the experience of humans in the built environment. Her fresh ideas draw from her team of designers and planners working on academic health projects, creating a collaborativ,e balanced approach. She is a leading voice for the healthcare in architecture. Career highlights include:  Chaired the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Health in Houston along with serving on the committee as student liaison and sponsorship chair for more than 10 years.  2017 received the AIA Presidential Citation for the work done while working with the AIA.  Founding Board Member of Women in Healthcare, served as sponsorship chair and currently on the National Advisory Council  Dean Advisory Board, Texas A&M School of Architecture  2024 Women of Impact for Go Red for Women  Selected as one of the 2015 Dallas Business Journal’s “Who’s Who in Healthcare”.  Participates in American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) portfolio review committee  Serves as juror and speaker on numerous occasions at Texas A&M, Rice University, Stephen F. Austin, Florida State University and numerous health conferences.

  HKS

  Partner and Regional Practice Director for Health

  Whitney Fuessel

  Partner and Regional Practice Director for Health

  HKS