Dr. Deborah Wingler Joins HKS Research Team

Dr. Deborah Wingler joins HKS as Vice President and Health Research Lead. In this new role, Dr. Wingler will collaborate with our research and design teams to develop and implement research initiatives that drive innovation and achieve meaningful, measurable outcomes across the HKS health practice. Dr. Wingler will be based in Dallas at the firm’s headquarters, and work with the practice globally, reporting to HKS Research Director Dr. Upali Nanda.

“Integrated research is foundational to our practice,” says Jason Schroer, HKS Principal and Director of Health.  “Having Deborah on our team brings a rigor and credibility along with a perspective that will push our teams to deliver the highest value to our clients.  We are excited to have her on board.”

Dr. Wingler’s research focuses on improving the patient and staff experience through research studies that utilize real-time data collection techniques to glean insight into patient and staff physiological, psychological and neural responses to high-stress health care environments. In her prior role as a Research Assistant Professor with the Center for Health Facilities Design and Testing at Clemson University, she contributed to multiple, large, grant-funded projects, working with multidisciplinary teams to develop solutions for improving patient safety, user experience, and operational efficiencies.

“At the end of the day research must be applied, and that application tested, so we can continue to evolve as a profession,” says HKS Principal and Director of Research, Dr. Upali Nanda. “Deborah’s experience in leading research, and translating it to practice, in a rigorous yet relatable way, will be foundational to the evolution of our practice. We are so excited to have her join our team”

Through her prior work as President of Healing Design Integration, Dr. Wingler collaborated with some of the most forward-thinking health care organizations, manufacturers, and design firms in the industry. She led efforts to integrate research into the design process at varying scales, from the development of emerging models of care through multi-year capital projects. Her research work includes developing tools to support evidence–based design decisions, and the design of products and platforms to support the delivery of care.

Her work is published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and industry publications. She is well known as a passionate advocate for the patient and family in health design and serves as a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals and industry competitions.