Mar 27, 2025 _ news

Kirsten Miller Earns ACHA Certification

Join us in celebrating GBBN Associate Kirsten Miller who recently earned certification from the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA).

Recognized by the American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) and the American Hospital Association (AHA), the ACHA certification provides independent assurance that an architect has the demonstrated experience and requisite knowledge to design and implement solutions that meet the complex needs of healthcare clients.

The certification process not only requires applicants to assemble a portfolio of completed project work to demonstrate their experience in the many facets of healthcare architecture, it also requires them to pass a rigorous, comprehensive exam that covers everything from design and implementation to the economic and regulatory forces shaping the healthcare industry.

“Board Certification is an independent, peer reviewed process,” says Angela Mazzi, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Architects and our in-house champion for her GBBN colleagues seeking certification. “We value the ACHA designation and the commitment to excellence that comes with it. Our clients can feel confident that we’re bringing experts to the table and trust that their projects will benefit from our industry’s best practices. Kirsten’s certification adds another dimension to the insight and experience she brings to her work,” she says.

Given the requirements of certification, why did Kirsten choose to pursue it? “Becoming certified through ACHA was always on my list of career goals. It was encouraging to know others at GBBN who were going through the certification process so we could confront the test and portfolio together,” says Kirsten. “I have been working in healthcare for a decade, and this certification is demonstration of the passion and dedication I bring to healthcare architecture.”

As a medical planner, Kirsten relishes new project infrastructure challenges and using regulatory knowledge and best practices to create innovative floor plans that help clients deliver quality care. When she sees a space need or gap, Kirsten taps her curiosity and love of research to develop something new. “Right now, I’m curious about the patient’s experience from arrival at a large healthcare campus and their steps toward their destination,” she says. “I want to know what the stressors and positive aspects are so we can use design to best support the patient journey.”

Congratulations Kirsten!