Professor | Author | Researcher | Designer
Featured Book
Published by Routledge
Environment-Behavior Studies for Healthcare Design explains how environment-behavior (EB) studies can contribute to healthcare design research. Drawing on EB theories and the latest research in environment-behavior studies, I present how the healthcare environment can positively impact patients' and caregivers' well-being and healthcare organizations' efficiency by modifying environmental attributes, such as space configuration, color, lighting, signage, acoustics, and artwork. In this book, I also explain how research evidence and evidence-based design (EBD) can be integrated into healthcare design more cohesively in a redefined cyclical design process model. This book attempts to provide a solid conceptual structure that informs a clear map for understanding EB theories and their applications in healthcare design, as well as their contributions to advancing evidence-based design. Building upon current environment-behavior theories, more research evidence can be generated for healthcare design through EB studies. The ultimate goal is to use research evidence to inform design decisions to create healthcare environments that help achieve the best outcomes for all users.
Dr. Ding Receives Featured Faculty Award
Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors
The Featured Faculty Award honors faculty for their outstanding performance in research, scholarly activity, creative endeavors, teaching, or engagement. The faculty's accomplishments demonstrate their comprehensive and significant contributions to the creation of new knowledge and the impact on their discipline and professional practice. I am honored to be chosen as the recipient of the Featured Faculty Award.
It is such an honor to receive the prestigious Featured Faculty Award (Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors) in recognition of my contributions to healthcare design and my efforts to advance evidence-based design and bridge the gap between research and practice, ultimately improving patient outcomes and experiences.
Dr. Ding Receives edra CORE Award
Certificate of Research Excellence (CORE)
I am thrilled and deeply honored to receive the Environmental Design Research Association’s 2026 EDRA CORE (Certificate of Research Excellence) Award at EDRA57 conference at UMASS Amherst, Massachusetts for my research study, “Examining Patients’ Seating Preferences, Personal Space, and Proximity in Doctor’s Office Waiting Rooms.” I am grateful for the support of Purdue University Fort Wayne Senior Summer Faculty Research Grants, which made this research possible.
The Certificate of Research Excellence (CORE) recognizes and celebrates exceptional, rigorous, and impactful practice-based environmental design research studies. Evaluations are based on two main dimensions: (1) Research Rigor, and (2) Research Value/Impact. This recognition motivates me to continue exploring how healthcare environments can better support patient comfort, well-being, and overall experience through evidence-based design. I am truly grateful for this incredible recognition and for the opportunity to contribute to research that advances patient-centered healthcare environments.
