2024-2025 President, AAHID
Ryan Companies
Minneapolis, MN
As we reflect on 2025, I want to extend my sincere thanks to our CHIDs, Industry Partners, Design Firm Partners, volunteers, and supporters over the last two years. Your engagement and commitment continue to move AAHID forward and strengthen the CHID Certified Healthcare Interior Designer® credential.
Throughout the year, AAHID advanced its strategic priorities of Community, Education & Research, Recognition & Outreach, and Organizational Continuity. We focused on expanding engagement opportunities, investing in education, and building the infrastructure needed to support long-term growth.
2025 highlights include:
- Launched CHID Connect, a CHID-only online networking forum designed to foster peer connection, collaboration, and professional support.
- Increased AAHID’s LinkedIn following by 20% in 2025 and 37% since year-end 2023, strengthening visibility and awareness of the CHID credential.
- Experienced a 56% increase in volunteer involvement compared to 2024. Thank you to every volunteer who contributed time, expertise, and leadership this year.
- Established a new Education & Events Committee to guide programming, content development, and educational strategy.
- Created and implemented a comprehensive educational needs assessment to better align future offerings with the needs of CHIDs and candidates.
- Hosted four AAHID local meet-ups, creating in-person opportunities for networking, mentorship, and candidate recruitment.
- Delivered AAHID’s first IDCEC-accredited CEU webinar, expanding access to high-quality continuing education.
- Developed new allied partnerships with the Nursing Institute of Healthcare Design (NIHD) and the Consortium for Interior Design, strengthening collaboration across the healthcare design community.
- Implemented the first annual Beacon Award to AAHID Executive Director, Kelly Podkowa. The Beacon Award honors an individual who demonstrates exceptional dedication, leadership, and advocacy in advancing AAHID’s mission, elevating the impact and recognition of certified healthcare interior design. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming nomination opportunities.
We were also proud to welcome twenty-eight (28) new CHID Certified Healthcare Interior Designers® in 2025. Each newly certified CHID reinforces the value, credibility, and impact of certification in healthcare design practice.
Lili Bai
Nina Ciarla
Caitlin Cox
Elizabeth Delgado
Brenda Dietz
Concettina Febbraro
Kathryn Gaysinsky
Cristal Gonzalez
Penelope Gulick
Melissa Hall
Taylor Henderson
Colleen Harrington
Cherie Jacobson
Carrie Kovacs
Rachel MacCracken
Natalie Mallory (Goza)
Christina Mellor
Sarah Mitchell
Amanda (Mandy) Ozaki
Peter Pinkerton
Fernanda Pinto
Lauren Amber Prestenbach
Emily Rea
Stanley Schimke
Christine Stamets
Emily Stewart
Jennifer Worley
Christina Ziobrowski
We also extend our sincere appreciation to those who supported AAHID through donations in 2025, including participants in our Fuel the Future of AAHID campaign. Together, donors contributed $2,100, directly supporting educational programming, candidate resources, and initiatives that advance the CHID credential and ensure AAHID’s long-term sustainability.
- Teri Bennett
- Ashleigh Cotter
- Stephanie Fallon in memory of Margaret Simmons and in honor of all the AAHID’s Founder’s efforts
- Miriam Ganesh
- Sonya Odell
- Avani Parikh in memory of Siddhida and Arun Trivedi
- Roseann Pisklak in memory of Margaret Simmons
- Aimee Platt in memory of Marian Millican and in honor of Louise Nicholson Carter
- Kelly Podkowa
- Christine Soto in honor of her mentor, Jocelyn Stroupe
- Gail Sterling in memory of Margaret Simmons
We hope you consider joining the Leadership Circle in 2026 as AAHID continues to expand our reach in the healthcare interior design industry!
As we look ahead, AAHID remains focused on supporting our community, expanding educational opportunities, and advocating for the role of certified healthcare interior designers in shaping safe, effective, and compassionate care environments.
It has been my profound honor to serve AAHID alongside so many dedicated CHID volunteers, partners, and board members throughout 2025. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Sandy Goodman and Marie Lukaszeski for their exceptional service as they conclude their terms on the board this year. I am equally pleased to congratulate Stephanie Fallon as she steps into the role of AAHID President for 2026. Thank you for being part of AAHID’s continued growth and success. We look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead.
Sincerely,
Thank You to Our 2025 Platinum and Gold Industry Partners
Thank You to Our 2025 Design Firm Partners
