Douglas S. Erickson Health Care Research Award
History
The Douglas S. Erickson Research Award, inaugurated in 2024, represents a significant commitment to advancing the field of health care design. Named in honor of Doug Erickson, FASHE, a visionary leader and former CEO of FGI, the award encapsulates his dedication to fostering research-backed consensus-based guidelines to enhance the safety of health care facilities. This prestigious award underscores the long-term commitment to advancing the body of research related to health care design and construction, specifically emphasizing the role of the FGI Facility Code (formally known as the Guidelines for Design and Construction).
Administered in partnership with the Center for Health Design, the award aligns with The Center’s mission to advance best practices in health care design and empower health care leaders with quality research that demonstrates the value of design to improve health outcomes, patient experience of care, and provider/staff satisfaction and performance. By spotlighting the critical link between design research and improved patient outcomes, the Douglas S. Erickson Research Award plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the health care built environment.
Goals
1. Cultivate research on spaces in health and residential care built environments.
2. Improve knowledge and understanding of how design choices impact patient outcomes and staff safety and satisfaction.
3. Expand the role of research in setting minimum requirements in the FGI Facility Code.
4. Encourage collaboration through participation in the revision process.
Application Process & Timing
Beginning in June 2026, FGI and CHD will open a request for proposals (RFP) application process, inviting submissions from individuals in both the public and private sectors with a demonstrated interest in health and residential care design. Successful applicants will be expected to produce a peer-reviewed manuscript, present their findings to the Health Guidelines Revision Committee, share insights at an ASHE PDC Summit, and complete a Key Point Summary to be included in The Center’s Knowledge Repository.
The award will be presented every four years, in alignment with the FGI Facility Code revision cycle. Proposals contributing significantly to the knowledge base supporting the FGI Facility Code will be prioritized. The inaugural recipient(s) will be announced in October 2026, with research commencing in January 2027.
Get notified when the RFP application is open.
To ensure the long-term success of this initiative, FGI is accepting donations to fund the Douglas S. Erickson Health Care Research Award. Thank you for your contribution!
