In this episode of the AEC Women on Top podcast, we sit down with Rachael Rome, the Global Director of Mental and Behavioral Health and Studio Practice Leader for the Dallas Health Practice at HKS, Inc. Rachael shares her professional journey leading transformative design strategies across the full spectrum of high-acuity healthcare environments. With a collaborative, research-driven approach, she discusses how she translates complex client needs into performance-driven architectural solutions that blend profound empathetic design thinking with rigorous operational insights.

The conversation dives deep into the high-stakes, technically complex portfolio Rachael manages across the behavioral health continuum. Listeners will gain an inside look at the architectural planning required for specialized spaces, including pediatric outpatient clinics, neurodiverse sensory labs, interventional psychiatry platforms, inpatient units for medically complex patients, forensic psychiatry settings, and memory care environments. Rachael explains her involvement from early concept through construction and occupancy, illustrating how women are driving execution, continuity, and vision at every stage of major capital projects.

Furthermore, Rachael details how she leverages advanced operational methodologies—such as simulation modeling, behavioral mapping, and long-range campus master planning for multi-phased developments—to establish technical authority and challenge traditional spatial designs. This episode serves as an inspiring blueprint for women in technical industries looking to merge human-centric advocacy with executive strategy, demonstrating how to lead complex corporate spaces and reshape the future of healthcare infrastructure.