When architect Abbie Clary experienced the heartbreaking loss of her father within a fragmented healthcare system, it forever transformed her approach to healthcare design. Through her deeply personal story, Clary reveals how the current healthcare environment often fails to support patients and families during their most vulnerable moments. Drawing from interviews involving hundreds of patients, loved ones, and clinicians, she demonstrates how human-centered design can transform healthcare spaces from institutional to empathetic. From maternal care to cancer treatment, Clary demonstrates how thoughtful design can reduce anxiety, support dignity, and even improve outcomes. Her presentation combines professional expertise with powerful personal narrative to advocate for a fundamental reimagining of healthcare spaces that prioritize human experience alongside medical efficiency. Abbie Clary has nearly 30 years of experience helping globally recognized institutions architect more accessible healthcare spaces and is the Global Health Practice Co-Director at CannonDesign. Abbie champions projects that challenge the status quo and break down existing barriers within the medical world, while emphasizing social progress and encouraging empathy-driven approaches. Her passion lies in translating design visions into inclusive and supportive experiences. For the entirety of her career, she has held the unwavering belief that intentionally designed platforms can set everyone up to thrive.