Steelcase Health Extends Support of AAHID Graduate Research Fellowship

5 – year Extension of Fellowship Focused on Healthcare Interior Design

Washington, D.C. — March 15, 2010 — The American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID) and Steelcase Health today announced that Steelcase Health has agreed continue its support of the AAHID / Steelcase Health Graduate Research Fellowship for the next five years.

The purpose of the program is to promote the importance of interior design research and to contribute to the body of knowledge for healthcare interior design, consistent with the mission of AAHID. It also reflects Steelcase Health’s mission to change the way people experience healthcare environments through research and evidence-based design.

“Steelcase Health’s partnership with AAHID during the first two years of this program has been excellent,” said Phyllis Goetz, Global Director of Steelcase Health. “Steelcase Health strongly supports evidence-based design and thorough research to enhance healthcare environments and we believe that the recipients of these grants will continue to advance that effort.”

The recipient of the 2009 AAHID / Steelcase Health Graduate Research Fellowship was James J. Marstiller, MS, FASID. Mr. Marstiller’s research focused on finding the best interior design practice methods for people living with dementia and other cognitive disorders. The winner of the 2010 fellowship will be announced in April.

“With Steelcase Health’s generous support, we are very pleased to be able to continue this fellowship through 2016,” said Jocelyn Stroupe, President of AAHID. “The fellowship is meant to assist new investigators in initiating the research aspect of their education by providing seed money to afford graduate students the opportunity to pursue new or novel areas of research.”

The fellowship award is in the amount of $6,000 annually and in addition includes a conference pass and a stipend valued at up to a $1,500 for travel expenses to present at the annual Healthcare Design Conference (HCD) the following fall.

The award is intended to support the recipient by providing funds to cover educational and necessary research-related expenses during the award year.

About AAHID

The American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers certifies the knowledge, skills and abilities of healthcare interior designers. Board Certified Healthcare Interior Designers are distinguished and qualified by education, examination and work experience to practice healthcare interior design. The AAHID appellation recognizes excellence, commitment and knowledge. It further distinguishes preeminent healthcare interior designers from other architects, designers, decorators and interior designers. AAHID promotes research of healthcare interior environments and seeks collaboration opportunities to develop improved products for healthcare interiors with Industry Partners. For more information, visit www.AAHID.org.

About Steelcase Health

Steelcase Health is a company focused on healthcare environments and how products within these environments can help make them more comfortable, efficient and conducive to the healing process. For more information, visit here.

Contact

Michael Pflughoeft
262.398.0270
mapcomms@wi.rr.com

Aideen Doherty
adoherty@steelcase.com