Sara Bayramzadeh, Ph.D., M.Arch.
College of Architecture & Environmental Design
Coordinator and Elliot Professor, Health Care Design Program
Campus:
Kent
Office Location:
CAED 210
Biography
Dr. Sara Bayramzadeh is an Associate Professor at Kent State University. she joined Kent State University as the Coordinator of and the Elliot Professor in the Healthcare Design program, in 2018. She is recognized for her research on psychiatric units and operating rooms designs. Sara is interested in interdisciplinary research efforts to enhance healthcare outcomes through effective environmental design. Such outcomes include efficiency and the safety and satisfaction of both patients and staff. As an advocate of interdisciplinary collaborations, she believes true innovation emerges from learning in the context of such collaborative efforts.
In addition, she is interested in opportunities to bridge academia and practice for design solutions derived from research and actively looks for ways to promote research in design practice. Her practice-based research experience includes collaborations with HGA Architects and Engineers and BBH Design.
Her research on outpatient facilities design, psychiatric units design, and surgical environments has appeared in journals such as Health Environments Design & Research, Applied Ergonomics, and BMJ Quality & Safety. Sara has been a recipient of multiple national and international awards, such as 2016 Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award from the American Society of Interior Designers for outstanding dissertation and 2018 Best Paper Award from Applied Ergonomics Journal. She is a member of the AIA鈥檚 Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH). She is also involved with the Academy of Architecture for Health Foundation, AAH Next Generation Committee, and the AIA Cleveland Healthcare.
Before joining Kent State, Sara has held appointments as a Research Assistant Professor in Clemson University鈥檚 Architecture + Health program, a member of the Center for Health Facilities Design and Testing, and a Lecturer at the University of Kentucky. She holds a Master of Architecture from Miami University and a Ph.D. in Design, Construction and Planning with a concentration in Interior Design from the University of Florida (2015).
Education
Ph.D. in Design, Construction and Planning
Master of Architecture
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering
Master of Architecture
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering
Publications
- Estejab, H., Bayramzadeh, S., Mirzajani, H., Mallat, A., Krizo, J., & Brooks, S. (2025). The application of full-scale mock-up in simulation-based design evaluations of trauma rooms. International Journal for Quality in Health Care.
- Estejab, H., & Bayramzadeh, S. (2024). The Application of Augmented Reality in Simulation-Based Design Evaluations of Trauma Rooms. Health Environments Research & Design Journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867241302415
- Aghaei, P., & Bayramzadeh, S., (2024). Clinicians鈥 experience with technology within the physical environment of trauma rooms: A focus group study. Facilities, 42(5/6), 524-536. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/F-03-2023-0022
- Nadi, ZB., Raisali, F., Jafari, N., & Bayramzadeh, S. (2023). The influence of physical environment on Healthcare-Associated Infections: A literature review. American Journal of Infection Control, 52(2), 229-242. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.202
- Bayramzadeh, S., & Ahmadpour, S. (2023). The impact of sensory stimuli on healthcare workers and outcomes in trauma rooms: A focus group study. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 17(2), 115-128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586723121508
- Joseph, A., Neyens, D., Taaffe, K., Bayramzadeh, S., & Catchpole, K. (2022). Understanding 鈥渨ork as done鈥: Using a structured video-based observational method to understand and model the role of the physical environment in complex clinical work systems
- Bayramzadeh, S., & Chiu, L. (2022). The impact of design on workflow: A comparative case study of Level I trauma rooms. Facilities. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/F-11-2021-0113
- Aghaei, P., Bayramzadeh, S., Ahmadpour, S. (2022). Drive-through urgent care centers, could they be what the future of healthcare looks like? Health Environments Research & Design Journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867221087360
- Aghaei, P., Bayramzadeh, S., & Ahmadpour, S. (2022). Drive-through urgent care centers, could they be what the future of healthcare looks like? Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 15(3), 56-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867221087360
- Joseph, A., Neyens, D., Taaffe, K., Bayramzadeh, S., & Catchpole, K. (2022). Understanding 鈥渨ork as done鈥: Using a structured video-based observational method to understand and model the role of the physical environment in complex clinical work systems
- Bayramzadeh, S., Anthony, M., Sterling, M., & O鈥橠onnell, K. (2021). The role of the physical environment in shaping interruptions and disruptions in complex health care settings: A scoping review. The American Journal of Medical Quality.
- Bayramzadeh, S., Ahmadpour, S., Aghaei, P. (2021). The relationship between sensory stimuli and the physical environment in complex healthcare settings: A systematic literature review. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn
- Ahmadpour, S., Bayramzadeh, S., Aghaei, P. (2021). Efficiency and teamwork in emergency departments: Perception of staff on design interventions. Health Environments Research & Design Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867211023156
- Bayramzadeh, S., & Aghaei, P. (2021). Technology integration in complex healthcare environments: A systematic literature review. Applied Ergonomics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103351
- Bayramzadeh, S., & Patel, T. (2020). Integrating research in the healthcare design practice: Design practitioners鈥 perspectives. Health Environments Research & Design Journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586720983009
- Freihoefer, K., Lindvall, S., Bayramzadeh, S., & Hanson, L. (2019). Implications of a decentralized postpartum unit design and clinical operations. Health Environments Research & Design. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586718822065
- Alkazemi, M., Bayramzadeh, S., Alkhubaizi, N., & Alayoub, A. (2019). The physical environment and patient satisfaction ratings on social media: An exploratory study. Facilities. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/F-11-2018-0138
- Wingler, D., Joseph, A., & Bayramzadeh, S., Robb, A. (2019). Using Virtual reality to compare design alternatives using subjective and objective evaluation methods. Health Environments Research & Design. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586719851266
- Mousavi, E., Jafarifiroozabadi, R., Bayramzadeh, S., Joseph, A., & San, D. (2018). An observational study of door motion in operating rooms. Building and Environment. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.08.052
- Joseph, A., Khoshkenar, A., Taaffe, K., Catchpole, K., Machry, H., & Bayramzadeh, S. (2018). Minor disruptions, traffic levels, and their effect on major flow disruptions in the operating room. BMJ Quality & Safety. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs
- Wingler, D., Machry, H., Bayramzadeh, S., Joseph, A., & Allison, D. (2018). Comparing the effectiveness of four different design media in communicating desired performance outcomes with clinical end-users. Health Environments Research and Design. DOI:
- Alkazemi, M., F., Bayramzadeh, S., Alayoub, A., & Alkhubaizi, N. (2018). Environmental factors on Facebook reviews: Using social media as feedback to improve hospital quality. American Journal of Medical Quality. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/106286061
- Bayramzadeh, S., Portillo, M., & Carmel-Gilfilen, C. (2018). Understanding design vulnerabilities in the physical environment relating to patient fall patterns in a psychiatric hospital: Seven years of sentinel events. Journal of American Psychiatric
- Neyens, D., Bayramzadeh, S., Catchpole, K., Joseph, A., Taaffe, K., Jurewicz, K., Khoshkenar, A., & San, D. (2018). Using a systems approach to evaluate a circulating nurse鈥檚 work patterns and disruptions to workflow. Applied Ergonomics. DOI: https://
- Bayramzadeh, S., Joseph, A., Allison, D., Shultz, J., & Abernathy, J. (2018). Using an integrative simulation approach for evidence-based evaluation of the operating room prototypes. Applied Ergonomics, 70, 288-299. PMID: 29866321. DOI: https://doi.o
- Bayramzadeh, S., Joseph, A., San, D., Khoshkenar, A., Taaffe, K., Jafarifiroozabadi, R., & Neyens, D. (2018). The impact of operating room layout on circulating nurse鈥檚 work patterns and workflow disruptions. Health Environments Research & Design. DOI
- Freihoefer, K., Kaiser, L., Vonasek, D., & Bayramzadeh, S. (2017). Setting the stage: A comparative analysis of an on-stage/off-stage and a linear clinic modules. Health Environments Research & Design Journal. DOI: 10.1177/1937586717729348
- Joseph, A., Bayramzadeh, S., Zamani, Z., & Rostenberg, B. (2017). Safety, performance, and satisfaction outcomes in the operating room: A literature review. Health Environments Research & Design Journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586717705107
- Bayramzadeh, S. (2016). An assessment of five levels of safety in psychiatric units. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 10(2), 66-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586716656002
- Bayramzadeh, S., & Alkazemi, M. F. (2014). Centralized vs. decentralized nursing stations: An evaluation of communication technologies implication in healthcare. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 7(4), 62-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/
Awards/Achievements
- The HCD 10 Researcher Category | Healthcare Design Magazine | 2025
- President鈥檚 Faculty Excellence Award | Kent State University | 2023
- Excellence in Graduate Mentoring Award | Kent State University | 2022
- The EBD Touchstone Award | Gold (Conceptual Category) Awardee | 2022 | Team Effort
- The HCD 10 Educator Category | Healthcare Design Magazine | 2022
- Healthcare Environment Award Conceptual Category | The Center for Health Design | 2021 Team Effort
- The U40 List 鈥 AIA Academy of Architecture for Health List of Healthcare Design's Best Under 40 | 2021
- New Faculty Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award | Kent State University | 2020
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Patient Safety Learning Lab Grant | Principal Investigator for "Toward a Model of Safety and Care for Trauma Room Design" in the amount of $2.4 m
- Applied Ergonomics Journal | Best Paper Award for "Using an integrative simulation approach for evidence-based evaluation of the operating room prototypes" Article | 2019 | Team Effort
- The EBD Touchstone Award | Gold (Conceptual Category) Awardee | 2017 | Team Effort
- EDRA Certificate of Research Excellence (CORE) | 2017 | Team Effort
- National Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award for Outstanding Dissertation | 2016