Julie Dolan

I've been in my field since graduating in 2013, coming up on 13 years now. My journey into healthcare design was deeply personal - when my aunt was going through stage 4 cancer at the James Cancer Hospital, I fell in love with the building and the thoughtfulness behind it. That experience made me realize this was exactly what I wanted to do. I started in residential design at Lowe's, then moved into healthcare furniture design with Steelcase in Atlanta before returning home to Ohio in 2019. At Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, I've had the privilege of working on significant projects at the James, including the James Outpatient Care proton beam cancer therapy center. This work became even more meaningful when my own dad ended up at the James, and I was grateful to understand what was going on. My day-to-day involves working closely with end users - nurses, doctors, and staff - to understand their needs and their patients' journeys. I design everything from full floor remodels to operating room renovations, always focusing on creating spaces that are functional, durable, and thoughtful. I'm currently pursuing my MBA because I want to understand the business side of design and be involved in the entire process, from the initial decision of why to grow a clinic to the final design execution. I'm also helping to develop our internship program to make it more enriching for the next generation of designers.