At the 2026 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo in New Orleans, the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD; Saint Cloud, Minn.) and The DAISY Foundation (Glen Ellen, Calif.) presented Annette Roehl, nurse and healthcare facilities design strategist at Froedtert ThedaCare Health (Milwaukee), with the 2026 DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Leader in Healthcare Design.
Now in its third year, the award is given to extraordinary nurses who are actively engaged in healthcare design, including as consultants, assistants, and advisors.
More about the 2026 DAISY Award winner
Holding degrees in nursing, architecture, and urban planning, Roehl leverages extensive inpatient care experience to advance space solutions that prioritize quality, operational sustainability, and wellness for patients, families, and staff.
Over the past year, she’s worked on the Froedtert Hospital expansion in Wauwatosa, Wis., a project that includes a new patient tower, lobby, and parking structure designed to support growth and transform care delivery for the community. Throughout the project, Roehl partnered with design and construction teams to evaluate every decision through three distinct lenses: patient, family, and staff experiences.
The process resulted in tangible design changes, including dedicated family space to accommodate larger groups during stressful patient events.
Earlier this year, Roehl was named the HCD 10 Clinician, in Healthcare Design’s annual HCD 10 awards.
More news from the 2026 HCD Conference + Expo
More coverage of the 2026 HCD Conference + Expo will be featured in Healthcare Design’s November/December issue. For more conference news and updates, go here.
