Academy recognises Parker's Lifetime Leadership

Derek Parker (centre), being presented the award by Eb Zeidler (right) and Prof Alan Dilani (left)

The revered architect and industry leader Derek Parker has been awarded the Lifetime Leadership Award by the International Academy for Design & Health.

The award, which recognizes Derek Parker’s visionary career and an ongoing, lifelong commitment to enhancing the health, wellbeing and quality of people’s lives through his dedication to healthcare design, was presented at a prestigious ceremony during the 7th Design & Health World Congress & Exhibition (WCDH2011) at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel in Boston, USA on 9th July.

On a very special evening, last year’s inaugural winner of the Lifetime Leadership Award, Eb Zeidler travelled from Toronto with his wife to present the award together with the IADH’s newly appointed president, Dr Ray Pentecost, bringing to a finale the celebrations at the WCDH2011 and the Design & Health International Academy Awards 2011.

Health providers, clinicians, architects, designers and contractors were joined by Ministry of Health representatives from across the globe to recognize a lifetime of achievement that saw Derek Parker lead Anshen + Allen to become one of the leading international architects with specialisms in healthcare and education design.

As a co-founder of the US-based, Center for Healthcare Design, which has led the movement to improve healthcare practices through evidence-based design research, and a co-creator of the ‘Fable Hospital’, developed as a model for estimating the value of design impacts on healthcare operations and outcomes, Parker’s list of career highlights and achievements has few peers.

Felicia Cleper-Borkovi, who worked with Derek Parker at Anshen + Allen, and was the creative force behind a video presentation of his achievements during the Gala Awards evening, commented: "Having worked with Derek for 29 out of his 50 years dedicated to Anshen+Allen, I know I represent only one of the many generations of architects, engineers, clients, design consultants, along with doctors, nurses, technicians, patients and families around the world touched by Derek’s “magic”, who are in awe with his aspirations and achievements, entrepreneurship and unequalled gravitas.”

Prof Alan Dilani, director of the International Academy for Design & Health, commented: “To have the opportunity of being able to recognize Derek Parker with the International Academy for Design & Health’s Lifetime Leadership Award is a great honour and privilege. Since I first met Derek, he has inspired me and has always been there for the Academy, never failing to offer his support, advice and guidance.”

To read more about the Lifetime Leadership Award to Derek Parker, click here