21 May, 2026

The untapped conversations in behavioral health - Part 2

This is PART 2 of our podcast on the untapped conversations in behavioral health, where Pineapple’s Daniel White delves into real-world behavioral health examples that don’t always match the theory …

Joining him are HKS’s Rachael Rome, Global Director of Mental & Behavioral Health Design & Studio Practice Leader of the Dallas Health Practice, and her colleague Martyna Falloni, Senior Medical Planner & Associate.

Topics they cover in PART 2 include:

  • It’s not all forensic – so why do we design like it is? Are we accidentally traumatizing people who come in asking for help?
  • Why do we (still?) accept uncomfortable environments as the price of safety? Let’s challenge the long-standing assumption that for whatever reason, comfort equals risk.
  • Does everything need to cost money? Are there any quick wins that we can make easily by having more thoughtful conversation and dialogue?

Our Guests:

Rachael Rome is Global Director of Mental & Behavioral Health Design at HKS and a nationally recognized leader in behavioral health environments. She partners with health systems and institutions to translate complex clinical and operational needs into high-performance, evidence-based spaces that support safety, dignity, and healing.

Her work spans the full continuum of care, from pediatric and outpatient settings to forensic facilities and medically complex inpatient units, with a strong focus on trauma-informed design and technical excellence. Rachael also advises on behavioral planning, simulation modeling, and long-range campus strategies, helping drive system-wide transformation through thoughtful, human-centered design.

Through her leadership, Rachael continues to elevate mental and behavioral health design across the industry advancing integrated, human-centered spaces that promote resilience, equity, and hope.

Martyna’s goal is to create environments that put people first – because when they thrive, outcomes improve naturally. As a board-certified medical planner, Martyna is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through the creation of exceptional, safe environments for patients, staff, and caregivers. She brings particular focus to spaces that support children, thoughtfully accommodating their developmental, emotional, and safety needs.

Leveraging expertise in Evidence-Based Design and Lean Six Sigma, she applies an analytical, human-centered approach to every project. Martyna works closely with interdisciplinary teams and clients to align design solutions with operational best practices, clinical effectiveness, and evidence-based strategies – driving measurable improvements in care delivery, enhancing patient and staff satisfaction, and maximizing facility value.

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