Uma Ramanathan is a principal at Shepley Bulfinch, a Boston-based architectural firm where she has been for over 30 years. As the leader in pediatric healthcare, she has led projects for Boston Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, and Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. Her ability to work effectively with medical staff and administrators has been invaluable, earning her the 2018 BSA Women in Design Award of Excellence and the 2024 Change Maker Award from the Construction Institute. Uma specializes in programming, planning, and conceptualizing facility needs, addressing complex issues in healthcare operations. Her notable contributions include the Main South Building and the Hale Family Building at Boston Children’s Hospital, which helped maintain its top ranking nationally. She focuses on creating operational flows that improve throughput, patient comfort, and caregiver efficiency, ensuring that design engenders goodwill and participation among all stakeholders. Her dedication to the field is reflected in her roles on the Alumni Board at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, the BSA’s Healthcare Facilities Committee, and as a Board member for the Franciscan Children’s Hospital. Uma also serves as a guest lecturer at the Boston University School of Public Health and enjoys volunteering as a Design Advisor for several temples in New England.