Deborah Wingler

Deborah Wingler serves as Partner and Global Practice Director of Applied Research at HKS, where she leads research initiatives that drive innovation across the firm's global Health Practice. Her work focuses on improving patient and staff experience through real-time data collection techniques that elicit physiological, psychological, and neural responses to healthcare environments. Previously, she served as Assistant Research Professor at Clemson University, contributing to large grant-funded projects developing built environment solutions for patient safety and operational efficiencies. Wingler holds a PhD in Planning Design and the Built Environment from Clemson University and a Master of Science in Design, Health and Healing Environments from Arizona State University. She founded Healing Design Integration, LLC, where she collaborated with healthcare executives to enhance patient experience through evidence-based research and innovative business solutions.