Sahar Mihandoust, PhD

Dr. Sahar Mihandoust is an Assistant Professor of Interior Design in the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences at Baylor University. She earned her Ph.D. in Interior and Environmental Design from Texas Tech University, a Master of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, and a Master of Architecture from Iran University of Science and Technology.

Mihandoust’s teaching centers on evidence-based design and the integration of digital tools. She incorporates project-based and experiential learning to help students understand how design decisions influence human health, safety, and well-being.

Mihandoust’s research is grounded in the intersection of healthcare design and environmental psychology with a focus on how the built environment affects patient and provider safety, mental health, and experience within healthcare settings. She has investigated an array of topics such as the impact of built environments on prevention of healthcare worker burnout, the role of environmental factors in shaping patient experiences, and the role of environment in forming flow disruptions in high acuity settings. Mihandoust employs methods such as full-scale mock-up simulations, scenario-based evaluations, behavioral observations, surveys, and virtual reality to assess design strategies and their impact on clinical workflow and human experience. Her areas of expertise include healthcare environments, human-centered design, and simulation, with a focus on evidence-based approaches that connect design decisions to measurable outcomes for patients, families, and providers. She has published more than 26 peer review articles in journals as HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Applied Ergonomics, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal of Aging and Environment, Journal of Patient Experience, and Journal of Patient Safety.

Current Research Interests:

• Human-Centered Design in Healthcare Environments
• Simulation-based design evaluation
• Designing for Wellness and Burnout Prevention

Current Courses Taught:

ID 3322 Comp Aided Draft and Design II