Devi Soman, Ph.D, EDAC
Post Doctoral Fellow
Contact
Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture
Website: https://devisoman.my.canva.site/devi-soman-portfolio
Email: dsoman@clemson.edu
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Design and Built Environment), Clemson University, U.S. (2025); Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital and Healthcare Management, Symbiosis Center for Health Care, India (2013); Master of Architecture (Construction Management), I.E.S.'s College of Architecture, India (2012); Bachelor of Architecture, I.E.S.'s College of Architecture, India (2010)
Research Interests
Evidence-based design, healthcare design, maternal care, cultural sensitivity, underserved communitites
Devi Soman is a post-doctoral fellow at the School of Architecture, Clemson University. She recently completed her Ph.D. in the Design and Built Environment (Architecture + Health) program at Clemson University. Her personal and professional experience led to her intrigue in Healthcare Design. She has worked as a healthcare architect in India since graduating from undergraduate (2010) and graduate (2012) programs at I.E.S. College of Architecture, Mumbai. She also secured a post graduate diploma in Hospital and Health Care Management from Symbiosis International University in 2013 and the EDAC certification from the Centre for Health Design in 2020. Soman's interest in culturally sensitive and inclusive healthcare design for historically underrepresented populations continues to propel her journey within the academic realm, for which she recently received Clemson University's 2025 Frankie O' Felder Award and the 2024 Vera S. Paster Award from the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice. Her doctoral dissertation explored culturally sensitive maternal care environments and was supported by the 2023 American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) Research grant and the Center for Health Design's 2023 Joseph G. Sprague New Investigator Award.
Professional/Research Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/devi-soman-a09b6358/
Awards
2025 Frankie O' Felder Award | Clemson University; 2024 Vera Paster Award | Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice; 2023 Joseph G. Sprague New Investigator Award | Center for Health Design; 2023 AABCF Research Grant | American Association of Birth Centers Foundation
Selected Professional Works
Journal Articles & Book Chapters (Published)
Soman, D. A., Shokrollahi Ardekani, M., Joseph, A., Neyens, D., Mihandoust, S., Allison, D., ... & Abernathy III, J. H. (2025). Proposing Design Evaluation Metrics for Anesthesia Providers’ Workspace in Ambulatory Surgical Settings. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 18(2), 115-138.
de M. Goulart, F., Soman, D. A., Joseph, A., Madathil, K. C., & Easler, L. (2025). The Impact of Constant Observation in Pediatric Mental Health Emergencies: Perspectives from Emergency Department Staff. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 1-17.
Soman, D. A., Koscelny, S. N., Neyens, D., Dietrich, A., Narasimhan, M., Taaffe, K., ... & Joseph, A. (2025). Using patient journey mapping and provider workflows to understand process barriers to pediatric mental and behavioral health care in emergency departments. Applied Ergonomics, 126, 104512.
Goh, A. H., Kapoor, D. A., Nguyen, A., Soman, D., & Jolles, D. R. (2025). Characteristics and Outcomes Among Asian Birthing People in the American Association of Birth Centers Perinatal Data Registry. Birth.
Soman, D. A., Joseph, A., & Moore, A. (2024). Influence of the Physical Environment on Maternal Care for Culturally Diverse Women: A Narrative Review. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 17(3), 306-328.
Soman, D. A., & Koci, A. C. (2023). Cultural marginalization and mental health. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 44(6), 530-537.
