Meet Our Rural Health Practice Leader Dave Sheedy, P.E., CDT

Kahler Slater Principal and Team Leader Dave Sheedy brings a unique perspective and over 25 years of experience to the design of rural health facilities. Dave’s background immediately sets him apart from his counterparts and makes him an asset to our clients. With a degree in architectural engineering and over a decade of college teaching experience, he serves clients with a nuanced perspective. Since joining us in 2002, he has been in an ideal position to see a project from concept through occupancy and use his deep and varied expertise to guide clients and team members. 

“I have experienced a project from multiple perspectives and levels of responsibility,” says Dave. “I am passionate about the opportunity to build relationships with our clients and to be a resource for them and our team, guiding everyone through Kahler’s proven process.”

In addition to Dave’s design and delivery expertise, his understanding of the business side of healthcare sets him apart as a leader. 

“Because of my perennial experience, I have a solid understanding of how healthcare is delivered from an operational perspective and what financially drives the need for a project,” says Dave. “For example, if a client references delivering 10,000 clinic visits in a year, I can translate what that means for a building.”

Dave believes understanding his client’s business from a financial and operational perspective brings clarity to the design process and drives how he and the Kahler Slater team delivers a project from conception and programming through design, construction, and occupancy. 

“At the highest level, I can help define the problems the client is trying to solve and use our knowledge of facilities to suggest a solution that best supports the services they are trying to deliver,” describes Dave. “The area where our team excels and what I have learned in my time here is that our solutions are not just about an improved facility. It is our responsibility to enhance the total healthcare experience.”

With that in mind, Dave and his team commit to understanding everything about a client, from the services and brand promise to the intricacies of the different people interacting in the environment. “At Kahler Slater, we take a broad perspective and have a great process to get to the heart of the healthcare organization and its business practices. Once we understand those details, we can provide a facility that does not get in the way, an environment that supports everyone through good operational flows, environmental design, etc.,” says Dave.

Dave’s early construction career gave him exposure to multiple market sectors, including healthcare, but he credits his time with Kahler Slater for deepening his understanding of this unique market. 

“It is probably one of the most complex facility types because of all of the codes, regulations, safety, and operational concerns,” describes Dave. “And then it includes elements of so many other project types, such as gathering, entertaining and educational areas, technical spaces and places to sleep and recover, food service and restaurants, and fitness and wellness components.” 

When it comes to rural health environments, Dave’s passion continues to grow for these challenged healthcare providers. He sees it as an area where design can provide innovative solutions and help a sector facing many obstacles. People, efficiency, and meaningful impact are the drivers for his deepened commitment to elevating rural health.

PEOPLE

“We serve a variety of healthcare clients, from large systems to small rural clients. For me, this work is about the ability to impact people. In rural projects, we work directly with the CEO, COO, Chief Nursing Officer, and primary physician leadership to formulate strategies, address feasibility, and develop solutions that meet specific needs. These hospitals have tackled repairs, renovations, or additions, but not a comprehensive design and construction project. I love working directly with the decision-makers and key team members to understand their priorities, pain points, and challenges, helping them move beyond a vision to a solution that improves the healthcare experience for everyone involved.”

EFFICIENCY

“I lead with a Lean mindset, so I strive to achieve zero waste—in other words, maximize process efficiency. These efficiencies are showcased in rural healthcare by communicating directly with the primary decision makers. Direct contact allows our experienced team to have a significant influence on the real problems and drive value-based solutions.”

MEANINGFUL IMPACT

“At this point in my career, I am passionate about meaningful work. Right now, rural healthcare is struggling to survive. These systems are pressured financially to remain in communities and provide much-needed access to healthcare. The population in rural America continues to face real health challenges including issues related to social determinants of health, mental health, obesity, and access to care. I am leading the innovation of facility solutions that  help our clients address these broader issues.”