About Academy

The International Academy for Design and Health (IADH) is a leading global, interdisciplinary knowledge community dedicated to the stimulation and application of research concerning the interaction between design, health, science and culture.

 

Founded by Dr Alan Dilani at the Karolinska Institute, Medical University in Stockholm in 1997 after the successful outcome of the 1st World Congress in Trondheim in Norway.

 

The aim of the IADH is to provide a highly visible global forum for promoting an ongoing international exchange of research findings among scientists, designers, health professionals, industry and Ministries of Health worldwide.

 

We are passionate about the impact of  Salutogenic Design on health promotion and believe that the built environment should empower, support and sustain our health and wellbeing.

 

We provide a highly visible global forum for an ongoing exchange of research findings among scientists, designers and industry, we work in close partnership with our international network of governments, universities and commercial organizations to create Salutogenic environment that prevent stress and promote human health.


Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson, Swedish royal family and Dr Alan Dilani at the Karolinska Institute on the 2nd World Congress on Design and Health, Stockholm, June 2000.

Our Vision and Mission

Vision: 

  • Our vision is to foster Salutogenic design to promote health and wellbeing by creating physical environments that support health promotion and thereby healthy societies.

 


Mission:


  • To fuel our passion to drive improvement in the quality, of life and value of health and wellbeing through our physical environment.

 

  • To develop and disseminate knowledge through the promotion of research and professional and clinical practices in the development of our physical environment to improve our health and wellbeing.

 

  • To promote and participate in the worldwide adoption of Salutogenic environments through the translation of research into practice.

 

  • To provide a forum for its constituent network to engage and thrive.

 

  • To provide a platform for education, training, research, advocacy, events, media and publishing activities that improve knowledge, shape thinking, and influence global practices in the design of physical environments.

Governing Bodies

Executive and Global Board


Consists of representatives from institutional, government, non-government organisations (NGOs), private and corporate organisations, industry partners and other areas of industry.


The Executive Board of Academy


  • Alan Dilani, Ph.D. President and Founder
  • Sandra Surkamp, Director Chapter South Pacific, Australasia
  • Stefano Capolongo, Ph.D. Director of European Chapter
  • Hessam Ghamari, Ph.D. USA, Director of Academy Awards
  • Sahand Abbasi, Ph.D. Director of North American Chapter
  • Calvin Luk, Ph.D. Hong Kong, Director of Asian Chapter
  • Innocent Okpanum, Ph.D., Director of Africa & Middle East Chapter


The Global Board of Academy


  • Alan Dilani, Ph.D. President and Founder
  • Sandra Surkamp, Director Chapter South Pacific, Australasia
  • Stefano Capolongo, Ph.D. Director of European Chapter
  • Hessam Ghamari, Ph.D. USA, Director of Academy Awards
  • Sahand Abbasi, Ph.D. Director of North American Chapter
  • Calvin Luk, Ph.D. Hong Kong, Director of Asian Chapter
  • Innocent Okpanum, Ph.D., Director of Africa & Middle East Chapter
  • Andrea Rebecchi, Ph.D. Director 
  • Freda Angebe, Director of Africa 
  • Eleonora Zioni, Director of South America