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A respected leader within the firm’s healthcare planning and design practice, Gabryela’s promotion to Associate Principal recognizes both her meaningful contributions to the firm and the deep trust she has built with clients over the years.
For Gabryela, the milestone is as much about service as it is about recognition.
“I appreciate this great recognition,” she shares, “but what matters most to me is how well I serve our clients—sharing our experiences and expertise to help guide them in making informed decisions for their organizations.”
Gabryela’s philosophy can be summed up in a phrase often associated with her: let’s continue designing.
For her, that means offering clients multiple options, exploring different scenarios, and helping organizations see possibilities they may not have considered. But it also means going beyond the physical aspects of design.
There is a psychological layer to her work—listening for what isn’t said, understanding where a client is in their journey, and tailoring the design process to meet them at that level.
“It’s about hearing the things they don’t say,” she explains. “And gently challenging them to think beyond the status quo.”
This approach is especially impactful for healthcare organizations that haven’t been renovated or expanded in decades. Change can be intimidating. Gabryela sees her role as bringing people along in that journey—helping even the most hesitant stakeholders evolve into champions of process improvement and innovation.
The outcome isn’t just a better building. It’s better patient care.
At her core, Gabryela is a planner and designer who thrives on unlocking potential. She finds deep rewards in helping clients become good stewards of design and take pride in their role within the process.
She works to build excitement within organizations—ensuring new spaces empower clinicians and staff to do their best work. For Gabryela, design is not just about aesthetics or efficiency; it’s about shaping environments that support meaningful outcomes.
Her recent achievement of NCIDQ certification further strengthens this vision. By integrating interior design expertise earlier in the planning process, she is helping bridge disciplines and add greater depth to Wilmot Sanz’s medical planning practice.
Looking ahead, Gabryela is especially energized by mentorship. She is passionate about inspiring others—particularly as peers show growing interest in medical planning, storytelling, and crafting patient journeys.
“How do we weave those things together?” she asks.
Her goal is to build additional layers within the firm’s medical planning practice—connecting operational strategy, interior design, and narrative thinking into a more holistic approach.
Gabryela brings confidence, strong communication, decisiveness, and attentive listening to her new role. She encourages teams and clients alike to imagine the ideal scenario—then design toward that vision while thoughtfully navigating budget and project constraints.
Her leadership is also fueled by curiosity.
She doesn’t just design healthcare spaces—she immerses herself in them. Whether shadowing clinicians, observing procedures, or standing alongside surgeons in scrubs, Gabryela believes firsthand experience leads to deeper understanding.
That hands-on engagement builds trust. It gives clients confidence that their design partner truly understands their workflows, challenges, and aspirations—well beyond the typical user meeting.
One of Gabryela’s favorite aspects of working at Wilmot Sanz is being surrounded by fellow healthcare designers. The firm’s focused expertise creates a culture of shared learning and mutual teaching—one that continually sharpens its collective knowledge.
“We learn from each other. We teach each other,” she says. “It’s a very unique culture.”
With her promotion to Associate Principal, Gabryela Passeto continues to elevate that culture—championing thoughtful leadership, mentorship, and a deeper, more human-centered approach to healthcare design.
As Wilmot Sanz looks ahead, her voice will play an integral role in shaping environments that not only function beautifully, but inspire organizations to grow, evolve, and ultimately deliver better care.
