Judith Kanera Wins George Pressler Under 40 Award

October 02, 2024

Judith Kanera

Judith Kanera, AIA, a health planner in our Charlotte, North Carolina, architecture studio, received the George Pressler Under 40 Award at the 2024 Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo, which recognizes young leaders in the healthcare design industry.

"I was honored and excited to receive the George Pressler Award at the 2024 HFSE," Kanera said. "I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have received at HDR to grow in my career and for the mentors who inspired and guided me to a point for such recognition. I left the conference feeling reinvigorated to pay it forward in encouraging our young professionals on their path to emerging leadership."

In her decade-plus career, Kanera has dedicated herself to improving the patient experience in health settings, especially in ambulatory and oncology facilities. Her project work includes the Moffitt Cancer Center New Hospital, VCU Adult Outpatient Pavilion and Carilion Cancer Center.

"Winning the George Pressler Under 40 Award of Distinction is further recognition of Judith's commitment to design excellence and her health planning acumen," said HDR Director of Health Planning James Atkinson, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP. "She is really proving herself to be a visionary leader in the field of healthcare architecture and I look forward to how she will further impact HDR's health practice."

Kanera has distinguished herself as a thought leader at HDR, regularly publishing content and contributing to multiple internal committees on benchmarking and specific service line content.