Introducing Mitchell Collin

Meet our new National Healthcare Practice Leader, who is reimagining how to best serve the communities around us. 

Hoefer Welker is thrilled to introduce Mitchell Collin, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, our new partner and national healthcare market leader, who has over 20 years of experience designing and managing health facility projects of all scales. An architect by trade, Mitch believes modern health facility design and architecture have a responsibility to extend healing beyond facility walls. 

We recently sat down with Mitch to learn more about what attracted him to Hoefer Welker and his vision for the future of architecture.

Tell us a little about yourself and what inspired your career in healthcare architecture. 

Two things: LEGOs and volunteering in healthcare. Growing up, I was a big LEGO fan; however, I would throw away the instructions and use the pieces to build what felt right. My mother worked for a nursing home where I would often volunteer, which led to my strong respect for healthcare careers. These foundational experiences led to my passion for healthcare architecture. 

What experience prepared you to step into the National Healthcare Practice Leader role?

After graduating from Penn State University in 2003, I began my career as an architect in Washington, D.C., working on academic and cultural projects. I later joined my first healthcare architecture group in 2007, where I worked my way from junior designer to the director of operations. In 2018, I joined a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm as their Southeast U.S. regional leader of healthcare, which exposed me to broader market bases, working with numerous teams and gathering an understanding of how to best utilize and serve clients. In this role, I learned to think strategically, finding solutions to resourcing and staffing challenges. Success in this role led to my promotion to one of two national directors of healthcare for the firm. Each of these experiences prepared me for my role at Hoefer Welker. My deep expertise in healthcare architecture drives my strategic decision-making for our team and clients. Hoefer Welker provides an exceptional foundation for this work, and reuniting with former colleagues allows me to hit the ground running with a team I already know and trust.

What convinced you that Hoefer Welker was the right firm for the next chapter of your career? 

In an ever-evolving industry, it’s difficult to know what the future holds. To maintain relevance, we must be willing to learn and grow. It’s refreshing to see how Hoefer Welker recognizes this and has prioritized finding efficiencies while challenging and preparing the team for growth. The firm’s willingness to adjust and elevate makes it the perfect place to settle down and create impact. 

What are you most looking forward to accomplishing at Hoefer Welker and what impact do you hope to have on the firm’s legacy? 

I look forward to expanding access to healthcare in the communities that need it most. The very first project I ever worked on was for the Smithsonian Institution and its National Museum of the American Indian. Getting to see a community that had been marginalized throughout its history receive the recognition it deserved was an incredible experience. Seeing the community’s reactions to the exhibit being created instilled in me the incredible way architecture can impact communities. Now, working in healthcare, I have the ability to work in areas that desperately need services. Being able to help strengthen those communities by providing them with facilities that support their needs is what I am most looking forward to continuing to strive toward. Success relies on building strong relationships and genuinely caring for both our team members and the communities we serve.

As an industry veteran, what is the most remarkable shift you’ve seen in healthcare architecture? 

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) significantly impacts design and care delivery. When used correctly, AI is a true tool to solve a wide array of problems that healthcare has, but we have to remember that humans will remain the chief innovators, leading the charge. 

What is your vision for the future of healthcare architecture? 

I aspire to create designs that improve the way people receive care, no matter who they are or where they are. My vision is for the work we do to improve the experience people have as they transition from some of their most challenging times to some of their greatest successes. 

What’s one thing outside of the office that influences the way you look at design and leadership? 

I love to travel and spend as much time in nature as possible. I am someone who can be just as happy in the mountains as on the beach. In my junior year of college, I studied abroad in Rome and fell in love with the architecture and how it had withstood the test of time. Throughout my career, that experience has forced me to consider how I can design timeless projects. 

Looking ahead, what unique opportunities do you see for Hoefer Welker to expand its reach and influence?

There is great potential within Hoefer Welker’s Clinical Technology Solutions consulting team to continue broadening its impact. Technology is the future of healthcare, and there is an influx of questions and demand surrounding it. Our subject matter experts enable Hoefer Welker to demonstrate how intentional architectural design seamlessly supports and advances future technologies.

Meet the rest of our team, explore our practice areas and discover how our services can support you today.

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Mitchell Collin

Partner | National Healthcare Market Leader

Mitchell Collin is Hoefer Welker’s National Healthcare Market Leader, providing strategic leadership for the firm’s healthcare practice while guiding complex healthcare projects and master plans for public, private, and academic institutions across the U.S. and internationally. Known for his collaborative and performance-driven approach, Mitch focuses on patient experience, operational efficiency, and resilient healthcare environments that support long-term community impact.

Connect with Mitch

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