An Experienced Provider of
Healthcare Project Management
Bruce Komiske, MHA, FACHE
M.H.A. Duke University – McGaw Scholar
B.S. University of Pittsburgh
1072 Constitution Dr.
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(203) 561-0712 - bruce@komiskeconsulting.com
Bruce Komiske combines his unique operational experience as a hospital executive and his passion for creating transformative new hospitals by leading outstanding teams to plan, build, and raise the philanthropic support for ten innovative hospitals, all from the owner’s perspective.
The following elements are what you will see demonstrated in each of the hospital projects that Bruce has led;
- A passion for creating a new benchmark that exceeds expectations, while learning from the best facilities around the world.
- An inclusive planning process, with the patient, family, and community at the center, to include an active patient/family advisory council involved with all facets of the project.
- A philosophy to engage the entire city in the design process and ensure that the new building reflects the unique elements of each respective city.
- A project management philosophy that looks at every dollar spent as if it was his own. Every project completed on or under budget, on schedule, and with the highest level of safety.
- A transparent process, with continuous reporting to engage and excite all constituencies, including the board, management, staff, the philanthropic supporters, and the community in general.
- A unique approach to selecting the design/construction team that involves working with two final teams (designer and builder) before making the final selection.
- A philosophy that embraces the fact that creating a new hospital is one of the most rewarding experiences that any team can accomplish and one that needs to be celebrated at all phases and thoroughly enjoyed by all involved.
In addition to the specific projects highlighted, Bruce has played a significant changemaker role by mentoring numerous residents and fellows, influencing healthcare design by presenting and consulting in over 30 counties, and by publishing six books on Designing the World’s Best Children’s Hospitals that have influenced healthcare design around the world.
His experience in working with John and Brenda Fareri, the family of a young girl who lost her life to Rabies, and the creation of the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital has been made into a major motion picture (Louder than Words) with Bruce’s role played by Timothy Hutton.
Bruce has also been an active volunteer in all the communities that he has lived in, in addition to working on specific volunteer projects in England, Haiti, Nicaragua, Warsaw, and the Czech Republic. He was also a member of a team created by the late philanthropist, Robert N. Mayer, with a mission to enhance the healing environment for our armed forces at the New Walter Reed National Medical Center. This was particularly meaningful in that Bruce served as the Aide de Camp to the Commanding General of the original Water Reed.
- “Top 5 Most Influential People in Healthcare Design” – Healthcare Design magazine
- “World Class Care Giver” – Healthcare Design and Facilities magazine
“Engaging the community to create innovative healing environments.”
Erlanger Medical Center, Chattanooga, TN. 2014 – 2019
- Recruited by CEO Kevin Spiegel to develop a master plan for the 10th largest public hospital in the US, a new community hospital (opened on time and budget to rave reviews) and a new Children’s Hospital to replace the 40+ year-old facility and a plan for the future of the “Health and Wellness District” of the City of Chattanooga.
- Implemented a unique selection process, which included a three-week “experience” for two teams of “designer/construction managers” working with the hospital staff and ultimately inviting them to present to the entire City of Chattanooga in the IMAX theatre, before making a final selection.
- Completed the award-winning first phase of the children’s hospital project in Dec. 2018, which includes a highly efficient 100,000 sq. ft. outpatient building with separate on stage/off stage, no private offices, and a design that is unique to Chattanooga.
- Engaged the community in both the philanthropic support and design of the children’s hospital to make it unique to Chattanooga, including a real 1891 Steam Engine welcoming the patients (Built the same year as the founding of Erlanger by the owner of the railroad), a 30-year-old fire truck, a unique “tow truck” (Chattanooga is the home of the Towing Museum), and many more Chattanooga features.
Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, IL 2007 – 2012
- Recruited by CEO Pat Magoon to lead the team to plan and build the world’s tallest children’s hospital (23 stories and a rooftop heliport) in the heart of downtown Chicago.
- Developed a unique plan for a vertical hospital that included 1.2 million sq. ft. constructed on a 1.8-acre site, including expansion capability and a two-story healing garden in the middle of the building.
- Engaged the entire City of Chicago by hosting a unique City-Wide Charrette, including 23 cultural organizations and inviting them to be a part of the design process.
This resulted in each floor being “adopted” and incorporating unique elements to include: the Shedd Aquarium donating a 30-foot whale and her calf welcoming all to the lobby, a brand new fire truck built specifically for Lurie on the 12th floor, a real “Airstream Trailer” celebrating Ann Lurie’s accomplishments in Kenya, original artwork and many other features documented in Bruce’s Lurie Children’s Hospital
- Successfully completed the award-winning $975 M project under budget and on schedule and assisted in engaging the community in contributing over $675 M in philanthropic support toward the project. Received LEED Gold status and had an opportunity to share the award-winning project’s success as a Pebble Project.
University of California at San Francisco, Benioff
Children’s Hospital, San Francisco, CA
2004 – 2007
- Recruited after completing the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital to lead the team to plan and build a new Children’s Hospital for UCSF at its’ new Mission Bay campus.
- Initiated a unique and innovative process to select the design and construction team for the project.
- Completed the approvals, programming, site selection, and schematic design for the project. Because of the delayed construction timing, completed an interim assignment to Sidra Medical Center in Doha, Qatar, and then eventually was recruited to Lurie Children’s Hospital because of the continued delays in project funding.
Children’s and Women’s Hospital - Sidra Medical
and Research Hospital, Doha, Qatar
2006
- Assumed role as project executive for the $ 5 Billion Children’s and Women’s Hospital, while the delay in implementation of the UCSF project continued.
- Worked with the international team of Peli Clark Peli / KEO to program and complete schematic design of this iconic building.
- Worked with the Minister of Culture and the Qatar Foundation to plan for the incorporation of national art to create a unique healing environment, sensitive to the Middle Eastern culture.
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, Westchester
Medical Center, Westchester, NY
1994 – 2004
- Recruited by John and Brenda Fareri, the parents of Maria, a 13-year-old girl who died from Rabies, to plan, raise the philanthropic support and build an award-winning children’s hospital on the grounds of a County Hospital, with no history of philanthropy.
- Successfully completed the construction of the hospital on time and budget and provided the necessary capital by leading a “grassroots” campaign that engaged the entire community.
- Incorporated unique features, such as a real 1958 diesel locomotive in the food court, (courtesy of the NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority), a sailing saloon designed by the America’s Cup designer Olin Stephens, a “History of Baseball Museum” in the lobby, donated by Yankee pitcher David Cone, the “world’s largest dollhouse” and may other features, included in Bruce’s book Maria’s Wish.
- As a result of the unique success of the project, it became part of the focus of a Hollywood movie “Louder than Words,” a story about the Fareri Family and the challenges they faced in losing their daughter and creating the hospital. Timothy Hutton plays the role of Bruce Komiske.
Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Rhode Island
Hospital, Providence, R.I
1983 – 1994
- Having successfully completed the largest new hospital construction project in the state of Connecticut at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Bruce was recruited by the CEO of Rhode Island Hospital to plan and build a new replacement children’s hospital for the 100-year-old “Potter Building.”
- Established one of the first “Family Advisory Councils,” which was integrally involved in the planning process throughout the life of the project.
- Assisted in the recruitment of the Hasbro Toy Company, CEO Alan Hassenfeld, as the major donor and maximized the symbiotic relationship that could be achieved by having the world’s largest toy company’s name on a children’s hospital.
- Successfully completed the hospital on schedule and budget and went on to be the Executive Director of the Hospital for three years after opening.
- While planning and building the Hasbro Children’s Hospital, simultaneously planned and built a unique 100 room hotel/hospital (Cooperative Care Center) as a joint venture with Women’s and Infants Hospital.
- Engaged the community in all aspects of the design to make it unique to the State of Rhode Island. Included a 36-foot sailboat on the roof (in recognition of the boat building industry in RI.), a real zoo in the lobby of the hospital, in cooperation with the Roger Williams Zoo, incorporation of 11,000 tiles created by 11,000 school children, and the development of a diverse and comprehensive local art collection.