Dipl.-Ing. Arch. MScPH Alvaro Valera Sosa
Alvaro Valera Sosa since 2001 developed architectural projects in countries such as Venezuela, Spain and the UAE. In 2007 he focused primarily in healthcare design, participating in numerous projects led by the Venezuelan Ministry of Health as part of a national hospital network overhaul. In 2012, after studying at the Berlin School of Public Health – Charité Medical University (Germany), he was entitled to establish evidence-based design research at the TU-Berlin with the aim of reviewing and informing planning & design processes of projects that support health promotion, all levels of disease prevention and medical care. As a public health researcher and architect, his vision is to reach sustainability in healthcare systems by developing medical neighborhoods as means for health empowerment based on education, health behavior and a high degree of self-care.
Research Focus: Medical Neighborhood Planning
A Medical Neighborhood is a sustainable alternative to the actual economic burden and quality performances of most centralized healthcare systems and its large hospitals. It optimizes resource allocation –for care and urban development– by mainly (1) tackling health inequity (differences in health status) product from physical environment disparities among neighborhoods of a same city and (2) applying the most recent home-based medical technologies available. This feasible paradigm change in care, finds in improving the neighborhood physical environment and its health-related services, a capital that ensures health promotion and optimal levels of self-care to its residents with the highest return of investment possible: positive health and wealth. The concept addresses the need people have in experiencing continuum of care, said differently, the need for a safe and healthy neighborhood environment that builds health and offers a wide array of health services spanning all levels of care. In its implementation process, it opens a dialogue platform for public health disciplines to communicate strategies with one of the most resourceful activities of a national economy: urban development.
Medical Neighborhood design requires a deep understanding of: (1) health promotion, disease prevention and parallel care across primary, secondary and tertiary care, (2) the neighborhood environment (built and socio-cultural) as a critical conductor for health behavior and consequently the health status improvement of its residents; (3) the socio-economic possibilities and synergies between the healthcare and urban planning sectors.
Research Focus: Medical Neighborhood Planning
A Medical Neighborhood is a sustainable alternative to the actual economic burden and quality performances of most centralized healthcare systems and its large hospitals. It optimizes resource allocation –for care and urban development– by mainly (1) tackling health inequity (differences in health status) product from physical environment disparities among neighborhoods of a same city and (2) applying the most recent home-based medical technologies available. This feasible paradigm change in care, finds in improving the neighborhood physical environment and its health-related services, a capital that ensures health promotion and optimal levels of self-care to its residents with the highest return of investment possible: positive health and wealth. The concept addresses the need people have in experiencing continuum of care, said differently, the need for a safe and healthy neighborhood environment that builds health and offers a wide array of health services spanning all levels of care. In its implementation process, it opens a dialogue platform for public health disciplines to communicate strategies with one of the most resourceful activities of a national economy: urban development.
Medical Neighborhood design requires a deep understanding of: (1) health promotion, disease prevention and parallel care across primary, secondary and tertiary care, (2) the neighborhood environment (built and socio-cultural) as a critical conductor for health behavior and consequently the health status improvement of its residents; (3) the socio-economic possibilities and synergies between the healthcare and urban planning sectors.
