About Us

Founded in 2012, POBMI has been working towards a change ever since. Our mission is to improve the design of mental institutions in order to improve recovery and quality of care.

Reimagining the future of mental care

Photo courtesy of Camber Mental Health

Our Work

With the help of our members, our organization raises money to fund the redesign of mental hospitals. At POBMI we believe that the space we exist within greatly impacts our mental well-being. This makes our mission even more important. Patients in mental facilities are already facing mental struggles, the design of their space shouldn’t be one of them. With help from our team of architects, we have helped to redesign many hospitals, providing patients with a safe yet joyful environment to spend their time in.

Diversity Matters

At Philadelphia Organization for Better Mental Institutions, we are committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work to redesign mental hospitals. We recognize that diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences are essential for creating innovative solutions that address the complex challenges facing mental health care.

We value and celebrate the unique identities, voices, and contributions of all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, socioeconomic status, or any other dimension of diversity. We believe that by embracing diversity, we can better understand the diverse needs of the individuals we serve and develop more effective and inclusive approaches to mental health care.

Our commitment to diversity extends beyond our internal team to encompass our partnerships, collaborations, and the communities we serve. We actively seek out and amplify the voices of marginalized and underrepresented groups, ensuring that their perspectives are included in the design and implementation of mental health initiatives.

This is why everyone is invited to join our community!

Meet our team

Our comprehensive suite of professionals caters to a diverse team, ranging from seasoned architects to mental health professionals.

Elin Heinrichs

Founder & CEO

Alex Starnes

Psychiatrist

Helga Steiner

Architect

Dillon Kydd

Project Manager