The bottom line about healing yourself is that we all have the wonderful opportunity to find our own healing spaces everywhere in the world.
Esther M. Sternberg, MD, is Founding Director of the University of Arizona Institute on Place, Wellbeing & Performance and Research Director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.
Her research demonstrates how built and natural environments influence stress, immunity, and healing. Her findings provide scientific evidence for how thoughtfully designed spaces can restore balance and support human flourishing.
Through her books including Well at Work (2023), Healing Spaces (2009), and The Balance Within (2000), Sternberg translates research into accessible guidance for creating healthier environments.
Her work demonstrates how environmental factors—from access to nature to thoughtful design—can improve focus, reduce stress, and enhance wellbeing, reinforcing the value of spaces like Sacred Places in supporting healthier, more resilient communities.
Articles
- The Value and Access of Urban Greenspace: A Comparison Study of User Perceptions of the Naval Cemetery Landscape, New York, IJERPH (2025)
- Is Greener Better? Quantifying the Impact of a Nature Walk on Stress Reduction Using HRV and Saliva Cortisol Biomarkers, IJERPH (2024)
- An integrative health framework for wellbeing in the built environment, Building and Environment (2021)
