Center for Compassionate Communication

About Us

The Center for Compassionate Communication develops novel evidence-based training in interpersonal communication with the goal of igniting compassionate relationships in healthcare, medical education, and beyond. Our team leverages experience, wisdom and practices shaped over 60 years working in healthcare, journalism, the humanities, theater, instructional design and online learning.

Center Overview

We spark compassionate communication and leadership from trainees to seasoned healthcare leaders. Through our programs and events, we support a thriving culture of compassionate communication across UC San Diego and beyond.

Sanford Compassionate Communication Fellowship

Affiliate Faculty (CCCAF)

Lead With Compassion

Webinar Series

Self-Paced Online Courses

Get Involved

Why We Exist

Beyond the demonstrable benefits to patients, research shows that improved interpersonal skills and stronger relationships with patients help physicians as well. Communication training also helps you share your research among all audiences with empathy and clarity. 

Through detailed, deliberate reflection and experiential learning, the Center for Compassionate Communication curriculum offers a versatile, repeatable process and tools to help you recognize the needs of others and communicate with authenticity and compassion. 

Meet Our Team

Meet the people leading the charge on spreading compassionate communication to health providers, patients, and more at UC San Diego's Center for Compassionate Communication.

MEET THE TEAM

In the News

The Center for Compassionate Communication made headlines for its success with the Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship — a unique program that addresses clinician burnout and the compassion crisis in health care through the arts. Read our feature story in UC San Diego Today.

READ THE STORY

Lead With Compassion

Register now for the highly-acclaimed, multi-day virtual workshop that equips healthcare professionals with tools to enhance their leadership performance, using proven empathy and compassion principles.

Compassionate Communication Webinar Series

Designed for this moment in healthcare, this complimentary webinar series equips clinicians and leaders with concrete, compassion-centered leadership skills they can apply right away. All webinars available on-demand.

Recruiting Fall 2026 Fellows

We are recruiting Fellows for the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship Fall 2026 cohort. Limited spots available and rolling admission process.

Self-paced Online Courses

Enroll in our complimentary, self-paced online courses (via Coursera) to learn how to improve communication skills with patients, peers, students, and more. Open to anyone interested in expanding their compassionate communication skills.

Why Compassionate Communication Matters

There is a compassion crisis in healthcare in the United States. Healthcare providers are rising to unprecedented challenges, while systems are overloaded with competing priorities. The story is bleak. Something has to shift.  

Empirical research shows uniquivocally that compassion matters across the board. Effective communication improves both the patient experience and physician well-being.

Interpersonal communication between healthcare providers and patients is the centerpiece of compassionate healthcare. High-quality communication is also associated with better care coordination, improved compliance with health recommendations, and healthier outcomes.

We Value

• Practitioners in all disciplines dedicated to a deeper understanding of empathy, humanism, and compassion   
• Evidence-based practice
• Innovation
• Commitment to lifelong learning
• Ccurricular methods shared through experiential learning