Register Now:
2027 Forum on Empathy and Compassion
Join us February 10–12, 2027, for the Sanford Institute Forum on Empathy and Compassion, where leaders from across the country will come together to advance empathy and compassion in research, medical education, and clinician well-being.
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Share Your Work at the
2027 Forum on Empathy and Compasion
We invite submissions of poster abstracts focused on empathy and compassion in research, medical education, and healthcare worker well-being. Submission Deadline: October 2, 2026.
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Remembering
T. Denny Sanford
We honor the life and legacy of T. Denny Sanford, whose extraordinary generosity established the foundation for the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion. As we reflect on his extraordinary legacy, we remain committed to advancing the empathy and compassion he believed could change lives.
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Mentor Clinician Program
Goes National
Now in its 10th year, the Mentor Clinician Program is bringing its unique model of mentorship and humanistic teaching to medical schools across the country. See how this program is transforming how tomorrow’s physicians learn, grow and connect with their patients.
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Rebuilding Connection
with Compassion
We're tackling clinician burnout through the Sanford Compassionate Communication Fellowship—using storytelling, theater, and empathy to rebuild connection in health care. See our latest feature in UC San Diego Today.
READ THE STORYGet to Know Us
Catalyzed by the vision and generosity of T. Denny Sanford, the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion at UC San Diego explores the neurobiology of compassion, informs medical education, and directly addresses the epidemic of physician burnout.
Our Centers
The Sanford Institute has established six centers that span across various disciplines, focusing on specific domains within empathy and compassion.
Featured Event
Where empathy and compassion move from ideas to action. Join leading voices in healthcare, education, and research for three days of bold thinking, practical strategies, and meaningful connection. Forum attendees will explore emerging compassion research, exchange ideas across disciplines, and discover new ways to bring empathy into the places where we care, learn, lead, and work.
Upcoming Events
From virtual workshops to national convenings, the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion's events create space for learning, dialogue, and connection at the forefront of empathy and compassion in health care and medical education. Explore what’s next and be part of our ever-growing movement toward a more compassionate future.
Free On-Demand Workshop
How can you show you care even when you deeply disagree? What if conflict wasn't something to avoid, but rather an opportunity to connect more deeply to get closer to the truth? Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, watch "Can Conflict be Compassionate?" — a webinar that explores ways to thoughtfully prepare for conflict-heavy conversations and apply a coaching mindset to balance acceptance with advocacy.
