Newsletter Archive

2024

October

Your monthly digest of empathy and compassion research and news at UC San Diego. Proudly delivered by the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, and its six supporting centers — securing a kinder, more compassionate health system for all.

Syrian refugees walking in Jordan. Photo credit by UNHCR/Shawkat Alharfosh.

Sanford Institute Study Reveals Self-Compassion is Related to Better Mental Health Among Syrian Refugees

A newly published study in PLOS ONE, partially funded by the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, reports that displaced Syrian refugees with higher reporter self-compassion were less likely to report poor mental health outcomes.

Via UC San Diego Today: Sarah Alsamman, a student at the UC San Diego School of Medicine (and Sanford Scholar alum!), along with Wael Al-Delaimy, MD, PhD, professor of public health at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, led the surveying of 272 displaced Syrians residing in Amman, Jordan. The survey asked respondents, who were recruited through community-based organizations, to share their history of trauma, mental health symptoms, perceived level of resilience in the face of adversity, and self-compassion.

Key findings found that:

• More than 75 percent of the refugees experienced anxiety, emotional distress or depression.
• Respondents reporting higher levels of self-compassion experienced more than 80% lower symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• While self-compassion and resilience may interact with each other to protect mental health, self-compassion plays a more powerful role in mitigating mental health.

This is the first time self-compassion has been shown to potentially moderate mental illness in this population. And according to study co-author Al-Delaimy, it also points to the potential of health care professionals using compassion training to promote positive health outcomes among refugees who have limited access to mental health care. Read the full article on UC San Diego Today to learn more about this impactful study.

READ THE ARTICLE →

Sanford Institute Researcher Featured in The New York Times

Sanford Institute-funded researcher Cassandra Vieten, PhD, was recently featured in The New York Times ' seven-minute stress relief workout to help quiet the mind. "Strengthening the connection between the body and the mind is a two-way street," Vieten says in the piece. Just as your thoughts can influence your body, moving your body can influence your thoughts. It’s like “reverse engineering your mindfulness,” she added. While Vieten and the Times assert formal research into which physical movements are most effective is still nascent, it is proven that adding calm-inducing movements to your routine can boast positive impacts to your mental health. We encourage you to try out the seven-minute stress relief workout during your next break. We're big fans of the 'Dance party for one' to help release mood-boosting chemicals like dopamine and endorphins! Alexa, please play "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift. 🎵

READ THE ARTICLE →

Mentor Clinician Program (MCP) Info Session, Thursday, Nov. 14

Join us on Thursday, November 14 from 12 - 1 p.m. PST for a free Zoom info session on the Mentor Clinician Program (formerly known as the Master Clinician Program), led by Center for Mentorship in Medicine Director Dr. Chris Cannavino. The MCP is a novel program based at UC San Diego School of Medicine that transforms how future physicians are trained by delivering individualized mentorship and coaching to MS3s from experienced medical educators. The MCP focuses on clinical skill development and empathic and compassionate care, effectively bridging the science and art of medicine. This free info session is intended for medical educators external to UC San Diego; it will share with attendees how the program works, its impact and results to date, and most importantly, how you can pilot the MCP in your pediatrics clerkship at your school of medicine or teaching hospital. Save your spot now!

RSVP FOR INFO SESSION →

Graph Credit: PAIN, Fadel Zeidan, and study co-authors

Endowed Professor Fadel Zeidan, PhD, Publishes Study in PAIN

Lead With Compassion: Communication Skill-Building Workshop, Jan. 6 - 9, 2025

This month, Sanford Institute Endowed Professor of Empathy and Compassion Research Fadel Zeidan, PhD, published a new empathy research in PAIN. Dr. Zeidan's study, titled "I feel your pain," evaluates empathy levels when a female participant views a stranger versus their romantic partner experiencing pain. It is the first study to use perfusion fMRI (ASL) to identify the neural processes of empathy using an optimized and novel experimental model that elicited empathy by evoking pain; former studies have measured empathy levels via static images or videos only. Study findings discovered that female participants reported significantly higher empathy while viewing their romantic partner receive the pain stimulus as compared with a stranger, producing remarkably consistent brain activation. It adds to a growing body of evidence that empathic viewing is a multifaceted experience that recruits several neural regions.

LEARN MORE →

Healthcare requires a different kind of leader – one that strives to create a supportive environment for their patients, colleagues, and broader healthcare team; one that promotes a culture of collaboration and wellbeing; and one that is empathic and compassionate. The Lead With Compassion: Communication Skill-Building Workshop is a 2.5-day training in San Diego, CA, led by the Center for Compassionate Communication, that equips experienced and aspiring healthcare professionals with the tools to enhance their leadership performance in medical settings. Lead With Compassion teaches you how to better connect with patients, peers, students, and more through an immersive arts and humanities-based curriculum. As a result of completing this workshop, participants will walk away feeling confident in their abilities to more effectively lead their healthcare teams. Space is filling up fast! Register now, before it's too late.

Free Resource: Compassionate Communication Online Courses for Health Caregivers, Medical Educators, and more

What you'll learn:

You will learn compassionate communication skills through the use of practices and theories rooted in the arts, humanities, theater and journalism.

What you'll learn:

This course presents tools and techniques that help you improve your public-facing communication skills, particularly when describing your work to a lay audience.

TAKE A FREE COURSE →

PIctured from left to right: Zeta, Lauren Longo

"My Life My Story" Assignment in CARE1 Course Elevates Patient Narratives and Sparks Interest in Young Health Care Students

As part of UC San Diego School of Medicine's core curriculum, C.O.A.S.T., students must enroll in a series of pre-clerkship courses that promote empathy and compassion skills, health equity, trauma informed care, and more. The Compassionate Action and Real Engagement (CARE) course is one such course that teaches students evidence-based empathy and compassion skills integrated with real-world medical observations and community service. It is co-directed by Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education Director Lisa Eyler, PhD.

In CARE, students are assigned the "My Life, My Story" project, in which medical students must interview a participant and write a narrative of their life. The project is inspired by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' "My Life, My Story" campaign, whereby interviews are conducted with veterans at VA Hospitals across the country, their brief life histories are crafted, and thus become part of the veteran's medical record. The goal: to help health providers get to know their patients better and provide more empathic care.

Recently, UC San Diego School of Medicine student Lauren Longo's experience with "My Life, My Story" was featured in Caring for the Ages for her work capturing the story of a patient. Lauren shared her experience with the Sanford Institute, describing her time with a patient at a senior care facility in Carlsbad, CA, whom we will call Zeta for the purposes of this newsletter. She also told us how "My Life, My Story" inspired the kind of provider she strives to be. We encourage you to read her impactful story below:

"Sitting down with Zeta to hear her life story was a truly meaningful experience for me. Putting aside the usual medical jargon and the time pressures of clinic, I was able to connect with her through her storytelling and appreciate her as more than just a patient. We laughed about the amusing stories of her old roommate and found common ground in our devotion to family. At the time of our interview, she was 99 years old, and we were all excited about the opportunity to collect the stories of her life in the months leading up to her centennial milestone.

Pictured: Zeta sporting her favorite sports team gear, Green Bay Packers

Months later, after sharing the finished product of her 'My Life, My Story' with her doctor, Dr. Karl Steinberg, I received an invitation to her 100^th birthday celebration. To my surprise, I was asked to read Zeta's story aloud shortly after I arrived. Sharing her story in front of her friends and family for her 100^th birthday party was an unexpected joy of this experience, and I felt honored to be the one to compile her life's story in time for that special celebration. This experience highlighted the impact we can have as future providers when we take the time to listen, engage, and truly connect with our patients and is a moment I will cherish in my medical education."

—Lauren Longo, UC San Diego School of Medicine student

READ ZETA'S FULL STORY →

Meet Norma Nava (she/hers), Administrative Assistant, Center for Compassionate Communication

What is a simple thing that brings you joy?
The sun, my loved ones, and coffee!

What is a personal life goal you hope to achieve?

Travel as much as possible

What are you most passionate about outside of work?
Photography

What's your dream job in an alternate universe?
Ice cream taster

What's your favorite quote?
"Happiness blooms in the garden of love; the more we nurture it, the brighter our days become." —Unknown

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September

Sanford Institute Spreads Compassion Nationwide with New Training Program

This summer, medical students from across the U.S. traveled to UC San Diego to learn critical skills in empathy and compassion via the Sanford Institute's Compassion Ambassador Program (CAmP).

Modeled after the Sanford Scholar Award Program at UC San Diego School of Medicine, CAmP provides opportunities to a competitively selected group of first-year medical students at partner institutions to conduct mentored projects that promote empathy and compassion in medical education and healthcare. This year's partner institutions include: University of South Dakota, Case Western Reserve, City University of New York (CUNY), and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

In addition to implementing their projects at their home institutions, medical students engage in a three-day Summer CAmP — but not the kind with bunk-beds and mosquitoes! At Summer CAmP, students get a chance to participate in innovative workshops, led by UC San Diego faculty, designed to further develop the skills they need to complete their empathy projects and to eventually provide more compassionate patient care. These workshops varied from traditional didactic workshops to interactive theater games.

Photo Credit: Kyle Dykes/UC San Diego Health Sciences

Sanford Institute's Director of Medical Education Integration and CAmP creator, Jenna Tutjer, M.A., M.S.W., recently sat down with UC San Diego Today to discuss the program's ultimate goal: to create a ripple effect of compassion that spreads across the nation.

"Empathy and compassion are critical skills for medical professionals, but they aren't usually emphasized in a typical medical education," Tutjer shares. "We want our students to go back to their home institutions and help spread interest in empathy and compassion so we can make the widest possible impact."

CAmP is well on it's way to accomplishing Tutjer's goal. This is evidenced by CAmP Scholar Ayesha Khan (CUNY) in her Day-in-the-Life Reel, chronicling her Summer CAmP experience, as well as Neelufar Raja's (Case Western Reserve) and Madeline Vagts' (University of South Dakota) testimonials of transformation in UC San Diego Today.

Photo Credit: Kyle Dykes/UC San Diego Health Sciences

Pictured: Ayesha Khan, CAmP Scholar, CUNY

We look forward to expanding CAmP in the future, especially as interest in empathy and compassion in medical education continues to grow. Stay tuned for updates on the 2024-25 CAmP projects in the coming months!

READ THE UC SAN DIEGO TODAY ARTICLE →

MEET THE CAmP SCHOLARS →

Seminal Mindfulness Study, Led By Sanford Institute Endowed Professor, Makes Headlines

As reported by UC San Diego Today: A new study, published in Biological Psychiatry, has revealed that mindfulness meditation engages distinct brain mechanisms to reduce pain compared to those of the placebo response. The study, conducted by researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine, including Sanford Institute Endowed Professor Fadel Zeidan, PhD, used advanced brain imaging techniques to compare the pain-reducing effects of mindfulness meditation, a placebo cream and a “sham” mindfulness meditation in healthy participants. The study found that mindfulness meditation produced significant reductions in pain intensity and pain unpleasantness ratings, and also reduced brain activity patterns associated with pain and negative emotions. In contrast, the placebo cream only reduced the brain activity pattern associated with the placebo effect, without affecting the person’s underlying experience of pain.

SEE STUDY FINDINGS →

Lead With Compassion: Communication Skill-Building Workshop, Jan. 6 - 9, 2025

Healthcare requires a different kind of leader – one that strives to create a supportive environment for their patients, colleagues, and broader healthcare team; one that promotes a culture of collaboration and wellbeing; and one that is empathic and compassionate. The Lead With Compassion: Communication Skill-Building Workshop is a 2.5-day training in San Diego, CA, led by the Center for Compassionate Communication, that equips experienced and aspiring healthcare professionals with the tools to enhance their leadership performance in medical settings. Lead With Compassion teaches you how to better connect with patients, peers, students, and more through an immersive arts and humanities-based curriculum. As a result of completing this workshop, participants will walk away feeling confident in their abilities to more effectively lead their healthcare teams. But don’t just take our word for it – hear from testimonials of transformation from past participants.

Free Resources: Compassionate Communication Online Courses and Facilitation Guides

The Center for Compassionate Communication is currently offering free online courses via Coursera that teach health caregivers and medical educators how to improve communication skills using empathy and compassion principles. These engaging, highly-rated courses reach beyond typical e-Learning by incorporating real stories of providers and patients, interactive knowledge checks, practice exercises, and more. Are you a medical educator? Here's a pro tip!: While this story-based content is impactful for the individual, we imagine the optimal use of these courses is a hybrid model in which each module is assigned as pre-work, with suggested in-class practice of principles and skills. Feel free to use the Center's free facilitation guides. The online courses are also available on Canvas; if you’d like to have your own private Canvas section for your learners, email ProgramExpansion@health.ucsd.edu and our team will set one up for you!

ACCESS FREE RESOURCES →

Photo by Alex Matthews

Qualcomm Institute Interviews Center for Empathy and Technology Director, Cinnamon Bloss, PhD

Researcher, teacher, and expert advisor, Center for Empathy and Technology Director Cinnamon Bloss, PhD, works across disciplines to understand and shape the impact of technology on health and society. Dr. Bloss recently sat down with the Qualcomm Institute to discuss her unconventional journey, multifaceted work, and gusto for studying new technologies in an ever-changing healthcare landscape. As she states in the article, titled Bridging the Gaps , "At a high level, I am a clinical psychologist by training. So I certainly describe my work as having a health-related focus, but I tend to think about health pretty broadly. I don’t think only about specific diseases or disorders, but also about how new technologies can promote or undermine health or mental health." This unique perspective is critical to her work at the Sanford Institute.

READ THE INTERVIEW →

Meet Julie Freeman (she/hers), Executive Officer, Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion

What is a personal life goal that you hope to achieve?
I’d love to do a modern-day pilgrimage by 50.

What are you listening to?

I've been listening to Arabic pop lately; check out Elyanna. I love the Latin and Arabic influences in her music. I also have several podcasts in my lineup, but Armchair Expert is a favorite.

What are you most passionate about outside of work?
Being a mentor to young, first-generation Latinas is so rewarding. I firmly believe that bringing others along with us when we climb a rung on the ladder is important; mentorship is a way to do that.

What's your dream job in an alternate universe?
I’d be an Ethnic Studies Professor!

What's your favorite quote?
Put your heart, mind, and soul into even the smallest acts. This is the secret to success. —Swami Sivananda

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August

Sanford Institute Awards Endowed Professorship in Empathy and Compassion Research to Eric Garland, PhD

We are proud to announce the Sanford Institute has awarded Eric Garland, PhD, as the recipient of our Endowed Professorship in Empathy and Compassion Research. He joins the ranks of esteemed UC San Diego faculty members, Monique Smith, PhD, and Fadel Zeidan, PhD, in this newly appointed role.

Dr. Garland is the developer of an innovative, evidence-based therapy for addiction, emotion dysregulation, and chronic pain founded on insights derived from cognitive and affective neuroscience, namely Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE). He has published more than 250 scientific manuscripts and received more than $80 million in research grants to conduct clinical trials and neuroscientific investigations to examine the efficacy and mechanisms of mindfulness as a treatment for addiction and chronic pain.

He has focused much of his research efforts on generating novel solutions to the opioid epidemic — a severe public health threat which has exacted a tremendous toll on society. More recently, Dr. Garland has begun to work on optimizing MORE with other neuroscience-informed therapeutics like neurofeedback and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

In recognition of his expertise, Dr. Garland was appointed by former NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins to the NIH HEAL Multi-Disciplinary Working Group to help guide the more than $2 billion HEAL initiative to use science to halt the opioid crisis. In addition, in a bibliometric analysis of mindfulness research published over the past 55 years, Dr. Garland was found to be the most prolific author of mindfulness research in the world. We couldn't be prouder to welcome him to our team and appoint him to this distinguished Institute role.

LEARN MORE →

Photo Credit: Kyle Dykes

Sanford Institute Hosts Unique 'Summer CAmP' for Medical Students Across U.S.

This month, the Sanford Institute hosted 'Summer CAmP', but not the kind with mosquitoes and bunk beds! Twelve scholars hailing from CUNY School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, University of South Dakota, and University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio came to UC San Diego via the Compassion Ambassador Program (CAmP) to immerse themselves in empathy and compassion training. The three days of didactics and community-building experiences helped develop each student's skills in understanding and cultivating empathy in medical spaces. Summer CAmP featured presentations from Sanford Institute leadership, including: Lisa Eyler, PhD, Director of the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education, Ramya Rajagopalan, PhD, Associate Director, Training, Evaluation, and Qualitative Research, and Taylor Berninger, MS, Associate Director of Engagement for the Center for Empathy and Technology, and more. Stay tuned to our social media pages (Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook) over the next few weeks for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Summer CAmP from the lens of CAmP Scholar, Ayesha Khan, of CUNY!

MEET CAmP SCHOLARS →

Registration is Open for Health Caregivers Communication Workshop on Jan. 6 - 9, 2025

Beyond the demonstrable benefits to patients, research shows that improved interpersonal skills and stronger relationships with patients helps health caregivers as well. In comes the Center for Compassionate Communication's Healthcare Communication workshop on January 6 - 9, 2025, in San Diego, CA. This skills-building workshop is intended for medical educators, physicians, nurses, APPs, and teaching artists, external to UC San Diego. Through a curriculum based in the arts and humanities, attendees will participate in meaningful discussions, innovative exercises, and reflections with fellow health caregivers from across the nation. The purpose: to rewire the way health caregivers think about communication in medicine, and address the importance of their own awareness, self-healing, self-compassion, and wellbeing. The Healthcare Communication Workshop can serve as a standalone learning opportunity or a first step in becoming a trainer/facilitator for your respective institution. It includes interactive follow-up Zoom sessions, online modules with facilitation guides for integration into the classroom, and annual booster workshops. Register today before it's too late!

SECURE YOUR SPOT →

Meet Sará (they/she)

Post-Doctoral Fellow in Public Health, Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health

Sará is currently...

Sipping on: I am always drinking a combination of mint, tulsi, and/or ginger and chamomile tea to help with digestion.

Listening to: I am listening to the audiobook: “Break The Cycle: A Guide To Healing Intergenerational Trauma” by Dr. Mariel Buqué and the jazz artists Terrance Martin and Robert Glasper.

Reading: I am reading “The Ungrateful Refugee” by Dina Nayeri and “Irreducible: Consciousness, Life, Computer and Human Nature” by Federico Faggin.

Excited about: I will be traveling to Edinburgh, Scotland, to visit a research collaborator at St. Andrews University (the birthplace of golf, apparently!).

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July

Photo Credit: Jen Gamboa

Sanford Institute Unites National Medical Education Leaders to Spark Empathy-driven Change in Healthcare

This past month, the Sanford Institute hosted the Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum, bringing together more than 30 medical educators and healthcare leaders from over 20 schools of medicine across the U.S. Schools in attendance included, but were not limited to: NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, and many more leading institutions.

At C-MEd, attendees learned directly from empathy and compassion leaders at UC San Diego, heard the stories behind the success of their programming and curricula at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and walked away with information on how to partner with us to implement it at their own institutions. Perhaps most importantly, they found a purpose-driven and passionate community of allies in the pursuit for a kinder, more compassionate health system and world.

All of us at the Sanford Institute are deeply inspired by the community that was forged through through C-MEd, and look forward to amplifying our collective mission to equip each medical learner and health caregiver with the education and training required to engage patients and self as whole people with physical and emotional needs.

LEARN MORE →

Compassion Ambassador Program (CAmP) Selects Inaugural Cohort of Scholars

Modeled after the Sanford Scholar Award Program at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, we are excited to launch the Compassion Ambassador Program (CAmP) with four other schools of medicine this year — namely CUNY School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, University of South Dakota, and University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. CAmP will provide its 12 competitively selected scholars an opportunity to conduct mentored projects that aim to understand and/or increase empathy and compassion. In addition to implementing their projects, CAmP scholars will engage in a three-day program in August (AKA: Summer CAmP) that is designed to enhance overall project efficacy, further develop empathy and compassion skills, and create a cohesive, national cadre of student leaders in empathy and compassion.

MEET CAmP SCHOLARS →

Lead With Compassion Healthcare Communication Workshop, Jan. 6 - 9, 2025

Join the Center for Compassionate Communication for a 2.5-day Healthcare Communication workshop on January 6 - 9, 2025. This immersive, skills-building workshop is intended for medical educators, physicians, nurses, and teaching artists, external to UC San Diego. Through a curriculum based in the arts and humanities, workshop participants will participate in discussions, innovative exercises, reflections, and build community to increase wellness. The overarching goal: to rewire the way health caregivers think about communication in medicine, and address the importance of awareness, self-healing, and self-compassion. The Lead With Compassion Workshop can serve as a standalone learning opportunity or a first step in becoming a trainer/facilitator. Space is filling up quickly — register today before it's too late!

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Getting Schooled on Social Media and Adolescent Mental Health

In May 2023, the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory report that calls attention to the impacts of social media on youth mental health and in June 2024 he called for warning labels on social media platforms.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, up to 95 percent of young people between the ages of 13 to 17 report using a social media platform and more than one-third say they use it “almost constantly.” With adolescence representing a critical stage in brain development, the Surgeon General’s advisory report issued urgent calls to action for five stakeholder groups to better understand the full impact of social media usage and make modifications accordingly, including technology companies, researchers, policymakers, parents and youth.

Pictured left to right: Cinnamon Bloss, PhD, Alison O'Daffer, B.A., and Amy Bintliff, PhD

Center for Empathy and Technology Director Cinnamon Bloss, PhD, as well as UC San Diego researchers Alison O'Daffer, B.A., and Amy Bintliff recently published a paper that argues the Surgeon General’s advisory report, reflective of the broader national discourse on adolescent social media use, has left out a key stakeholder group that can serve as a crucial site of intervention: schools. Find out why at the jump.

READ THE PAPER →

Meet Kim (she/hers)

Research Project Manager, Center for Empathy and Technology

Kim is currently...

Sipping on: I am a caffeine enthusiast, and have been drinking Philz’s Mint Mojito iced coffee during the summer days. Nothing wrong with enjoying a mint mojito with fish tacos either. 😊

Listening to: I have been listening to the “Stuff You Should Know” podcast with my kids. It’s so humbling realizing how much I don’t know!

Reading: I just started reading “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times” by Monica Guzman. I’m also looking forward to revisiting "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón while relaxing at the campsite this summer.

Excited about: I am heading to Alaska at the end of July for a week of fishing, camping, and exploring with friends and family. We have been many times, and I am looking forward to the natural beauty and hiking a glacier for the first time.

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June

Pictured from left to right: Nicholas Wu, Alec Terrana, Raneem Mokatrin, Lisa Eyler, PhD, Kiley Rucker, Heidi Banh

UC San Diego School of Medicine Ushers in the Next Generation of Empathic and Compassionate Doctors

The Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion is thrilled to announce eight Sanford Scholars graduated with honors from UC San Diego School of Medicine this month. They were part of the largest graduating class yet, which included 142 new doctors celebrated at the Epstein Amphitheatre on June 2.

These students doctors overcame many challenges during their schooling, including disruptions caused by COVID-19 and the rigorous demands of medical education. Through it all, this 2024 cohort of graduates remained steadfast in their endeavors to enhance empathy and compassion not only in their areas of study, but in their own lives. Each of them display an indomitable spirit and serve as a beacon of hope for a brighter, more compassionate future in patient care, healthcare systems change, and beyond. We are so proud.

Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Communications

We invite you to join us in celebrating our compassionate graduates ⤵️

• Nicholas Wu, awarded the American Academy of Neurology Student Award;
• Jessica Della Ripa, awarded the Foundation Achievement Award in Surgery;
• Heidi Banh, awarded the Ruth Covel Award in Geriatrics;
• Kiley Rucker, awarded the Tyler Pardee MD Memorial Award;
• Alec Terrana, awarded the Lola Romanucci Ross and John Ross Jr. Award in Medical Anthropology;
• Patrick Loehr, awarded the Merck Award for Outstanding Academic Accomplishments from the Kiwanis Club of San Diego Foundation and Walter Zitlau Memorial Award;
• Raneem Mokatrin, awarded the Edwin Reithmayer MD Memorial Scholarship Award by the San Diego Academy of Family Physicians; and,
• Shelby Marie Warren, awarded the Roderick K. Calverley Humanitarian Service Award and served as an esteemed speaker during Commencement.

Dr. Gary Buckholz and Dr. Rabia Atayee Receive 2024 AAHPM Visionary Awards

This month, Center for Compassionate Communication Fellowship Co-Director Gary Buckholz, MD, HMDC, FAAHPM, and Affiliate Faculty Member Rabia Atayee, MD, PharmD, were named among the most influential leaders in hospice and palliative care by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). These two visionaries were chosen to receive this distinction from their peers, and represent thousands of clinicians, educators, and researchers who continue to innovate and lead the palliative field to provide the highest quality care to patients and providers alike. Dr. Buckholz recently sat down with AAHPM to share insights into his life's work, his inspirations in compassionate palliative care, and what this Visionary award means to him. His words moved our team — and we hope they move you, too.

READ GARY'S INTERVIEW →

Lead With Compassion Healthcare Communication Workshop, Jan. 6 - 9, 2025

Join the Center for Compassionate Communication for a 2.5-day Healthcare Communication workshop on January 6 - 9, 2025. This immersive, skills-building workshop is intended for medical educators, physicians, nurses, and teaching artists, external to UC San Diego. Through a curriculum based in the arts and humanities, participants will participate in discussions, innovative exercises, reflections, and build community to increase wellness. The overarching goal: to rewire the way healthcare providers think about communication in medicine, and address the importance of awareness, self-healing, and self-compassion. It can serve as a standalone learning opportunity or a first step in becoming a trainer/facilitator. Take advantage of early-bird registration now, before it's too late!

Register Now for the Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum

Join empathy and compassion leaders from across the world at the Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum, taking place July 8 - 9 in La Jolla, CA. This two-day event teaches attendees how to systematically integrate empathy and compassion curricula and programs into their schools of medicine or teaching hospitals. It is intended for medical educators, deans/academic leadership, anatomy lab directors, and healthcare practitioners.

C-MEd attendees can expect to:

• Hear from UC San Diego leaders on how they've successfully implemented empathy and compassion programming at our institution. Speakers include: CEO of UC San Diego Health Patty Maysent, MPH, MBA, Vice Chancellor for UC San Diego Health Sciences John M. Carethers, MD, and CEO of UC San Diego Health Physician Group Christopher J. Kane, MD, amongst others.

• Unite with medical educators, leaders, and providers in the pursuit of enhanced compassion and well-being in medical education and healthcare.

• Experience innovative empathy and compassion learning activities aimed at learners ranging from pre-med to practicing clinicians.

There are only a few spots left — register now to make sure you can attend this highly anticipated medical education event! Registration closes on July 2, 2024.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Meet Ramya (she/hers)

Associate Director, Center for Empathy and Technology

Ramya is currently...

Sipping on: With the summer heat in full swing, I've been turning to coconut water and fresh-squeezed lemonade, which somehow manage to evoke a "tropical sunshine" vibe while giving me temporary fortitude against the swelter. I'm also embarrassed to admit that I'm an artisanal still water enthusiast.

Listening to: Recently I’ve been gravitating back to the instrumental work of A. Kanyakumari, Habib Koité, and Mark Knopfler, as well as new music from Natalie Merchant and Indosoul.

Reading: Currently, The Ministry of Time (fiction), Emergent Strategy (non-fiction), and The Empathy Exams (non-fiction)

Excited about: Fulfilling my mid-year resolution to try to explore at least one new park or hiking spot in/around San Diego every month this summer.

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May

Sanford Institute Featured in KPBS for Exploring Empathy in the Brain

The science of empathy made headlines this month as Sanford Institute Director Dr. William Mobley and Center for Compassionate Communication Director Dr. Evonne Kaplan-Liss sat down with KPBS to share the vision and mission of our organization, and perhaps more importantly, how we bring it to life in our work every day.

During the interview, Dr. Mobley shared how Sanford Institute researchers use brain imaging to help identify neural circuits that create feelings of empathy. "Empathy and compassion are as much a part of brain function as listening and hearing and vision and motor function,” he said. “It’s right there for us to understand and explore, and hopefully right there for us to understand well enough that we can devise training programs to make it easier for us to be skillful in our empathy.”

The UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship, facilitated by the Center for Compassionate Communication, is just one example of a training program we've devised based on relevant empathy and compassion research — and it was on full display when science and technology reporter Thomas Fudge entered the Sanford Institute office. Medical professionals dancing, cheering, and team-building with one another in pursuit of empathy and wellness, and the data shows us it works.

Center for Compassionate Communication Director Dr. Kaplan-Liss shared how her unique arts and humanities curriculum aids in building empathy among healthcare professionals, and why empathy and compassion work is critical in addressing physician burnout in today's healthcare system.

Watch the full KPBS segment at the jump to learn more about the Sanford Institute and get a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of our most popular empathy and compassion programs.

WATCH THE KPBS SEGMENT →

Luke Carmichael Valmadrid Named 2024 Triton Student Employee of the Year

The Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health (CESJHH) is proud to announce Luke Carmichael Valmadrid as one of 12 recipients of the 2024 Triton Student Employee of the Year Award. Luke's role as Empathy and Social Justice Research Assistant for CESJHH has been instrumental in shaping the Center’s research strategy, particularly in defining concepts around belonging and how to best support all UC San Diego students and faculty. He has made significant impacts on the team, and all of us at the Sanford Institute are grateful for the unique perspective and voice he brings to his work. Join us in celebrating Luke's well-deserved recognition on social media.

CONGRATULATE LUKE →

Registration Open: Lead With Compassion Healthcare Communication Skills-Building Workshop

Join the Center for Compassionate Communication for a 2.5-day Healthcare Communication skills-building workshop for medical educators, physicians, nurses and teaching artists. Through an interactive curriculum based in the arts and humanities, workshop participants will get a chance to uncover and develop their unique communication style, build their communications toolbox to become more adaptable when speaking with patients, peers, students, and more. Take advantage of early-bird registration now, before it's too late!

Center for Empathy and Technology Awards Three Seed Grant Projects

The Center for Empathy and Technology is pleased to announce their funding of three seed grant projects, following their Fall 2023 RFP. This funding cycle invited a wide variety of proposal topics, stipulating that projects must be related to the Center's mission to advance research and education at the intersection of technological innovation, empathy and compassion, and professional practice. Congratulations to our awardees: Federica Klaus, MD, PhD, "Measuring empathy and compassion with AI in mental health peer support"; Ying Choon Wu, "Monitoring stress response and fatigue in surgeons and trainees; and, Alan Card, PhD, MPH, DFASHRM, "Implementing a Patient Decision Aid for Induction of Labor in Patients with Low-risk Pregnancies to Improve Empathy in Care, Experience, and Outcomes." We look forward to seeing your projects' progress!

LEARN MORE →

Sanford Institute Postdoc Presents at Boston International Trauma Research Conference

Recently, Dr. Sará King, Post-Doctoral Fellow in Public Health for the Center for Empathy and Social Justice, presented at the 35th Annual Boston International Trauma Research Conference. Her all-day workshop, titled “Loving-Awareness-In-Action: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Technology, and Ancestral Embodiment Practices towards Healing Intergenerational Trauma,” motivated clinicians, social workers, educators, and tech professionals to rethink AI's impact on marginalized communities. Following the workshop, Dr. King led a presentation emphasizing the importance of making neuroscience accessible to youth and fostering community-based dialogues where all participants are stakeholders in AI technology. Learn more about Dr. King's work at the jump.

LEARN MORE →

Flash Sale! Save Big on Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum Registration

For 48 hours, we're offering you $50 off your Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum registration. Just use the promo code 'EMPATHY' at checkout to get your savings.

The Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum is a two-day event where attendees can learn how to systematically integrate empathy and compassion curricula and programs directly from UC San Diego experts. This event is intended for medical educators, deans/academic leadership, and anatomy lab directors at schools of medicine (external to UC San Diego), as well as healthcare practitioners at teaching hospitals.

Event Details:
➡️ Date/Time: Monday, July 8 from 8 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. and Tuesday, July 9 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
➡️ Location: In-person at Scripps Seaside Forum - 8610 Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037

➡️ Registration Fee: $300 (Get $50 off with Flash Sale promo code: EMPATHY)

CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT →

Meet Marla (she/hers)

Finance and Operations Manager, Center for Empathy and Technology

Marla is currently...

Sipping on: Everyone who knows me expects me to be drinking my extra large black cold brew coffee out of a mason jar, at least until I hit my daily caffeine cut off time! In the afternoons, I have been sipping on Waterloo Orange Vanilla sparkling water which reminds me of creamsicles from my childhood summers back east.

Listening to: I have been totally obsessed with Jason Lewis' MindAmend music with Isochronic Tones. There are songs for every mood from Chillhop to Deep House and can be used for concentration and stress reduction, love it all!

Reading: I’m about to begin The Silent Twins by journalist Marjorie Wallace. It’s an eccentric true story about identical twins in the UK who, for no known reason, refuse to communicate with anyone but each other for the majority of their young lives. After a short stint of committing petty crimes, the twins end up in an institution for twelve years.

Excited about: May is my birthday month and I’m really looking forward to a whole lot of laughter and reminiscing with a few friends over Memorial Weekend. We’ll be celebrating springtime exploring the Redwoods and beaches along the lost coast of Northern California.

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April

Registration Open: Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education, May 17

Next month, the Sanford Institute's Center for Mentorship in Medicine is partnering with UC San Diego Department of Pediatrics and Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego to host the annual Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education (SIME). And for the first-time ever, it will take place in-person.

Event Details:
➡️ Day: Friday, May 17
➡️ Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
➡️ Location: Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, Education & Office Building - 7960 Birmingham Drive, San Diego, CA 92123
➡️ Registration Fee: FREE

The purpose of this event is to promote and advance the educational mission of UC San Diego School of Medicine while building leadership capacity in medical education. It is designed for healthcare professionals across all specialties, including faculty, residents, fellows, medical students, and administrative staff who wish to learn more about the educational resources available on campus and beyond. CME credit will be provided for those who attend.

In addition, we are proud to announce several Sanford Institute team members and program participants will be presenting posters for their work in empathy and compassion research and programming. Poster sessions include but are not limited to:

"Integrating Trauma Informed Care into the UCSD School of Medicine Core Curriculum" by:

• Lisa Eyler, PhD, Director of Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education

• Nisha Uppuluri, UC San Diego School of Medicine student

Dr. Eyler will also be a featured panelist on the much-anticipated DEI in Medical Education panel discussion at SIME. Her center applies compassion-forward approaches to increase inclusive excellence and ensure students are equipped to deliver structurally-competent, equitable healthcare.

"Innovative Model for Facilitating Training on Genomics in Healthcare Aimed at Pre-Clinical Students" by:

• Cinnamon Bloss, PhD, Director, Center for Empathy and Technology

• Ramya M. Rajagopalan, PhD, Associate Director, Evaluation, Training, Qualitative Research, Center for Empathy and Technology

• Taylor Berninger, MS, MA, MEd, CGC, Associate Director of Engagement, Center for Empathy and Technology, Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion

Want to learn more about the abovementioned sessions? View the full SIME agenda here.

Don't miss out! Registration is filling up fast. Click here to save your spot for the Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sanford Scholars Selected for UC San Diego School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society

We are proud to announce four Sanford Scholars have been selected by their peers and endorsed by faculty to be part of the esteemed UC San Diego School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). They will be inducted this Fall 2024 at the White Coat Ceremony. Congratulations Nissma Bencheikh, Tanya Jain, Nisha Uppuluri, and Alan Aung — we are so proud of you all.

GHHS, developed by Arnold P. Gold Foundation, is part of a national effort to recognize medical students, residents, faculty and alumni who demonstrate exemplary behavior that promote humanism in medicine and compassionate care. GHHS now has more than 180 chapters in medical schools and residency programs and more than 45,000 members. The chosen scholars will be GHHS members for life and will serve the community to emphasize the importance of humanism and professionalism throughout the continuum of physician training at our institution.

LEARN ABOUT SANFORD SCHOLARS →

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Photo credit: Tim Goldman

New Belonging Initiatives Commemorate One-Year Anniversary of You Belong in STEM Day

In celebration of the one-year anniversary of YOU Belong in STEM Day on April 18, the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health (CESJHH) is proud to announce the launch of two initiatives: the I Belong When campaign and the Science of Belonging Research Hub. Both initiatives bridge the center's communications and research arms, emphasizing a holistic approach to understanding and fostering belonging. I Belong When encourages UC San Diego community members to share what supports their sense of belonging on campus; and, the Science of Belonging Research Hub endeavors to study and understand belonging through interdisciplinary research and targeted interventions to directly support all students, including those who experience notable belonging challenges. Through collaboration with UC San Diego faculty, student leaders, as well as nationwide institutions, CESJHH is creating spaces and systems that promote a sense of belonging on the University campus and beyond.

LEARN MORE →

Now Recruiting! UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship

The UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship is recruiting clinically active physicians, nurses, and APPs who have an interest in advancing compassionate communication within their division or department. This six-month fellowship, led by the Center for Compassionate Communication, applies innovative arts and humanities lessons to medical communication training — improving relationships between physicians and their patients and teams. Fellows have described the process as being revelatory to their connection with medicine, experiencing discoveries on both personal and professional levels. The application period is open now for self-nominations for the Spring 2025 cohort. Or, if you know someone who could benefit from this Fellowship, nominate them by filling out this form.

LEARN MORE →

Make Waves in Medical Education Education at the Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum, July 8-9

This summer, the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion invites external medical educators, deans and academic leadership, anatomy lab directors, and healthcare practitioners from across the U.S. to C ompassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum , a two-day event where attendees can learn how to meaningfully adopt empathy and compassion programming in their schools of medicine and teaching hospitals directly from UC San Diego experts.

Event Details:
Date/Time: Monday, July 8 from 8 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. and Tuesday, July 9 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: In-person at Scripps Seaside Forum - 8610 Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037

Registration Fee: $300

Now Hiring: Research Program Manager (Hybrid/Remote)

The Sanford Institute is currently recruiting a Research Program Manager who will work within the Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion. The person in this role should possess a high degree of knowledge in neurological basis, with recognized expertise in specific areas. They will oversee and manage departmental research projects and other initiatives that may include formulating strategies and administering policies, processes, and resources.

In addition, they will serve as a team lead on research study designs, including project development and planning, implementation and management of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, survey tools and systems, procedures, techniques and processes focusing on medical education, physician wellness, and neurobiology of empathy and compassion.

Click here to learn more about the position, or to forward the job opportunity to a colleague.

APPLY NOW →

Meet Tim (he/him)

Senior Instructional Designer, Center for Compassionate Communication

Tim is currently...

Sipping on: Pacifico drafts with a lime. Being a native southern Californian, I loves me some Mexican lager. Especially when paired with tacos! Or chile verde. Or enchiladas…

Listening to: Indie rock for enjoyment and lo-fi beats for work. Podcasts are sports-related, and Stuff You Should Know.

Reading: The Swinger—an unauthorized biography of Tiger Woods, and The New York Times.

Excited about: Moving to Orlando, FL! It is time to downsize Mom’s living situation, and so we are both moving from our beloved Cali to be close to family who live there. I’m so impressed with her to be making such a big change at 85! 😊

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March

Pictured: William Mobley, MD, PhD. Photo credit: Melissa Jacobs.

William Mobley, MD, PhD, Named Director of Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion

Following a nationwide search, William Mobley, MD, PhD, has been appointed director of the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion. Dr. Mobley, who has served as interim director of the institute since its founding in 2019, brings decades of experience to this newly appointed role.

Dr. Mobley is a board-certified neurologist who cares for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders, and currently serves as Associate Dean of Neurosciences Initiatives and Distinguished Professor of Neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and Executive Director of UC San Diego's Down Syndrome Center for Research and Treatment.

As director, he will further the innovation and vision of the Sanford Institute by providing intellectual and strategic direction for its centers and programmatic and administrative structure. He will partner with academic leaders at UC San Diego and beyond to guide empathy and compassion research and medical education initiatives in accordance with the values and mission of UC San Diego.

We are beyond proud to have him at the helm of our organization and encourage you to learn more about him in his feature story in UC San Diego Today.

UC San Diego Faculty and Staff Invited to Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education

This May 17, faculty. staff, and trainees are invited to the annual Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education (SIME), hosted by the UC San Diego Department of Pediatrics, Sanford Institute, and Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego. This event features talks on infusing equity into medical education, curriculum development, and more. It will provide a forum for faculty development and provide a venue for academic productivity within med ed; it is free to attend.

Early Bird Registration Available for Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum

This July 8 - 9, the Sanford Institute invites external medical educators, deans and academic leadership, anatomy lab directors, and healthcare practitioners from across the U.S. to C-MEd, a two-day event whereby attendees can learn how to adopt empathy and compassion programming in their schools of medicine and teaching hospitals directly from UC San Diego experts. Learn more and register; early bird registration of $250 is available until 4/1.

LEARN MORE →

Pictured: 2022-23 MedGap Scholar Heidi Banh. Photo credit: Erik Jepsen/University Communications

Pictured: 2023-24 Sanford Scholar Alex Auchus

Sanford Scholars Match With Residency Programs

This month, several Sanford Scholars experienced a new milestone in their journeys to becoming physicians: Match Day. This is the day graduating medical students learn where they will complete their graduate medical training in specific residency programs. All of us at the Sanford Institute are filled with pride and hope for the Sanford Scholars who will undoubtedly hold onto their empathy and compassion throughout their residencies and medical careers, and we celebrate their hard work at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Congratulations, Heidi Banh, Patrick Loehr, Caitlyn Belza, Jessica DellaRipa, Morgan Desjardins, Kyleigh Kirbach, Raneem Mokatrin, Kiley Rucker, Nicole Sun, Alec Terrana, Shelby Warren, and Nicholas Wu!

LEARN MORE →

Sanford Scholar Alex Auchus Receives Meritorious Award

We are thrilled to announce 2023-24 Sanford Scholar Alex Auchus recently received the Society of Behavioral Medicine Meritorious Award for his Sanford Institute-funded research study. The study, namely "Relationships Between Internalized Homonegativity and Psychosocial Syndemics Among Young Latino Sexual Minority Men," was conducted in collaboration with UC San Diego faculty member Dr. David Grelotti, and analyzed relationships between internalized homonegativity, synergistic psychosocial and structural epidemics, and anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse among young Latino sexual minority men. We encourage you to learn more about Alex's study on our website.

LEARN MORE →

New Publication: Compassion Dynamics in Medical Students - A Micro-EMA Study

Center for Empathy and Technology seed grant awardee Dr. Matthew Herbert and his research team recently published findings from their study "A New mHealth Tool to Evaluate Changes over Time in Empathy and Compassion" in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. This project measured the impacts of empathy and compassion training within UC San Diego's School of Medicine. In doing so, it examined a micro-ecological momentary assessment (or, micro-EMA) approach for measuring the temporal dynamics of compassion in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical students completed demographic information and self-report questionnaires assessing empathy and compassion for self and others. The results suggest it is feasible to use micro-EMA to assess daily levels of compassion among students. Learn more at the jump.

LEARN MORE →

Sanford Institute Showcases Empathy and Compassion Work at 2024 Gold Humanism Summit

This month, various members of the Sanford Institute's leadership team, including Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education Director Lisa Eyler and Center for Compassionate Communication co-directors Evonne Kaplan-Liss and Val Lantz-Gefroh, attended the 2024 Gold Humanism Summit: The Person in Front of You, hosted by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. At the event, our team shared learning activities and testimonials of transformation stemming from Sanford Institute empathy and compassion programming and curricula to hundreds of medical educators and healthcare practitioners from across the nation. The team also listened to inspiring presentations from award-winning medical educators, who share in our endeavor toward a more humanistic health system and world. We look forward to attending next year's event!

LEARN MORE →

Meet Angelina (she/her)

Graduate Student Researcher, Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education

Angelina is currently...

Sipping on: I must have at least two cups of hot tea a day. I love jasmine green tea or mint tea, as well as raspberry/lime Spindrift for refreshment.

Listening to: The Speechify app changed my life. It lets me listen to my textbooks and assigned readings while driving. It is a great way to save time and get a lot done. In my more carefree moments, I love to listen to Woodkid and Cannons or an Indie Pop playlist.

Reading: I am juggling two fiction books at the moment — "Confessions" by Jaume Cabré and "Would" by Oksana Vasyakina. Also, I've been reading "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" to my daughter at night in Russian. I'm finding it more enjoyable than she might be (although she requested it); we're almost done with it.

Excited about: I'm looking forward to a trip to Anza Borrego with my family to see wildflowers this weekend!

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February

Empathy and Compassion Research Day Shares Exciting Study Findings and Facilitates Scientific Exchange

The Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion recently hosted its Empathy and Compassion Research Day on campus. The day was filled with lightning presentations from empathy and compassion experts from UC San Diego, and networking with researchers and practitioners who work to improve scientific understanding of the driving forces and benefits of compassion. Our team shared special announcements on our endowed professorships and funding opportunities in basic and applied research, too.

Topics of discussion at Empathy and Compassion Research Day included:
• Researching empathy and compassion in animals versus humans;
• Origins and interventions in physician burnout;
• Psychological and neural mechanisms supporting empathy; and,
• And much more.

Couldn't make it? Explore the Sanford Institute's funded empathy and compassion studies here, and stay tuned for upcoming research events on our website!

New Publication: Compassion and Equity-focused Clinical Genomics Training for Health Learners

At most medical schools in the United States, genetics education within the undergraduate medical curriculum primarily focuses on reinforcing basic genetics knowledge versus practice-based competencies in genomics. In addition, a significant portion of medical students report feeling insufficiently trained in applying genetics concepts learned in core curricula to clinical practice. In response, Taylor Berninger, Dr. Ramya Rajagopalan, and Dr. Cinnamon Bloss of the Center for Empathy and Technology researched the development, pilot implementation, and evaluation of a novel elective offering for pre-clinical medical students, namely the Sanford Precision Health Scholars Immersive Learning Experience. The results were promising in addressing gaps in genomics education — read their full publication in the Journal of Genetic Counseling.

LEARN MORE →

Now Accepting Applications for Provider Burnout Seed Grant: Mechanisms and Interventions

Between demanding work days, time constraints, and emotional exhaustion, modern-day clinicians are experiencing burnout at higher rates than ever before. This rising prevalence in burnout has led to questions around the delivery of patient care, physicians' sense of empathy and compassion for self and others, and what interventions can properly address its impacts. Today, we are proud to share the Sanford Institute is funding the research to answer said questions. The Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion invites applications for research proposals on provider burnout to be conducted in the 2024-25 academic year. The focus of this call is to implement novel research projects that aim to understand the causes and mechanisms of burnout and the development of evidence-based interventions that target provider burnout. First stage applications are due March 1.

APPLY NOW →

2024 Gold Humanism Summit: The Person in Front of You

Join the Sanford Institute this week at the 2024 Gold Humanism Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. This event is focused on igniting humanism to create the changes needed to heal the heart of healthcare.

RSVP NOW →

Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education

The Center for Mentorship in Medicine is co-hosting the Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education on May 17 at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego. This event is designed for healthcare professionals across all specialties. CME credit provided.

RSVP NOW →

Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum

Make waves in med ed with the Sanford Institute. Register for C-MEd and learn about innovative empathy and compassion programming from experts. This event is for medical educators and academic leadership at schools of medicine/teaching hospitals (external to UC San Diego).

LEARN MORE →

Meet Grace (she/her)

Administrative Assistant, Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion

Grace is currently...

Sipping on: I love some matcha and currently love adding matcha foam!

Listening to: I listen to whatever is on the radio station, switching through the English and Spanish radio stations.

Reading: Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness by Vex King

Excited about: I look forward to growing with the team this month and spending quality time with family and giving myself “me” time.

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January

Pictured from left to right: Monique Smith, PhD, and Fadel Zeidan, PhD

Sanford Institute Awards Endowed Professorships in Empathy and Compassion Research

Today, we are thrilled to announce the appointment of esteemed UC San Diego faculty members — Monique Smith, PhD, and Fadel Zeidan, PhD — as the recipients of the Sanford Institute's Endowed Professorships in Empathy and Compassion Research. They are the first two of four endowed professorships the Sanford Institute will award in 2024.

Dr. Smith is an Assistant Professor at UC San Diego's Departments of Neurobiology and Neurosciences. Her lab, namely The Smith Lab, is focused on providing mechanistic insights into the neurobiological relationships between social behavior, pain, and emotion, while identifying the neural circuitry that is disrupted in disease models related to empathy, addiction, and depression. Dr. Smith and her team specialize in developing novel behavioral models of complex and understudied social phenomena, like empathy, to ultimately identify and dissect the underlying neural circuitry.

Dr. Zeidan is an associate professor in UC San Diego's Department of Anesthesiology. His lab, namely Zeidan Lab, aims to determine the active neural, psychological, and physiological mechanisms supporting the self-regulation of pain and health. Dr. Zeidan and his team are particularly interested in targeting said mechanisms to create and optimize therapies that directly enhance well-being.

To learn more about our inaugural endowed professorships, click here, or join us in congratulating Dr. Zeidan and Dr. Smith on LinkedIn with a comment!

LEARN MORE →

Deadline Extended!
2024-25 Medical Education Seed Grant Program

The Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education invites applications for medical education project proposals for implementation in the 2024-25 academic year. The intention of this funding is to implement novel medical education projects that enhance empathy and compassion in medical training and/or healthcare, and evaluate their efficacy. The maximum funding available for a single project supported under this call is $50,000 for one year, with a typical budget expected to be $15,000 - $25,000. All UC San Diego faculty, staff, and trainees are eligible to apply. Deadline: 1/31.

APPLY NOW →

Coming Soon!
Provider Burnout RFA: Mechanisms and Interventions

For the first-time ever, the Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion invites applications for research proposals on medical provider burnout; projects must be conducted in the 2024-25 academic year. The focus of this call is to implement novel research projects that aim to understand the causes and mechanisms of burnout and the development of evidence-based interventions that target medical provider burnout. Applications open on 2/1. Subscribe to our funding notifications to be alerted when applications open.

GET NOTIFIED →

Registration is Now Open for the Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum

The Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion proudly presents the inaugural Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum on July 8 - 9, 2024, at the UC San Diego Scripps Seaside Forum.

This event offers a unique opportunity to learn about the Sanford Institute's innovative programming and curricula directly from our empathy and compassion experts, and helps attendees transform learning at their respective institutions. It is intended for medical educators, deans, and anatomy lab directors at schools of medicine, as well as physicians at teaching hospitals.

C-MEd attendees will also get an opportunity to develop practical skills in empathy and compassion by participating in our featured add-on session "Compassion Cultivation Training© (CCT™) Workshop," facilitated by Compassion Institute.

Space is limited. Register now to save your spot and take advantage of our early bird registration rate of $250!

Measures of empathy and compassion: A scoping review

Advancing the science of empathy and compassion requires that we select measures best suited to evaluating effectiveness of training. This scoping review, led by Sanford Institute-funded researcher Cassandra Vieten and her esteemed research team (including Center for Empathy and Technology director Cinnamon Bloss, PhD, and Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education director Lisa Eyler, PhD), sought to determine what instruments measure empathy and compassion, how and to what extent they are validated, and provide an online tool to assist researchers and program evaluators in selecting appropriate measures for their settings and populations. The study is accompanied by this interactive resource site.

Design & Implementation of a Digital Mindfulness App for HCPs

In this study, Sanford Institute-funded researchers Satish Jaiswal, PhD, Jyoti Mishra, PhD, and their team, sought to understand whether digital app-based methods could enhance self-compassion and mindfulness in healthcare professionals who are particularly vulnerable to emotional exhaustion and burnout. The research team designed and implemented a scalable, digital app-based, brief mindfulness and compassion training program called "WellMind" for healthcare professionals (HCPs). Findings showed an increase in self-compassion across human participants and provided a compelling argument to scale up such interventions.

2024 Gold Humanism Summit: The Person in Front of You

Join the Sanford Institute on February 29 - March 1 for the 2024 Gold Humanism Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. This event is focused on igniting humanism to create the changes needed to heal the heart of healthcare.

RSVP NOW →

Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education

The Center for Mentorship in Medicine is co-hosting the Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education on May 17 at Rady's Children's Hospital. This event is designed for healthcare professionals across all specialties. CME credit provided.

RSVP NOW →

Free Virtual Mindfulness Videos

Hosted by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness, watch free mindfulness videos to reduce stress and cultivate peace of mind during the work week. This virtual offering is open to all UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students.

TUNE IN →

Meet Helen (she/her)

Projects and Communications Coordinator, Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health

Helen is currently...

Sipping on: Matcha lattes! Currently have been obsessed with all things matcha. You can ask anyone and they'll let you know I'm always sipping some sort of matcha. 🙂

Listening to: Two different vibes but, depending on the mood, I'm either catching up on the TED Talks Daily podcast on Spotify or listening to Tate Mcrae and gavn! On repeat.

Reading: Most recently, I was reading Michelle Zauner's Crying in H Mart. A great, emotional memoir that explores her own Asian-American culture and navigating her own identity. I highly recommend it!

Excited about: My friends and I from college have an annual meet-up to catch up and it's coming up soon. We all live in different places and are doing different things now so I'm really excited to spend some quality time with them again. This year's destination is Pinnacles National Park!

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2023

December

A Look Back at the Sanford Institute's Top Empathy and Compassion Milestones of 2023

2023 marked incredible progress for empathy and compassion research and programming at the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion. To celebrate, our team compiled their top five milestones from the year. We invite you to explore them below, and more importantly, we thank you for being part of the community that made it all happen.

#1: Expanded empathy and compassion curricula at UC San Diego School of Medicine and beyond

The Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education developed and expanded empathy and compassion curricula and programming throughout UC San Diego School of Medicine and other medical institutions to help students and practicing clinicians be the doctors you've always wanted to have — someone who you can trust, who listens to you, who cares for you, who you enjoy seeing, and who can help you feel better.

#2: Touched lives through novel empathy and compassion programming

We touched lives through novel programming such as the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship, a program led by the Center for Compassionate Communication, that teaches providers how to best espouse compassionate care to their departments, peers, and patients. In addition, the Center for Mentorship in Medicine's Master Clinician Program delivered individualized mentorship, with an emphasis on empathy and compassion, to more medical students than ever before.

Pictured: UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellows

Pictured: YOU Belong in STEM: San Diego Mini-Summit panel discussion. Photo Credit: San Diego Squared

#3: Collaborated with local and national organizations to expand empathy and compassion

The Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health joined forces with San Diego Squared and the U.S. Department of Education to extend empathy and compassion to the work of advancing representation of marginalized communities in STEM and the healthcare profession pipeline. In addition, the Center for Empathy and Technology collaborated with the Fleet Science Center to contribute educational materials for their STEM programs: BE WiSE, Sharp Minds, and Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar.

#4: Funded basic and applied empathy and compassion research

The Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion provided financial backing to talented Principal Investigators, pre- and post-doctoral scholars, medical students, and more in the endeavor for basic and applied research projects. The Center's data and discoveries have promoted wellness programs that prevent, intercept, and reverse the burnout epidemic afflicting our healthcare community. (Don't miss out! These projects will be spotlighted in the inaugural Empathy & Compassion Research Day next month.)

Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego

#5: Practiced compassionate leadership all year long

At the Sanford Institute, we didn't just talk the (empathy and compassion) talk this year; we walked the (empathy and compassion) walk. We have a deep understanding of the importance of compassionate leadership and strived every day to prioritize the well-being of our employees and create a culture where they feel supported, valued, and respected. The result: a work environment rooted in trust and respect, and an amazing team that's empowered to lead the movement for a kinder, more compassionate health system and world.

Ring in 2024 with renewed fervor for this important body of work in empathy and compassion. All you have to do: follow us on social media - Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and/or Facebook - to stay up-to-date on Sanford Institute happenings in the new year.

Wishing you the best this holiday season,

Your Friends at the Sanford Institute

Registration Now Open:
Empathy & Compassion Research Day 2024

The Sanford Institute is home to the brightest minds in empathy and compassion research. Next month, we are proud to kick off the new year by showcasing the diverse talent of our funded researchers at the inaugural Empathy and Compassion Research Day. Attendees can expect live presentations, networking opportunities, and a special announcement on our upcoming funding opportunities. It's all happening on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, from 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. PST at the UC San Diego Faculty Club. This free event is open to all UC San Diego faculty and staff, as well as external, San Diego-based medical educators and healthcare providers. Registration is required as space is limited. Hosted lunch and reception is included.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Now Accepting Applications: 2024-25 Medical Education Seed Grant Program

The Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education (CECTME) invites applications for medical education project proposals for implementation in the 2024-25 academic year. The intention of this seed grant funding is to implement novel medical education projects that enhance empathy and compassion in medical training and/or healthcare, and evaluate their efficacy; those shown to be effective will be disseminated. First stage applications are due January 24, 2024. The goal of the first stage is to determine whether your project idea aligns with the mission of CECTME and appears to be promising for further development of a project plan. All UC San Diego faculty, staff and trainees are eligible for funding.

LEARN MORE →

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July

The Sanford Institute monthly newsletter will be on hiatus from August - November 2023.

Photo credit: Cox Communications

Sanford Institute Director Featured in Cox Communications Commercial

This summer, the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion made its television debut with "Stethoscope with a Heart," a Cox Communications device that clips to a physician's coat pocket or stethoscope and helps them improve patient relationships. Sanford Institute Director Dr. William Mobley served as an empathy and compassion expert in the stethoscope's commercial, speaking to the importance of nurturing and facilitating meaningful connections with patients – and the challenges that come with it.

"As a physician, when you act compassionately, you improve patient outcomes," says Dr. Mobley in the commercial. "But the current medical system makes it hard for doctors to really listen."

Developed over a period of nine months, Cox Communications' sleek white device (fittingly shaped like a heart) uses state-of-the-art natural language processing to record patient sessions and evaluate key metrics around conversational dominance and the use of complex medical jargon. The device prompts doctors during their session and shares feedback throughout the day with tips to promote better two-way dialogue. The information is secure, keeping both patient and doctor information completely private. While the technology is just a prototype, it already demonstrates the healing power of empathic connections.

At the Sanford Institute, we, too, endeavor to usher a new generation of compassionate doctors. We do this in a myriad of ways, including our esteemed Sanford Scholar Award Program, which provides research opportunities to medical students interested in understanding and increasing empathy in healthcare, as well as our UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship, which rewires the way current medical professionals approach their communication with patients. We encourage you to explore these programs today and join us in amplifying empathy and compassion at UC San Diego and beyond.

WATCH THE COMMERCIAL →

Photo credit: American Conference on Physician Health

UC San Diego Health and Sanford Institute Join Forces at American Conference on Physician Health

This October, UC San Diego Health will be participating in panels and poster sessions at the American Conference on Physician Health (ACPH). The best part: several of these highly anticipated presentations are Sanford Institute funded and led by our very own researchers and teammates.

ACPH is a joint scientific conference that promotes research and discourse on health system infrastructure and actionable steps organizations can take to improve physician well-being – an initiative the Sanford Institute has taken a lead role in addressing within our institution.

Sanford Institute-affiliated presentations include, but are not limited to the following topics:

• Training in the Arts to Foster Compassionate Communication: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study of the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship by Sanford Institute researcher Amy Bintliff

• Evaluation of an Introductory Course on Empathy and Compassion for Clinical Learners by the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education's Director of Research Federica Klaus

• Comradery and Compassion in the Workplace of the Future: Spreading the Mission of the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship by Center for Compassionate Communication Affiliate Faculty Members Dr. Michele Kowalski-McGraw and Dr. Vanessa Scott

Be sure to stop by the UC San Diego Health booth in the exhibitor foyer to learn more about Sanford Institute programs. We look forward to seeing you there!

LEARN MORE ABOUT ACPH →

Pictured left to right: Helen Ho, Dr. Sará King

Pictured: Ishan Saha

Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health Welcomes New Team Members

This month, the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health welcomed two new team members – Helen Ho and Dr. Sará King. Helen serves as Projects and Communications Coordinator for the Center, coordinating projects and events, managing communications, and supporting operations. She has expertise in implementing DEI initiatives, advising undergrads, and consulting intersectional nonprofits. Dr. King is coming on board as a Post-doctoral Fellow via the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity. Her role will focus on empathy and compassion interventions for improved student well-being and the use of technology to enhance sense of safety. Dr. King brings 20 years of experience to the Institute and most recently served as a Post-doc Fellow at Oregon Health Science University, where she helped develop a theoretical framework called "The Science of Social Justice."

LEARN MORE →

Sanford Scholar Ishan Saha Receives Diversity Award at Young Investigators Symposium

Every year, the research subcommittee of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) Action Council at UC San Diego selects individuals for a Diversity Award at the Lewis L. Judd Young Investigators Symposium. Today, we are proud to announce Sanford Scholar Ishan Saha was recognized for his exceptional research involving diverse populations and/or having important implications for diverse populations. He is one of four awardees. Ishan's winning EDI study, conducted with Dr. Jennifer Anger of UC San Diego Health, found that gender minority stress correlates to greater psychosocial health problems and poorer self-compassion, thus suggesting that interventions to reduce stigma and cultivate self-compassion could prevent psychosocial health problems and prevent HIV transmission among transgender women.

READ HIS ABSTRACT →

Photo Credit: Tim Goldman

Now Recruiting UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship

Pictured: John Michael Maury

Center for Compassionate Communication Affiliate Faculty Lead JEDI Workshop

Applications are now being accepted for the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship Spring and Fall 2024 cohorts. This fellowship is comprised of physicians, nurses, APPs and artists working together to require the way they approach compassionate communication with their patients, peers, and selves. Past fellows have described the experience as revelatory to their connection with medicine, but don't just take our word for it – watch our Spring 2023 cohort graduation on YouTube to hear from them firsthand. Spoiler: Fellowship graduate and UC San Diego Health physician Dr. Julie Celebi's story at the 14:35 mark aptly describes how physicians wear self sacrifice as a badge of honor, often at the expense of their own well-being. Her powerful testimony cuts to the core of why this Fellowship exists (to amplify compassionate communication in healthcare) and matters (to improve patient lives as well as our own). Apply or nominate a colleague by August 25, 2023, to be considered for the Spring 2024 cohort.

APPLY NOW →

This month, Center for Compassionate Communication Affiliate Faculty (CCCAF) member John Michael Murray led a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) workshop, using learnings from the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship. He described his experience as the Mount Everest of compassionate communication, sharing "To achieve success, I embraced the improv principle of teamwork. Center for Compassionate Communication Director of Communication Education Val Lantz-Gefroh guided me and fellow CCCAF member Dawn Carroll, RN, was a champion supporter, giving me faith that all would flow divinely. 'Ta-da!' resonated throughout the auditorium as participants celebrated mistakes during a boisterous display of clown bows, allowing us to slip into a space of expansion. We debriefed on our 'many who's' and welcomed all aspects of the self. This acceptance created a container of belonging that allowed us to move toward a deeper dialogue [...]."

LEARN ABOUT CCCAF →

Hearing Myself Think: Letter to my Younger Self

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, this August 8 Zoom workshop will reflect on a letter by the memoirist Cheryl Strayed that will inspire conversation with our younger selves. This session is open to all faculty, staff, medical students, and patients.

RSVP NOW →

International Conference on Communication in Healthcare

Join the Sanford Institute and hundreds of healthcare leaders at ICCH 2023 this October 22 - 25 in Puerto Rico. This event is recommended for physicians and clinicians interested in improving health equity and patient communication.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Free Live Practice Meditation Sessions

Hosted by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness, join us for free, daily meditation sessions to reduce stress and cultivate peace of mind during the work week. This virtual event is open to all UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students.

Meet Angela (she/her)

Manager of Communications (and creator of this newsletter!), Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion

Angela is currently...

Sipping on: Harmless Harvest coconut water is my absolute favorite thing to have during these hot San Diego days.

Listening to: Some might call my Spotify playlist eclectic, others might call it unhinged. It's a mix of 90s pop, reggaetón, and chillhop, with the occasional Taylor Swift song sprinkled in.

Reading: I am currently reading Mother Brain: How Neuroscience is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood by Chelsea Conaboy. It's a fascinating book on the major structural and functional brain changes new parents experience after bringing their little ones into the world. (Something I will soon experience!)

Excited about: I'm counting the days until I give birth to my first baby (a boy – and future Sanford Institute researcher! 😉). Pregnancy has been an incredibly joyous season for me and my husband, and we can't wait to start this exciting, new chapter of our lives as parents. Wish us luck as we navigate a new world of diaper changes, sleep deprivation, and all the newborn cuddles we can muster.

The Sanford Institute monthly newsletter will be on hiatus from August - November 2023.

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June

Pictured: Dr. Jon Dean; Photo credit: ResearchGate

Sanford Fellow Dr. Jon Dean Awarded NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion is thrilled to announce postdoctoral scholar in UC San Diego's Department of Anesthesiology and Sanford Fellow Dr. Jon Dean was awarded a three-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) F32 postdoctoral fellowship to study neurobiology supporting stress and pain relief by mindfulness meditation. This esteemed fellowship offers support for promising postdoctoral researchers who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators within the broad scope of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research — and Dr. Dean surely fits the bill.

Dr. Dean's focal areas of study are neural, psychological, and molecular mechanisms mediating pain relief induced by novel treatments such as meditation, cannabis, and psilocybin. In fact, this past year, he conducted a Sanford Institute-funded study on brain mechanisms supporting empathy cultivation and phantom limb-based analgesia by psilocybin therapy. He also served as a moderator in our spring research presentation series.

Today, we encourage you to learn more about his impactful work in empathy and compassion research and commend him with a hearty congratulations on our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn).

LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. JON DEAN →

Center for Compassionate Communication to Launch 2024 Learning Opportunities

The Center for Compassionate Communication begins enrollment for its 2.5-day Compassionate Communication Training Program next month. This interactive curriculum helps healthcare providers become more adaptable when speaking with patients, students, funders, and media. The goal: rewire the way clinicians think about communication in medicine and address the significance of awareness, self-healing, and self-compassion. This deep-dive experience can serve as a stand-alone opportunity or become a provider's first step as a trained trainer to bolster their healthcare facilitation skills or teaching methods, as they will be equipped with interactive sessions on Zoom, online modules, facilitation guides, annual booster workshops, and mentorship. To learn more about this program, fill out this form to express interest and a team member will be in touch with you once details are set for the summer 2024 workshop.

FILL OUT FORM →

Currently Recruiting Faculty for Endowed Professorships in Research and Medical Education

There is still time to apply for the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion endowed professorships in research and medical education. Candidates must be full-time UC San Diego faculty members. Nominations will be accepted from faculty at any rank (Assistant, Associate, Full Professor) and series. If chosen, candidates will be provided with professorship funds of approximately $100,000 per year for five years with the possibility of renewal. Faculty may self-nominate. We look forward to filling these roles and securing for our Institute — and UC San Diego as a whole — a core cadre of excellent scientists and educators focused on empathy and compassion. If interested in these recruitment opportunities, visit our Recruitment page to view the full endowed professorship details and application guidelines.

LEARN MORE →

Photo Credit: Taylor Berninger, MS, MA

Center for Empathy and Technology Participates in "Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar"

Pictured: Matthew Herbert, PhD, Federica Klaus, MD, PhD, and Amy Bellinghausen, MD

Spring Research Series Highlights the Latest Empathy and Compassion Investigations

Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar sounds like the beginning of a bad joke but is, in actuality, a fun and important community event hosted by the Fleet Science Center. This month, the Center for Empathy and Technology Associate Director of Engagement Taylor Berninger participated in the event, availing herself to community residents and other local researchers across multidiscipline fields for questions around empathy and compassion research. Taylor spoke to attendees about her Center's impactful work incorporating empathy and compassion into genetic counseling. The audience, which consisted of Fleet Science Center members, bar patrons (and ironically, a table of PhD students!), connected with and expressed appreciation for the Center's efforts and noted how impactful empathy and compassion could be in their personal healthcare journeys. The team looks forward to participating in future events.

LEARN MORE →

The Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion recently completed its spring season of the Empathy and Compassion Research Presentation Series. Open to all UC San Diego faculty, staff, and medical students, this hybrid event highlighted the work of the Center's awarded researchers and their investigations of empathy and compassion as concepts within healthcare and medical education. Presentations were conducted by UC San Diego faculty members, including Amy Bellinghausen, MD, Matthew Herbert, PhD, and our very own Federica Klaus, MD, PhD, of the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education. The three speakers provided a forum for open discussion, connection, and exploration in a new research area within empathy and compassion, keeping attendees at the forefront of the field. Couldn't make it? Don't fret – we recorded our most recent session for viewers to watch at their leisure here.

WATCH VIDEO →

Hearing Myself Think: Message in a Bottle

(Next Week!)

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, this June 20 Zoom workshop will feature a special reading of “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa” by Ada Limón, Poet Laurette of the United States. This session is recommended for UC San Diego faculty and staff.

RSVP NOW →

International Conference on Communication in Healthcare

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Free Live Practice Meditation Sessions

Meet Leigh (she/her)

Center Strategist, Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health

Leigh is currently...

Sipping on: With the summer weather rolling in, I’m enjoying various iced teas during the day and an occasional aperol spritz in the evening.

Listening to: I’m on a big Leon Bridges kick right now, specifically his albums Good Thing and Coming Home.

Reading: My kids (who are 8 and 9 years old) and I are at the very end of the final Harry Potter book, The Deathly Hallows. I’m also reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Mindfulness Survival Kit: Five Essential Practices.

Excited about: We are really excited to kick off this summer’s slate of weekend family camping trips to explore the lakes and wilderness of Wisconsin. My husband and I are also traveling to Northern Wisconsin to go whitewater rafting at the end of June.

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May

Photo credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego

Currently Recruiting UC San Diego Faculty for Endowed Professorships in Research and Medical Education

The Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion is pleased to announce a call for nominations for two endowed professorships in the fields of research and medical education.

The successful candidate for the endowed professorship in research excellence will have demonstrated an interest in basic and/or applied research into the neurobiology of empathy, compassion, or related disciplines. Their work in human and/or model systems will be supported by successful applications for extramural funding, and will have been published in high-impact journals.

The successful candidate for the endowed professorship in medical education will have demonstrated experience in medical education and a track record of research accomplishments that support the education of medical students and healthcare professionals. Ideally, this candidate will have engaged in research that addresses a role for empathy, compassion, or related disciplines in medical education.

Candidates must be full-time UC San Diego faculty members. Nominations will be accepted from faculty at any rank (Assistant, Associate, Full Professor) and series. If chosen, candidates will be provided with professorship funds of approximately $100,000 per year for five years with the possibility of renewal. Faculty may self-nominate.

We look forward to filling these roles and securing for our Institute — and UC San Diego as a whole — a core cadre of excellent scientists and educators focused one empathy and compassion. If interested in these recruitment opportunities, please visit our Recruitment page online to view the full endowed professorship details and application guidelines.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS →

See How One Sanford Institute Seed Grant Awardee Helped Residents Experience Life as Patients in Novel Simulation

Meet Dr. Aaron Lee, chief medical resident at UC San Diego Health and Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education seed grant awardee. In 2022, he commenced a research project titled "Physician as 'Patient'-Immersive Simulated Patient Experiences to Foster Physician Empathy." This project proposed that a lack of understanding by medical trainees of the lived patient experience is a significant reason for deficits in physician empathy and compassion. In the study, Dr. Lee specifically investigated the use of role reversal simulation activities as a novel modality towards fostering physician empathy and compassion in graduate medical education.

Recently, UC San Diego Internal Medicine residents had the opportunity to participate in Dr. Lee's study. Residents were dressed in hospital gowns with telemetry leads and nasal cannulas to experience simulated aspects of patient life at the UC San Diego Simulation Center. The simulations reflected patient experiences, including but not limited to: undergoing standard procedures and tasting hospital food. Per UC San Diego Health, the simulation received a positive response from residents, with one stating "This unique experience increased my empathy for my patients and their hospital experiences. I have new insight into how we can help improve patient experience within the bounds of our busy clinical schedule."

Dr. Lee's study shows tremendous potential in guiding empathy training at UC San Diego School of Medicine and beyond. To get involved in his study, you can reach Dr. Lee directly at aalee@health.ucsd.edu.

Photo credit: Deepa Manjanatha

Pictured from left to right: Dr. William Mobley, Dr. Gentry Patrick, Dr. Edward Callaway. Photo credit: Bob Ross

Center for Technology Student Researcher Selected for Meta Fellowship

Deepa Manjanatha, MPH, a first-year student in the Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at UC San Diego School of Medicine received a 2023 Meta Research PhD Fellowship award for "Human Computer Interaction - Social Media, People, and Society." She is one of 21 fellows. Center for Empathy and Technology Director Cinnamon Bloss serves as Deepa's mentor through the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Sciences. The two also collaborate through the Center for Tech in conducting research at the intersection of technological innovation, empathy, and compassion. Deepa's passions lie in better understanding the potential and risks posed by technology on human health. As she states in the UC San Diego Health Sciences Blog, "As technology becomes more intertwined with our lives, these topics become more pressing to understand [...] and with a more nuanced lens." We are proud to work with Deepa and look forward to supporting her research journey.

LEARN ABOUT DEEPA →

Center Director Dr. Gentry Patrick is Appointed Endowed Chair by UC San Diego

The Sanford Institute is proud to announce Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health Director Dr. Gentry Patrick was recently appointed endowed chair at UC San Diego. On May 3, Dr. Patrick was honored by University leaders, including Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Simmons, and Dean Kit Pogliano from the School of Biological Sciences, as well as The Kavli Foundation, San Diego Squared, and more. It was an intimate gathering that featured moving speeches, including one of particular note from scientist and entrepreneur Bill Rastetter that spoke volumes of Dr. Patrick's diversity, equity, and inclusion work in the San Diego region. All of us at the Sanford Institute are proud to work with Dr. Patrick on his continued efforts to diversify the STEM ecosystem. Visit the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health website to learn more about his work.

LEARN ABOUT GENTRY →

Pictured: Dr. Lisa Eyler

Center Director Dr. Lisa Eyler Receives TWIN Award from YWCA San Diego County

Pictured (from left to right): Nisha Uppuluri, Tanya Jain, Geoffrey Noel, MD, Helen Wang, MD

Sanford Scholars and Mentors Awarded for Medical Education Efforts

We are proud to announce Dr. Lisa Eyler, professor of psychiatry and director of the Sanford Institute's Center for Empathy and Compassion in Medical Education at UC San Diego, has received the 2023 Tribute to Women & Industry (TWIN) Award from YWCA San Diego County. This award recognizes extraordinary achievements of women in managerial, executive, or leadership roles. In addition to her directorial role within our Institute, Dr. Eyler has led the Department of Psychiatry's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Council, and has disseminated several EDI workshops locally, nationally, and internationally. In addition, she is an alumni advisor for the Chi Omega chapter at UC San Diego, is a Girl Scout troop leader, and leads the Clairemont Coalition on Homelessness. She will be honored in a citywide ceremony this month.

This month, Sanford Scholars and Mentors won big in the UC San Diego Health Medical Educator Awards Program, which recognizes those who play a critical role in shaping the future of healthcare. First, 2022-23 Sanford Scholars Nisha Uppuluri and Tanya Jain won Student Teaching Awards. These two medical students found a gap in trauma-informed care in the UC San Diego School of Medicine curricula, so they created and facilitated the elective course "Intersectional Approaches to Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)." The course was implemented during Fall 2022 and received positive feedback. In addition, Sanford Scholar Program Mentor Geoffrey Noel, PhD, won the First-Year Teaching Award and Sanford Scholar Program Mentor Helen Wang, MD, won the Third-Year Teaching Award. Both are role models for medical students and exhibit characteristics students wish to emulate as physicians.

Center for Compassionate Communication Wellness Program Goes Live to Share the Healing Power of Poetry to Healthcare Community

Taking care of patients involves constant confrontation with disease, human suffering, pain, and death. And oftentimes, that emotional pain is not recognized, faced or elaborated, which can bring on personal and professional implications. That’s where poetry can come into the picture. Tapping into poetry, expressive writing and self-reflection can help healthcare providers from all walks of life prevent and manage the effects of compassion fatigue, reduce burnout, and implement long-lasting coping strategies.

Last month, for the first-time ever, the Center for Compassionate Communication livestreamed its highly acclaimed wellness program titled Hearing Myself Think. During the virtual workshop, providers from across the nation watched a presentation on how poetry serves as a healing modality for providers and patients, clinicians recited poems that reflected their clinical experiences, and attendees and panelists alike participated in a creative writing exercise that sought to ignite their own reflection and healing. The livestreamed event was well-attended by providers via Zoom and Facebook Live, and today, you can experience it on-demand via the Sanford Institute's YouTube channel.

Want to experience Hearing Myself Think Live? Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, from 12 - 12:50 p.m. (Pacific Time) via Zoom or Facebook Live for our second edition of the series. Save your spot, before it's too late.

Hearing Myself Think LIVE!

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, this Tuesday, May 23, Zoom workshop will feature a presentation on the power of poetry in the healthcare community, as well as a clinician open mic. This session is recommended for UC San Diego faculty and staff members.

RSVP NOW →

Empathy and Compassion Research Series

The Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion will host the second presentation in its quarterly research presentation series this Wednesday, May 24. RSVP to learn about our latest empathy and compassion investigations.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Free Live Practice Meditation Sessions

Meet Shannon (she/her)

Center Coordinator, Center for Mentorship in Medicine

Shannon is currently...

Sipping on: With the warmer weather here in Virginia, I am enjoying fresh fruit and veggie smoothies during the days and rosé in the evenings/weekends.

Listening to: I enjoy listening to country music, but most of the time I am listening to "Wheels on the Bus" or any other song my 2-year-old enjoys (he LOVES music)!

Reading: My dad just finished writing a book about his father, who worked for the FBI and as Chief Counsel on the U.S. Senate Investigations Subcommittee. It’s been so cool reading about my grandfather!

Excited about: We just bought a house. I am looking forward to decorating and house projects!

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April

Sanford Scholars Selected for UC San Diego School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society

We are proud to announce eight Sanford Scholars have been selected by their peers and endorsed by faculty to be part of the esteemed UC San Diego School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). Congratulations Alan Aung, Morgan Desjardins, Nicole Sun, Nicholas Wu, Heidi Banh, Kiley Rucker, Alec Terrana, and Shelby Warren — we are so proud of you all.

GHHS, developed by Arnold P. Gold Foundation, is part of a national effort to recognize medical students, residents, faculty and alumni who demonstrate exemplary behavior that promote humanism in medicine and compassionate care. GHHS now has more than 180 chapters in medical schools and residency programs and more than 45,000 members. The chosen scholars will be GHHS members for life and will serve the community to emphasize the importance of humanism and professionalism throughout the continuum of physician training at our institution.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GHHS →

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANFORD SCHOLARS →

Pictured on stage: Dr. Patrick Gentry

Pictured (from left to right): Taylor Berninger and Fleet Science Center BE WiSE STEM students

Center Director Dr. Gentry Patrick Helps Launch YOU Belong in STEM Initiative in San Diego

The Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health and San Diego Squared, with support from the U.S. Department of Education, recently hosted the YOU Belong in STEM: San Diego local launch and mini-summit. This event sought to lift up and leverage the efforts, brilliance, and lived expertise of diverse STEM ecosystem stakeholders across the region, and position San Diego as a model U.S. city for the community-wide, compassion-based catalyzation of increased equity and belonging in STEM education. It featured presentations from local STEM leaders, as well as special guests U.S. Department of Education Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten and City of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. Watch the press conference via YouTube now to learn more about the long-term impact of this initiative and event.

WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE →

Center for Empathy and Technology Engages Young Women in STEM

The Center for Empathy and Technology sponsored a session of the Fleet Science Center’s BE WiSE Program. This program aims to engage young female or female identifying students in STEM learning experiences, in collaboration with the region's research, industry, and academic institutions. In conjunction with the Augustana-Sanford Genetic Counseling Graduate Program, the Center presented a session entitled “Exploring Genetics,” which outlined the career of genetic counseling and guided participants through interactive stations with genetics-themed activities. Participants were not only exposed to an exciting STEM career, but were also able to discuss the importance of empathy and compassion in healthcare interactions, specifically those pertaining to genomic technologies.

LEARN MORE →

Pictured (from left to right): Freeman Hrabowski, Cindy Marten, Dr. Sará King, Dr. Gentry Patrick

Photo credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego

Center Director Dr. Gentry Patrick Moderates Compassion Panel at ASU+GSV Summit

Last week, our Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health Director Dr. Gentry Patrick led an expert education panel at the ASU+GSV Summit, featuring U.S. Department of Education Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski of University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Sará King, MA, PhD, of Mind Heart Collective. This panel discussed the utility of empathy and compassion to define and activate institutional and community-wide strategies for building educational spaces and cultures that foster and retain a sense of safety, positive belonging, and purpose for marginalized students and educators in STEM. We encourage you to stay tuned to our social media pages (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram) over the next few weeks as we unveil the nuggets of wisdom gleaned from this important conversation.

LEARN MORE →

Become a UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellow

The acclaimed UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Fellowship, hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, is recruiting fellows on a rolling basis for Cohort 3 and beyond. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications at their leisure. This Fellowship comprises of physicians and artists who work together to rewire how they approach compassionate communication. Fellows participate in a six-month training process that enriches their ability to connect and communicate with patients and teams. In addition, this path of personal growth culminates in a facilitation practicum that arms fellows with the confidence and skills to implement and facilitate workshops for others in their respective departments. Apply now to join a future cohort.

APPLY NOW →

Compassion as a tool for allyship and anti-racism

COVID-19 and fatal encounters with law enforcement have disproportionately impacted communities of color in the U.S. Those who have historically benefitted from racist or discriminatory systems and practices are increasingly being called on to recognize systemic racism and to act in allyship with minoritized communities to address inequities. The Center for Empathy and Technology and Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education joined forces to discover one potential tool for developing allyship: cultivating compassion. Read the publication now to learn the research team's insights into the utility of a compassion-based framework to build solidarity and undo structural racism in our nation.

READ THE PUBLICATION →

Hearing Myself Think: A Celebration of Nursing

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, this May 9 Zoom workshop will read narratives of caregiving that capture the lived experience of being a nurse. This session is recommended for UC San Diego nurse practitioners, RNs, and nursing students.

RSVP NOW →

Empathy and Compassion Research Series

The Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion is launching the spring edition of its research presentation series. Save the date May 24 to learn about our latest empathy and compassion investigations. Open to all UC San Diego faculty, staff, and medical students.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Free Live Practice Meditation Sessions

Meet Erika (she/her)

Program Coordinator, Sanford Institute

Erika is currently...

Sipping on: During the day, I enjoy both hot and cold matcha lattes. I'm not lactose intolerant, but oat milk wins me over most of the time. My evening libations typically call for a red wine; my favorites are Malbec or Mourvedre.

Listening to: I love anything that sounds good! Currently, I am in a throwback mode and really enjoying Miguel.

Reading: I love to read when time permits. At the moment, I am indulging in "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes. I just picked this up as a suggestion from a friend.

Excited about: Me and my family are looking forward to all of the festivity preparations for two upcoming graduates. We have one in May and one in June. These milestones are always a great reason to get together to celebrate.

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March

Sanford Institute Benefactor Receives UC San Diego Lifetime Achievement Award

Last week, Sanford Institute benefactor T. Denny Sanford was awarded the UC San Diego Lifetime Achievement Award for his generous support of research geared toward making discoveries to benefit populations worldwide. This award is granted only on the rarest occasions to exceptional campus visionaries, and Sanford's award marks only the second time it has ever been granted.

Per Jade Griffin of UC San Diego Today, in 2022, Sanford gave the single largest gift in UC San Diego's history — a $150 million pledge — to establish the UC San Diego STEM Cell Institute, which has a key focus on leveraging space as a new frontier for stem cell science. And three years prior, he made a gift of $100 million to establish our very own Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, focused on research into the neurological basis of compassion.

In addition, Sanford is a supporter of The Preuss School UC San Diego, a charter middle and high school on the UC San Diego campus for low-income, first-generation college students, and regularly contributes to other critical research-focused areas of campus.

We are proud to carry out the work of a visionary mind and investor like Sanford, and hope you will join us in celebrating him today by reading the impact of his generous donation to the Sanford Institute in our 2019 - 2023 Progress Report.

SEE SANFORD'S IMPACT →

Pictured (from left to right): Heidi Banh, Dr. Desiree Shapiro

Pictured: Caryn Kseniya Rubanovich

Sanford Scholar and Mentor Share Progress on Compassion Research to Seniors

This month, Sanford Scholar Heidi Banh and her UC San Diego mentor Dr. Desiree Shapiro presented their empathy and compassion research project to Belmont Village Senior Living in La Jolla, CA. During the presentation, the two detailed how storytelling and meaningful, intergenerational conversations between medical students and seniors can foster compassionate listening and interviewing skills, challenge biases and stereotypes that are core to health equity in practice, and recognize common humanity. Banh and Dr. Shapiro's study has found that seniors play an important role in helping students develop their identities as future physicians who are rooted in empathy and kindness. We encourage you to read Banh's full account of her project and presentation on LinkedIn today.

READ HEIDI'S UPDATE →

Center for Empathy and Technology Doctoral Trainee Matches with UNC Chapel Hill

We are proud to announce Center for Empathy and Technology Doctoral Trainee, Caryn Kseniya Rubanovich, matched University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her Clinical Psychology internship. It is part of the UC San Diego/San Diego State University Joint Doctoral Program. Rubanovich will be focused on behavioral medicine in primary care, and begins her internship this July 2023. To date, she has made extensive contributions to empirical literature with studies on physician education, consumer genetic ancestry testing, and genetics in the clinical encounter. Rubanovich also runs the @MedEmpathy Twitter account, connecting clinicians, patients, and caregivers, one story at a time. We wish her the best of luck as she completes her final requirements to earn her doctorate.

PEACE Google Group to Host Virtual Meet & Greet for Medical Educators Nationwide

Led by the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education, the Partnership for Engaged Action in Compassion Education, or PEACE Group, is an up-and-coming community of individuals who are interested in empathy and compassion education for clinical learners. This encompasses medical, pharmacy, social work, clinical and counseling psychology students, interns, and residents. PEACE currently functions as an email-based discussion forum managed by a Google Group – allowing members to exchange ideas, as well as share challenges, opportunities, and best practices in the field. On Tuesday, April 18, the PEACE Group is hosting a Virtual Meet & Greet from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PST to connect medical educators nationwide who are interested in empathy and compassion training. During this virtual event, Center leadership will share their experiences with empathy and compassion curricula and programming at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Center Director Dr. Gentry Patrick to Moderate Compassion Panel at ASU+GSV Summit

The ASU+GSV Summit 2023 connects leading minds around digital learning and workforce skills to ensure a new era in which all people have equal access to opportunity. Our very own Dr. Gentry Patrick of the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health will be moderating an important panel at the event titled “Compassion: A Catalyst for Equal Access.” During the April 19 panel, a group of experts will discuss how to understand empathy and compassion as critical tools for expanding access, diversifying innovation, and creating a more equitable and successful future for all via STEM education. Panelists include: Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten from the Biden-Harris administration, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski of UMBC, and Sara King, MA, PhD, of Mind Heart Consulting and Science of Social Justice. Register to attend virtually — it's free!

Free Live Practice Meditation Sessions

Hearing Myself Think: On Miscarriage

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, this April 4 Zoom workshop will honor the grief and healing that is often not talked about after a provider communicates a pregnancy loss. This session is recommended for faculty and staff who work in OBGYN.

RSVP NOW →

Save the Date: Celebration of National Poetry Month

Save the date for a special edition of Hearing Myself Think, celebrating National Poetry Month on April 25. During the session, UC San Diego faculty members will recite poetry that moves them and share how prose has transformed their clinical journey. Registration details forthcoming.

Meet Aracely (she/her)

Administrative Assistant, Sanford Institute

Aracely is currently...

Sipping on: In the daytime, I am sipping on teas. My favorite right now is ginger peach turmeric. At night, I like a good malbec with some dark chocolate.

Listening to: I like to listen to all genres of music. I can go from reggaeton to gospel — it just depends on my mood. For podcasts, though, I really like Oprah’s Super Soul on my drive to work.

Watching: I am a big sci-fi fan. I love all Star Wars movies and spin-off shows on Disney+. I am currently watching The Mandalorian.

Excited about: I am looking forward to the Sanford Institute's Campus Scavenger Hunt to bond with my new coworkers, as well as spring break in the last week of March.

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February

Photo credit: Dr. Ariel Lang. Pictured from left to right: Mx. Gage Chu, Dr. Anne Malaktaris, Dr. Caitlin McLean, Dr. Ariel Lang, and Dr. Matthew Herbert

Sanford Institute Featured in UC San Diego Health Sciences' Discoveries Magazine

The Sanford Institute was featured in the latest edition of Discoveries Magazine by UC San Diego Health Sciences. In the article, our esteemed researcher Fadel Zeidan, PhD, and Interim Institute Director William Mobley, MD, share how Sanford Institute scientists are paving the way for a modern era of targeted mindfulness-based interventions that can treat various symptoms.

As explained by writer Nicole Mlynaryk, through a series of Sanford Institute studies, interdisciplinary teams are breaking down mindfulness into distinct components and assessing what kinds of symptoms each component is most effective at tackling. The goal: to develop evidence-based mindfulness techniques tailored toward different patient populations and symptoms, such as a student struggling to focus in class, a patient suffering from chronic back pain, or a professor experiencing depression. Each would be prescribed a treatment plan featuring custom meditations — ushering our healthcare system into a new era of clinical precision.

In order to accomplish this feat, though, Zeidan and other research scientists use the latest tools in neuroscience to study the efficacy of mindfulness meditation on the brain and behavior. This involves going beyond mental training and using unique cognitive training approaches to see reliable changes in the brain. To measure changes, Zeidan looks at research participants' neural activity before and after mindfulness training using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroscience is the crux of this important work, and as stated by Dr. Mobley, "[...] helps the Sanford Institute strengthen its ability to understand the interface between brain and mind."

READ THE ARTICLE →

Photo credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego

Now Hiring: Projects & Communications Coordinator for the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health

The Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health is currently recruiting a Projects & Communications Coordinator, who will perform various administrative duties, prepare reports, scientific documents and other written materials, and assist in the coordination of Center programs, events and communication efforts. This is a hybrid position. Apply now, before it's too late!

APPLY NOW →

Photo credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego

Pictured from left to right: Sanford Scholar Ishan Saha, Dr. William Mobley

Sanford Institute Launches 2019-2023 Progress Report

The Sanford Institute is proud to announce the release of its multi-year Progress Report, offering an in-depth look at the impact we have made from our beginnings in 2019 to present day. This robust digital document profiles our esteemed leadership team, highlights notable programs from our six supporting centers as well as collaborations with various partners on- and off-campus, and gives an exciting look at what is to come in our quest to better understand and enhance empathy and compassion in healthcare and beyond. We encourage you to read it at your leisure to learn more about us and how to get involved in our work.

READ THE REPORT →

Sanford Scholars Present at Summer Research Symposium

Last month, 2022-23 Sanford Scholars presented their empathy and compassion research projects at the UC San Diego School of Medicine Summer Research Symposium. The evening was filled with knowledge sharing and collaboration, with our very own Interim Institute Director William Mobley in attendance to support medical and public health students. Sanford Scholar projects ranged from evaluating the impact of self-compassion in long COVID-19 patients to assessing interest in peer Doula-facilitated empathy training among women with history of early pregnancy loss. We encourage you to learn more about their studies today.

LEARN MORE →

Pictured from left to right: Dr. Shireen Mansouri, Stephen Butler, Dr. Thupten Jinpa, Shari Carlson, MBA, Dr. Geoffrey Noel, Dr. Federica Klaus, Jenna Tutjer, M.A., M.S.W., Dr. Lisa Eyler

Pictured from left to right: Jenna Tutjer, M.A., M.S.W., Dr. Federica Klaus, Dr. Lisa Eyler, Catherine Christian

Meeting of the Minds: Compassion Institute

Compassionate Institute visited the Sanford Institute as part of a three-part meeting tour at UC San Diego. During their time on campus, Sanford Institute and Compassion Institute (CI) leaders, including CI Founder Dr. Thupten Jinpa, Executive Director Stephen Butler, and more, had the opportunity to meet with UC San Diego Wellness Directors, as well as Dean of Clinical Affairs/CEO of UC San Diego Health Physician Group Dr. Christopher Kane regarding our clinician wellness efforts. In addition, they met with Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education director Lisa Eyler to discuss Compassionatomy, a unique anatomy-thread course that was co-created with CI. Together, the group formalized the development of a manuscript for this course and began initial conversations on how to scale the program for external medical schools. Stay tuned for more updates on this collaboration in upcoming months.

Sanford Institute Participates in Inaugural ISCR Conference

This month, our team attended and participated in the International Society for Contemplative Research Inaugural Conference at UC San Diego. The conference featured the independent and collaborative work of neuroscientists, researchers, educators, and clinicians engaged in the investigation of mind-body practices. We attended presentations and workshops on a variety of topics, including a poster presentation from Dr. Federica Klaus of the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education on Compassionatomy, as well as live audience presentations from Sanford Institute funded investigators Dr. Cassie Vieten on VR in mindfulness and Dr. Jyoti Mishra on digital mindfulness for medical trainees. We look forward to attending the ISCR Conference in 2024!

LEARN MORE →

Photo credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego

Application Period Open for UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship rewires how providers approach compassionate communication and patient care. It applies arts and humanities lessons to medical communication training with the end goal of improving connections between physicians and patients, as well as healthcare teams. Past fellows have also reported improved well-being and self-compassion following their participation in the program.

Are you a physician, RN, APP, or medical educator at UC San Diego? We invite you to apply to our second 2023 cohort to experience it all for yourself. To apply to the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship, submit your application here, or if you'd like to nominate someone to participate, email Erin Kinoshita at ekinoshita@health.ucsd.edu. The deadline to apply and/or nominate is March 6, 2023.

APPLY TO THE FELLOWSHIP →

Free Live Practice Meditation Sessions

Hearing Myself Think: Reflecting on COVID-19

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, this March 7 Zoom workshop will share narratives written during the pandemic as a way to honor, find hope, and heal. Recommended for faculty and staff within Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Health.

RSVP NOW →

YOU Belong in STEM: San Diego Mini-Summit

Save the date for the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health YOU Belong in STEM: San Diego Mini-Summit on Tuesday, April 18. This event features STEM presentations from local industry leaders and networking opportunities. Registration details forthcoming.

STAY TUNED →

Meet Natalie (she/her)

Engagement Coordinator, Center for Empathy and Technology

Natalie is currently...

Sipping on: I start every day at home with 2 shots of espresso from my fancy new espresso machine. I love going to dinner with my girlfriends and sipping on an extra dirty martini with blue cheese olives, but my go to is a tequila mule with extra bitters.

Listening to: The artists whose discographies I have on repeat right now are Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Frank Ocean and Billie Eilish.

Reading: I’m currently reading "The Woman In Cabin 10" by Ruth Ware.

Excited about: My birthday! Which will have passed by the time you all read this, but February birthdays are the best and I’ll be celebrating all month long. 😊

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January

Meet the Next Generation of UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellows

The Center for Compassionate Communication is proud to announce the first UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship cohort of 2023. This cohort features healthcare professionals, including physicians, RNs, APPs and medical educators that span a wide range of departments at UC San Diego. They range from psychiatry and neurology to family medicine and infectious disease specialties. The Fellowship is also honored to have two Artist Fellows from Ohio University to bridge the connection between arts and medicine. Get to know some of our esteemed 2023 Fellows below, and click here to meet them all.

Dr. Maria I Uloko

Dr. Uloko is a urologist at UC San Diego Health. She is a staunch advocate for improving the quality of life for her patients by providing a compassionate, inclusive approach to often stigmatized subjects.

Dr. Sandeep Segar

Dr. Segar is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego. He specializes in preventative care and treatment for diabetes, hypertension and heart problems.

Merri Biechler

Biechler is the Director of the School of Theatre at Ohio University. She is passionate about using fine arts techniques to teach healthcare students to work in partnership with their patients.

MEET OUR FELLOWS →

In addition to our new cohort, we are proud to announce past fellow Dr. Gary Buckholz, MD, FAAHPM, will serve as the Fellowship's Co-Director, alongside Co-Director Evonne Kaplan-Liss, MD, and Director of Communication Education, Val Lantz-Gefroh. He will assist in recruitment, planning and implementation of the Fellowship's updated 2023 programming.

The UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship rewires how providers approach compassionate communication and patient care. It applies arts and humanities lessons to medical communication training with the end goal of improving connections between physicians and patients, and among healthcare teams. Past fellows have also reported improved well-being and self-compassion following their participation in the program.

BECOME A FELLOW →

New Funding Opportunity: Medical Education Seed Grant Program

The Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education invites proposals that incorporate empathy and compassion training into undergraduate and graduate medical education including those that aim to increase inclusive excellence in healthcare. All UC San Diego faculty, staff, and trainees are eligible for seed grant funding; project proposals must be implemented in the 2023-24 academic year. First stage applications are due next Friday, January 27, 2023 — apply now, before it's too late!

APPLY NOW →

Center for Empathy and Technology Collaborates with Fleet Science Center

Last month, Center for Empathy and Technology team members Ramya M. Rajagopalan, PhD, and Caryn Kseniya Rubanovich presented their lecture "Race, Ancestry, and Genetics: From the Clinic to the Crime Scene." This talk explored the ethical concerns surrounding the use of genomes and data for predicting ancestry and family relations. Dr. Rajagopalan and Rubanovich drew on examples of law enforcement and how individuals process personal experiences with commercial ancestry tests to engage participants in conversations around questions of identity, equity, privacy, benefits and risks. It was all part of the Fleet Science Center's esteemed Sharp Minds Lecture Series, which brings local scientists and their latest research and discoveries into conversation with the greater San Diego community.

Sanford Institute Hosts Self-Compassion Training for Healthcare Communities

In collaboration with the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness, the Sanford Institute is currently offering a virtual, six-week program that aims to instill self-compassion in healthcare communities. "Self-Compassion Training for Healthcare Communities" is an evidence-based healthcare adaptation of Mindful Self-Compassion, the empirically supported program of Dr. Kristin Neff at the University of Texas at Austin and Dr. Chris Germer at Harvard Medical School. Participants get a chance to learn how to care for themselves while caring for others, how to handle difficult emotions with greater ease, and reconnecting to the values that give meaning to their personal and professional lives.

Currently Recruiting Sanford Scholars for 2023-24 Academic Year

The Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education is currently recruiting Sanford Scholars for the 2023-24 academic year. This award program provides research opportunities to a competitively selected group of UC San Diego first-year medical and pharmacy students, as well as graduate public health students, to conduct basic and/or applied research that aims to understand and/or increase empathy. The award provides financial support to students for their compassion-related projects under the guidance of a mentor. See full program details and apply now. For any questions, contact Jenna Tutjer at jtutjer@health.ucsd.edu.

LEARN MORE →

Join the Sanford Institute Team and Enhance Empathy and Compassion in Healthcare

Searching for a new professional opportunity this year? Look no further. The Sanford Institute and its supporting centers are currently hiring for multiple positions that work directly in the enhancement of empathy and compassion in healthcare and medical education spaces. No matter the role, your work helps fulfill our mission for a kinder, more compassionate healthcare system — and world.

VIEW JOB LISTINGS →

Public Mental Health During and After the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Opportunities for Intervention via Emotional Self-Efficacy and Resilience

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of U.S. adults reporting clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression sky-rocketed from 11% in 2020 to more than 40% in 2023 — and our mental health care system cannot adequately accommodate the crisis. In response, Center for Empathy and Technology post-doctoral researcher Melissa Karnaze and peers sought to identify opportunities for public mental health interventions as well as assess whether modifiable psychological factors could offer an intervention point. Their impactful findings were published in Frontiers in Psychology this month — read the abstract now.

READ THE ABSTRACT →

Free Live Practice Meditation Sessions

Hearing Myself Think: Cancer Narratives

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, this February 7 Zoom workshop will share readings on nurturing connections between cancer patients and providers. It is highly recommended for Moores Cancer Center faculty and staff.

RSVP NOW →

ISCR Annual Conference

ISCR is hosting its inaugural conference on contemplative science on February 2 at UC San Diego. This event features the independent and collaborative work of scholars, scientists, and clinicians engaged in the investigation of mind-body practices.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Meet Catherine (she/her)

Research Program Coordinator, Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion

Catherine is currently...

Favorite thing about the start of a new year: Traditional New Year’s food. Every year, I make a big batch of black eyed peas and greens for luck and wealth in the coming year.

Sipping on: Daytime: Blonde espresso cappuccino; Nighttime: I love bubbly year-round, but especially during new year's festivities!

Listening to: Podcast: “If Books Could Kill”; Album: “Midnights” by Taylor Swift.

Reading: I recently finished “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett.

Excited about: Old friends visiting San Diego for the first time!

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2022

December

Pictured top row, left to right: Tim Goldman, Kim Rubinstein, Kathryn (Kadee) Winters, Vanessa Scott, Gita Mehta, Dustin Lillie, Val Lantz-Gefroh, Evonne Kaplan-Liss, Isabel Newton. Bottom row left to right: Michele Kowalski-McGraw; Gary Buckholz; Ami Doshi; John Michael Maury; Erin Kinoshita

UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellows Graduate

"Burnout isn't special," said Ami Doshi, UC San Diego Clinical Professor, Pediatrics. "The opportunity this Fellowship provides is."

This is just one of the heartfelt testimonies shared at this month's graduation and luncheon for the pilot cohort of the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship. The ceremony took place on campus at the Biomedical Services Building, and featured inspiring speeches, musical performances, and presentations by Center for Compassionate Communication staff, Fellows, and researcher Amy Bintliff.

During our time together, we heard clinical stories from UC San Diego physicians, or Fellows, who took Fellowship learnings into the real-world — providing compassionate care to understaffed departments, burnt out peers, and unheard patients. But perhaps most moving were the unexpected byproducts of grace, self-compassion, and improved well-being that our physicians experienced in the process of doing so.

Ami Doshi, MD, UC San Diego Clinical Professor, Pediatrics, presenting

Gary Buckholz, MD, Pallative Medicine Physician, presenting

Actor & Teaching Artist John Michael Maury performing "Slow Down"

The UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship rewires how providers approach compassionate communication and patient care. It applies arts and humanities lessons to medical communication training with the end goal of improving connections between physicians and patients, and among healthcare teams. Moreover, these skills have a wide range of applications including communication with policy makers, the public, and media.

Are you a physician, RN, or APP at UC San Diego? We invite you to apply to our second 2023 cohort to experience it all for yourself. To apply to the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship, submit your application here, or if you'd like to nominate someone to participate, email Erin Kinoshita at ekinoshita@health.ucsd.edu. The deadline to apply and/or nominate is March 6, 2023.

APPLY NOW →

Call for Applicants: 2023-24 Sanford Scholars

The Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education invites first-year UC San Diego School of Medicine, Pharmacy or graduate Master of Public Health students to apply for the Sanford Scholars Award Program. This program includes an extended summer research project, conducted in collaboration with a UC San Diego mentor, as well as a summer seminar series.

To learn more about the Sanford Scholars application process and program requirements, watch our Instagram Takeover with current Scholar Niveda Rao on January 11, 2023, and/or attend our Zoom information session on January 18, 2023.

Pictured from left to right: Lisa Eyler, MD, Ishan Saha, Kiley Rucker, Tess Ahlers, Niveda Rao

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANFORD SCHOLARS →

Center for Medical Education Puts the CARE in Healthcare

Hosted by the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education, this fall, first- and second-year medical and pharmacy students met weekly for an elective class: Putting the CARE in Healthcare: Introduction to Empathy and Compassion for the Clinical Learner. Each of the nine sessions included connecting over lunch, a contemplative grounding exercise, a brief lecture, small group activities and discussions, and a journaling exercise. Session topics included: mindfulness, compassion in challenging situations, the intersection of implicit bias and compassion, and compassionate communication, to name only a few. Medical and pharmacy students reported they valued the learning and, even more, the connections they made with one another along the way. The content of this elective will be revised based on student feedback and included in a new UC San Diego School of Medicine core course in Fall 2023.

2023-24 Sanford Research Fellows Program

The Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion invites applications for the Sanford Research Fellows Program for the 2023-2024 academic year. This award provides financial support to fellows under the guidance of a faculty mentor for basic or applied empathy and compassion-related research projects. Any full-time UC San Diego medical student, graduate student, or postdoctoral scholar interested in conducting research related to empathy and compassion is encouraged to apply. Applications for both basic and applied research projects are welcome. Please note: Applicants will be required to identify a UC San Diego faculty mentor to develop the research project with collaboratively. The deadline for first-round applications is January 9, 2023, at 5 p.m. PST. Click to view the RFA details and apply. Any questions, contact Catherine Christian at cchristian@health.ucsd.edu.

Sanford Institute Volunteers at San Diego Food Bank

Food banks are the frontlines keeping vulnerable Californians connected to food. Of San Diego's 3.3 million residents, more than 1 million face nutrition insecurity. What's more, during COVID-19, some food banks lost upwards of 50% of their volunteers. The Sanford Institute answered the call to step in and help pack and sort food for families this holiday season. The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank, based in Miramar, distributes food directly to people in need in their local communities. By acting as a central distribution point, it provides food to families within the County's 4,300-square-mile radius. As a team, we assembled 600 boxes of food, totaling 18,600 pounds and 15,500 meals for San Diegans. It was one of our most rewarding service activities of the entire year.

Warm Holiday Wishes from the Sanford Institute

Last week, the Sanford Institute hosted a holiday party in its brand-new office space in Pepper Canyon Hall. Great company, festive treats and libations made for a joyous occasion. But this event represented more than the merriment of the season; it was a celebration of our team's dedication, hard work, and growth over the past year. The dedication to secure empathy and compassion in all facets of healthcare from medical training to practice; the hard work to create relevant programming and events that address burnout; and, the growth of knowledge and relationships with researchers in our ever-growing field. None of it is possible without your support. So from all of us at the Sanford Institute, we thank you and wish you a wonderful holiday season and new year ahead. May it be filled with empathy and compassion.

Sanford Scholar Instagram Takeover with Niveda Rao

Follow a day in the life of Sanford Scholar Niveda Rao as she shares her empathy and compassion project, as well as her overall experience with the acclaimed award program. Don't miss out — she will be answering questions in real-time on our Instagram Live on January 11, 2023.

TUNE IN →

International Society for Contemplative Research Conference

ISCR is hosting its inaugural conference on contemplative science on February 2, 2023, at UC San Diego. This event features the independent and collaborative work of scholars, scientists, and clinicians engaged in the investigation of mind-body practices.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Hearing Myself Think: A Celebration of Aging

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, this January 10 Zoom workshop celebrates aging through readings and journal prompts. It is recommended for faculty and staff working in Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care, and/or aging research.

RSVP NOW →

Meet Jenna (she/hers)

Director, Medical Education Training,

Sanford Institute

Favorite thing about the holiday season: Food and family! I only get to see my family twice a year, so I adore spending Christmas with them. And I LOVE to eat, so all the festivities that include tasty treats really tickle my tummy!

Sipping on: Red wine is my love, but a tasty dirty martini is always a nice treat. And any kind of seltzer to rehydrate, of course.

Listening to: According to my 2022 Spotify Wrapped, I’m in the top .1% of Wale listeners… but also explored 75 different genres of music. Anyone else get dubbed an “Adventurer - ENVU” by Spotify? I’ve been digging music by Tems recently, and enjoying the Mind & Life podcast while I walk my dog, Grace.

Reading: You mean other than work emails? 😊 I always keep a fiction and non-fiction book going, so I’m into the “The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois” and the “1619 Project” right now. And I just finished “Lessons in Chemistry” which gave me some good LOL chuckles if you’re looking for a clever treat! Oh, and “Mad Honey” – super good. I could talk books all day!

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November

Pictured from left to right: Kiley Rucker, Ishan Saha, Niveda Rao, Therese Ahlers, Jenna Tutjer, Lisa Eyler, Tanya Jain, Carmen Conroy, Ashley Sutherland

Application Period Open for UC San Diego Faculty to Become Sanford Scholar Mentors

At the Sanford Institute, students in the health sciences are an essential group to engage in training in empathy and compassion. So much so, we are eager to create a cadre of students who recognize that empathy and compassion are essential to their personal and professional development. That's where the Sanford Scholar Award Program comes in.

The Sanford Scholar Award Program, hosted by our Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education, provides research opportunities to a competitively selected group of UC San Diego medical, pharmacy, and graduate public health students, known as Sanford Scholars. These Scholars work collaboratively with mentors to conduct basic and/or applied research that aims to understand and/or increase empathy.

Today, we're proud to announce we are actively recruiting UC San Diego faculty members as mentors for this unique program. Mentors assist Scholars in carrying out their research by providing ongoing support, submitting project information to the IRB once funded, and participating in specially devised compassion trainings, among other responsibilities. In the process, students benefit from mentor guidance and expertise, faculty benefit from funded student support for projects, and the community at-large benefits from impactful research findings.

Mentors do not need to be experts in empathy and compassion research; they simply need to have general research experience, a strong interest in empathy and compassion, and a desire to be a role model during a critical time in a student's academic career. Click to view full eligibility requirements for mentorship; the deadline to express interest is Wednesday, November 23, 2022.

For any questions, email the Sanford Institute's Director of Medical Education Integration, Jenna Tutjer, at jtutjer@health.ucsd.edu.

Empathy and Compassion Research Series Launches with Special Presentations from Sanford Institute Researchers

This month, the Empathy + Compassion Research Presentation Series kicked off with special presentations from Sanford Institute researchers Satish Jaiswal, PhD, and Lindsey Powell, PhD (pictured to the right).

During the event, Dr. Jaiswal discussed the effectiveness of WellMind, a digital program that aims to improve self-compassion in physician trainees; and, Dr. Powell shared her research exploring the neural basis of empathy in toddlers and infants’ expectations of empathy in others.

Don't miss out — watch our kickoff presentations on YouTube and stay tuned to our website for updates on next season's presentations.

Satish Jaiswal, PhD

Lindsey Powell, PhD

WATCH THE PRESENTATIONS →

Institute Director Featured in The San Diego Union-Tribune

This week, Sanford Institute Director William Mobley, MD, PhD, spoke to The San Diego Union-Tribune "Together San Diego" host Paola Hernandez-Jiao about fighting healthcare worker burnout during the holidays. During this live interview, Dr. Mobley shared the impact the "tripledemic" (or, confluence of flu, RSV and COVID-19) can have on hospital teams locally and nationally, and how UC San Diego providers can prevent, intercept, and reverse burnout and compassion fatigue via the Sanford Institute's unique programming. Watch the interview and wait till the end for a special message from Dr. Mobley on how all of us, as patients, can show compassion to our providers this season.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW →

Medical Students Share Impact of Master Clinician Program

The Center for Mentorship in Medicine Master Clinician Program aims to transform the manner in which UC San Diego School of Medicine trains future physicians by delivering individualized mentorship to medical students from experienced Master Clinicians, with an emphasis on modeling empathetic and compassionate care. The program is currently rolled out in six core clinical clerkships: Medicine, Neurology, OBGYN, Pediatrics, and Surgery. Recently, students shared their thoughts on MCP and how it has transformed their medical school experience — we invite you to listen to their feedback.

LEARN THE IMPACT OF MCP →

2023 Sanford Compassionate Communication Fellows Selected

We are proud to announce the first cohort of the 2023 UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communications Fellows has been selected. This cohort comprises physicians and artists who will work together to rewire how they approach compassionate communication. Fellows will participate in a six-month training process that enriches their ability to connect and communicate with their patients and teams. In addition, this path of personal growth culminates in an important facilitation practicum that arms fellows with the confidence and skills to implement and facilitate workshops for others in their respective departments. Stay tuned to our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn) in the coming weeks to meet our new fellows, and apply to be part of the second 2023 cohort before it's too late!

APPLY NOW →

Pictured from left to right: Vitaly Napadow, Emily Wu, Dhananjay Bambah Mukku, Fadel Zeidan, William Mobley

Sanford Institute Hosts 2nd Annual Symposium

The Sanford Institute recently hosted its 2nd annual symposium, "Neurobiological Mechanisms Underpinning Empathy, Social Interactions, and Pain: Playing the Scales from Rodents to Humans." This special event bridged the gap between animal and human research centered on the neurobiology of empathy and compassion through thoughtful discussion with internationally recognized researchers, including Emily Wu, PhD, of the University of California, Los Angeles, Vitaly Napadow, PhD, of Harvard University, and the Sanford Institute's very own Fadel Zeidan, PhD, among several others. We thank our diverse and dynamic group of presenters for sharing their research with UC San Diego neuroscience faculty, and our esteemed attendees for their enthusiasm for the work. Couldn't make it? You can access the full event recording here.

WATCH THE SYMPOSIUM →

Free Mindfulness Meditation Sessions

Join us for free, daily meditation livestreams to reduce stress and cultivate peace of mind during the busy holiday season. Sessions are hosted by the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness, and highly recommended for healthcare workers and medical students.

RSVP NOW →

Hearing Myself Think: World AIDS Day Memorial

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, our December 6 workshop gives attendees a chance to reflect on their clinical experiences through readings and meditative exercises. It is recommended for faculty and staff working in HIV/AIDS.

RSVP NOW →

Registration Now Open: ISCR Inaugural Conference

ISCR is hosting its inaugural conference on contemplative science on February 2 - 5, 2023, at UC San Diego. This event features the independent and collaborative work of scholars, scientists, and clinicians engaged in the rigorous investigation of contemplative, mind-body practices.

RSVP NOW →

Meet Taylor (she/hers)

Genetic Counselor,
Center for Empathy and Technology

Celebrating Genetic Counselor Awareness Day...

Genetic Counselor Awareness Day took place on November 11, and marks an occasion to recognize and honor the critical work done by genetic counselors. To spotlight the profession, we proudly introduce you to our esteemed Genetic Counselor, Taylor Berninger of the Center for Empathy and Technology.

Favorite thing about being a Genetic Counselor: Genetic counselors (GCs) are expertly trained in technical and scientific aspects of genetics, as well as facilitating compassionate discussions and informed decision making with patients. As precision health and genomic care becomes more routine in healthcare, I love that genetic counselors are uniquely positioned to help support other providers in implementing cutting-edge care in ways that are mindful of patient needs.

Sipping on: Daytime: The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato from Starbucks has been a fun, seasonal treat. Nighttime: Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva.

Listening to: Alt Nation is my go-to channel on SiriusXM Radio.

Reading: I'm currently reading "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett.

Excited about: The 2022 National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference in Nashville! I'm excited to network with other GCs from around the country, reconnect with my classmates from graduate school, learn more about recent innovations, and participate as a speaker on the late-breaking panel.

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October

UC San Diego Health Sciences Launches Fall Speaker Series on "Reproductive Justice in the United States"

Join the Sanford Institute for a three-part speaker series focused on recent changes to U.S. reproductive law and policy, addressing issues of reproductive rights (access to reproductive services) and reproductive justice (ensuring equitable access to reproductive rights).

The series kicks off on Wednesday, October 26, from 4 - 5 p.m. PST, with a special presentation from Khiara M. Bridges, JD, PhD, of UC Berkeley School of Law. Dr. Bridges will host "Dobbs from a Reproductive Justice Perspective," focusing on current topics and critical issues in U.S. reproductive health care and policy, including the public health implications of policies addressing abortion. In particular, she will discuss the racial demographics of abortion care through both a reproductive rights and reproductive justice lens.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Stay tuned to our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and/or LinkedIn) to learn about the upcoming talks on November 7 and 14, featuring Seema Mohapatra, JD, MPH, of SMU Dedman School of Law and Katie Watson, JD, of Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, respectively.

The "Reproductive Justice in the United States" series is proudly co-hosted by the Center for Empathy and Technology, UC San Diego LGBT Resource Center, UC San Diego Women's Center, UC San Diego Women in Health Science, and UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. For more information, contact Cynthia Triplett.

Today: Learn the Science of Social Justice and Intergenerational Trauma

Hosted by the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health, see Dr. Sará King present on "The Science of Social Justice: An Interdisciplinary Theoretical Framework Grounded in Neuroscience, Education, and Anthropology towards Healing Intergenerational Trauma." This event will be hosted via Zoom today, 10/19, from 4 - 5 p.m. PST.

Research Presentation Series Launches Next Month

Starting in November, the Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion will launch a brand-new research presentation series. This quarterly Zoom event will highlight the work of the Sanford Institute's awarded researchers and provide an open forum for discussion and connection among peers. In addition, each presentation will aim to explore a new research area within empathy and compassion, keeping attendees at the forefront of the field in promoting empathic behavior(s) in health care and beyond. The first presentation will be held on November 16 at 3 p.m. PST. Save your spot now.

Gentry Patrick, PhD, Named Finalist in ILIA Awards

This month, the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health Director Gentry Patrick, PhD, was named a finalist in RISE San Diego's Inclusive Leadership in Action Awards (otherwise known as ILIA). Dr. Patrick was nominated in two prestigious categories: Community Change Agent and Culture Shifter. This awards program honors San Diego leaders who have shown dedication and action to make real, sustainable and systemic change through the creation of innovative programming and partnerships — and Dr. Patrick surely exemplifies that. Join us in congratulating him on Instagram.

CONGRATULATE GENTRY →

Sanford Institute Volunteers at Farm Animal Refuge

Recently, the Sanford Institute team volunteered at an agricultural animal rescue located in Campo, California. Farm Animal Refuge focuses on abused, neglected and unwanted farm animals, and aims to enlighten San Diegans on the importance of animal activism. Our day consisted of helping clean out an area of the farm that was indirectly impacted by the Campo wildfire of August 2022. But perhaps most importantly, it consisted of learning about the challenging plight of farm animals, the often overlooked cruelties of the meat industry, and how we, as people, can make more conscious decisions if and when purchasing dairy and poultry products. We can't wait to go back soon and visit our new farm friends — especially the very loveable Gus (pictured above)!

"Compassionatomy" Investigates Empathy During Dissection

The adoption of humanistic practices — like empathy and compassion — in anatomical education is gaining traction, but little research evaluates curricula in this subject area. In response, Dr. Geoffrey Noel, a medical education seed grant awardee with the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education, developed compassion-focused contemplative exercises as part of first-year medical students' anatomy lab, namely Compassionatomy. The goal: to understand whether meditation could help students maintain empathy during cadaveric dissection. The result: incorporating compassion training during a pre-clinical anatomy course boosted student engagement in compassion practices and body donors were treated more humanely than those in previous years. The course will now be expanded within UC San Diego School of Medicine this fall.

Sanford Institute 2nd Annual Symposium

This November, join us for a symposium on "Neurobiological Mechanisms Underpinning Empathy, Social Interactions, and Pain: Playing the Scales from Rodents to Humans." This event is free and open to all UC San Diego faculty, staff and students.

RSVP NOW →

Hearing Myself Think
Zoom Workshop

Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, join a free workshop for health care professionals to reflect on caregiving. This session is highly recommended for physicians, RNs, and APPs in UC San Diego's Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology & Palliative Care.

RSVP NOW →

ISCR Inaugural Annual Conference

The International Society for Contemplative Research is hosting its inaugural conference on contemplative science on February 2 - 5, 2023, at UC San Diego. Early bird rates are available through next month — save your spot before it's too late.

RSVP NOW →

Meet Rachel (she/hers)

Program Coordinator,
Sanford Institute

Rachel is currently...

Sipping on: Coke Zero — my fave.

Listening to: Kendrick Lamar’s "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers" album and the "Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend" podcast.

Reading: I just started "The Lincoln Highway," and I’ve been chipping away at a Frederick Douglass biography for a couple of months now.

Excited about: Heading to Phoenix at the end of this month for my sister’s baby shower (her 3rd boy), but back just in time for Halloween, which I’m also excited for!

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September

UC San Diego Sanford Courtyard Ribbon-Cutting and Dedication Event

We are proud to announce that situated behind the MET Building at UC San Diego now lives the Sanford Courtyard. This special space on campus is named after our benefactor T. Denny Sanford, in recognition of his $100 million contribution to catalyze a kinder, more compassionate health system and world through the T. Denny Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion.

The Sanford Courtyard dedication featured moving speeches by T. Denny Sanford himself, as well as UC San Diego leaders, including Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, former Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences (and now CEO and President of Sanford Burnham Prebys) Dr. David Brenner, and our very own Center for Mentorship in Medicine Director Dr. Chris Cannavino.

The Sanford Courtyard, on the corner of Empathy and Compassion Way, is an inviting and flexible outdoor hub that allows UC San Diego faculty and students alike to convene and take mindful moments throughout the day. It is a fitting space to recognize T. Denny Sanford, as he excels at transforming lives and inspiring community. We invite you to experience it yourself next time you're on campus.

VISIT THE SANFORD COURTYARD →

BioSci Peer Mentor Program Facilitates Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Among Undergraduate Students

Our Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health (CESJHH), in partnership with the School of Biological Sciences, is learning valuable lessons about holistically supporting undergraduate students with the BioSci Peer Mentor Program.

Last year, this program was structured and piloted to complement the widely utilized NASPA CPE Peer Mentor Training, with an objective to bring mindfulness and self-compassion to peer mentorship spaces in STEM. The goal: to test this engagement as a model for how the Sanford Institute and its Centers can integrate resources, methodology, and research related to empathy and compassion to foster improved success of students from diverse backgrounds.

Today, with the participation of 12 mentors and over 100 mentees in the pilot program’s second year, CESJHH is happy to report very positive initial feedback from student participants. The undergraduate mentors reported that the guided meditations were very effective in relieving stress and helped them focus and build up a routine. Here's what program participants had to say about it:

LEARN MORE ABOUT BIOSCI MENTORSHIP →

Center for Empathy and Technology Accepting Seed Grant Proposals

The Center for Empathy and Technology is currently accepting seed grant proposals. The mission of the Center is to make compassion toward others the default practice in medicine, public health, and society at-large. For this funding cycle, the Center is particularly interested in funding research projects about (1) women's health and reproductive justice, or (2) technology and medical education.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL →

First-Year Medical Students "Fill Their Doctor's Bag"

Our Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education (CECTME)
welcomed a new class of first year medical students with an hour-long session titled "Filling Your Doctor's Bag." Co-developed with the Center for Compassionate Communication, and co-facilitated by CECTME Director Lisa Eyler as well as Faculty Communication Fellow John-Michael Maury, the session gave students a taste of the research on the neurobiology of empathy and compassion, and the importance of training these skills for patient outcomes and provider wellness. Through an interactive exercise and a written reflection, attendees learned the importance of listening without interruption and feeling heard by themselves and others.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Sanford Institute Office

The Sanford Institute's new Pepper Canyon space is currently under construction on campus. This exciting new space offers our team a semi-open floor plan with lounge areas for collaboration and designated training rooms to host workshops for the UC San Diego campus community. As we continue our commitment to addressing physician burnout, we also recognize the importance of investing in our team's success. Developing a workplace environment that aligns with our mission and reflects our bold vision for the future is one way we do just that. Stay tuned for more updates — we look forward to inviting you to our digs in a few months' time!

Center for Mentorship Hosts Successful Med Ed Symposium

Our Center for Mentorship in Medicine recently hosted the widely attended Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education via Zoom. Healthcare professionals across all specialties, including residents, fellows, medical students and administrative staff came together to learn more about educational resources available on campus. The event featured stand-out presentations from faculty members, including: Dr. Charlie Goldberg of the Division of Hospital Medicine and Dr. Darcy Wooten of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, among others. Couldn't make it? You can watch the entire event online for free.

WATCH THE SYMPOSIUM →

Time is Running Out: Register for Brand-New SOM Elective Course

UC San Diego School of Medicine students can learn how empathy and compassion enhance the use of technologies at the cutting-edge of genomics with a new elective course from our Center for Empathy and Technology: The Sanford Precision Health Scholars Workshop: Journeys in Genomic Testing. Students will get to walk in a patients' shoes through an opt-in personal genome testing experience or via equivalent simulated learning experiences. To participate, medical students must commit to two in-person sessions. Email Course Director Ramya Rajagopalan to learn more.

Sanford Institute Hosts 2nd Annual Symposium on November 11

We proudly invite you to the Sanford Institute's 2nd annual symposium, titled "Neurobiological Mechanisms Underpinning Empathy, Social Interactions, and Pain: Playing the Scales from Rodents to Humans." This symposium will take place on November 11, 2022, on campus at The Altman Clinical and Translation Research Institute. Deadline to register is October 27, 2022.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Free Zoom Workshop: Hearing Myself Think

Join a free workshop aimed at helping UC San Diego health professionals and medical students reflect on emotional themes and narratives. Hosted by Center for Compassionate Communication.

RSVP NOW →

Mindfulness and Compassion Symposium

This week, join UC San Diego's Center for Mindfulness for a day of mindfulness practice, science, and real-world applications. Discounts are available for UC San Diego employees and students.

RSVP NOW →

ISCR Inaugural Annual Conference

The International Society for Contemplative Research is hosting its inaugural conference on contemplative science on February 2 - 5, 2023, at UC San Diego. Early bird rates are available.

RSVP NOW →

Meet Ryan (he/his)

Administrative Assistant,
Sanford Institute

Ryan is currently...

Sipping on: Mostly water. Seltzer if I want to spice it up a bit!

Listening to: Pretty much anything you can dance around to from the 1980s to early 2000s. My top listens are: Neon Capital, Madison Rose, Charli XCX, The Naked and Famous, Lady Gaga, and Troye Sivan.

Reading: I am pretty deep into learning User Interface Design, so it has been coursework reading for the last six months. For fun, I am reading ‘Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan’ and ‘Hidden Pictures’ by Jason Rekulak.

Excited about: Finishing up my courses in the next few months and hopefully getting to do some more floral design work in the fall. Also, spooky season, obviously! 👻

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August

Sanford Institute Announces 2022-23
Fellows and Seed Grant Awardees

The Sanford community of researchers is an incredible place to incubate innovations in empathy and compassion, but it requires financial backing to bring ideas to life. We are thrilled to provide funding to early-stage research projects — and, even more so, to present our esteemed 2022-23 fellows and seed grant awardees to you today.

Medical Education Seed Grant Awardees

The Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education has awarded eight seed grants for project proposals that will develop and disseminate educational programs that enhance empathy and compassion throughout medical training. Projects include: a simulated patient experience to foster physician empathy, and a social justice curriculum pairing didactic sessions and community partnerships to name a few.

MEET AWARDEES →

Fellows & Collaborative Research Awardees

The Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion has awarded four new fellows and four collaborative research awardees to enhance the well-being of UC San Diego faculty and students through the elucidation of the neurobiological bases of empathy and compassion. Projects include: using social musical engagement to promote empathy and prosocial behaviors in early childhood and more.

MEET AWARDEES →

"Hearing Myself Think" Facilitates Self-Compassion Among Healthcare Professionals

Every Thursday, the Center for Compassionate Communication hosts Hearing Myself Think, a 50-minute Zoom workshop for UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students to dial down the noise in their lives and reflect on themes that give shape and meaning to their lives.

Following each session, participants have an opportunity to contribute original narratives around a theme. One such example is from Ten Mendoza, DNP, RN-BC at UC San Diego Health on "Moving Through Grief":

Join us for our next session of Hearing Myself Think on "Reflecting on the Passage of Time" tomorrow at 12 p.m. PST.

New School of Medicine Elective Course Simulates Patient Experience

UCSD School of Medicine students can learn how empathy and compassion enhances the use of technologies at the cutting-edge of genomics with a new elective course from the Center for Empathy and Technology: Sanford Precision Health Scholars Workshop: Journeys in Genomic Testing. Students will get to walk in patients' shoes through an opt-in personal genetic testing experience or via equivalent simulated learning experiences; they must commit to 2 in-person sessions to enroll. Email Course Director Ramya Rajagopalan to learn more.

CONTACT RAMYA →

UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Fellowship

The UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship is currently recruiting physicians, RNs, APPs and medical educators for its 2023 cohorts. This six-month fellowship, led by the Center for Compassionate Communication, applies innovative arts and humanities lessons to medical communication training — improving relationships between physicians and their patients and teams. Apply by September 7, 2022, to be considered for the first cohort.

APPLY NOW →

Dr. Cinnamon Bloss Honored with Mentorship Award

Congratulations to Center for Empathy and Technology Director Cinnamon Bloss, PhD., who was recently honored by the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) with the 2022 Mentorship Award. ASHG President Charles Rotimi describes Dr. Bloss as a champion for mentees — instilling a lasting love for science, multidisciplinary collaboration, and commitment to social justice and equity. She is also praised by mentees for leading with empathy and compassion; we couldn't be prouder.

LEARN MORE →

Sanford Institute Quarterly Service Activity

At the Sanford Institute, we love to give back to the San Diego community. Every quarter, we host a service activity to help make our city — and world — a better place. Our most recent activity was a beach clean-up in Torrey Pines to mitigate the dangers plastic pollution pose to our region's marine life. Collectively, we picked up several bags of trash while admiring the state reserve. Afterward, we treated ourselves to pizza from Buonasera Pizzeria (which was given a thumbs-up by our resident New York natives!).

LEARN MORE →

Learning to Practice Compassionate Care: Medical Students Discuss Their Most Memorable Lessons

Compassionate interactions between physicians and patients can have a therapeutic effect on a patient's healing. However, training physicians to effectively communicate compassion is challenging. This study — conducted by the Center for Empathy and Technology, the Center for Mentorship in Medicine, and the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education — examines medical students' reflections on lessons about compassionate care at UCSD School of Medicine.

LEARN MORE →

Association of Compassion and Empathy with Prosocial Health Behaviors and Attitudes in a Pandemic

Collective adverse effects can facilitate prosocial responses by unifying people and helping them focus on a common cause, but can a pandemic generate the same response? The answer to this question is precisely what this study— conducted by the Center for Empathy and Technology — sought to discover. By surveying individuals near the onset of COVID-19, this investigation found out how dispositional compassion and empathy were associated with prosocial behaviors and attitudes toward SARS-CoV-2.

LEARN MORE →

Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education

A symposium for healthcare professionals to learn about innovation in medical education. Hosted by the Center for Mentorship in Medicine.

RSVP NOW →

Free Mindfulness Sessions

Free, daily meditation livestreams to reduce stress and cultivate peace of mind during the pandemic. Hosted by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness.

RSVP NOW →

ISCR Annual Conference

A symposia highlighting the latest in contemplative research. Hosted by the International Society for Contemplative Research.

SAVE THE DATE →

Meet Kaleigh (she/her)

Administrative Officer, Sanford Institute

Kaleigh is currently...

Sipping on: Chilled reds have been beautiful to drink this summer. And water, of course.

Listening to: I am still stuck in Adele's 30 album.

Reading: Lots of poetry! Specifically from Julia de Burgos and Nikki Giovanni.

Excited about: Seeing Usher in concert this October!

We're on LinkedIn now! 😊

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July

Application Period Now Open for UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship

We are proud to announce the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship is now recruiting for its 2023 cohorts. This six-month fellowship, led by the Center for Compassionate Communication, applies innovative arts and humanities lessons to medical communication training — improving relationships between physicians and their patients and teams.

You may be eligible for the UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship if:

You are a clinically active UC San Diego physician, RN, APP, and/or medical educator with an interest in advancing compassionate communication within your department or division; and,
You can attend all scheduled training sessions (in-person and online) and have leadership support post-training to disseminate curricular offerings that bolster the compassionate communications skills of colleagues.

How to apply:

Fill out an application by September 7, 2022, to be considered for the first cohort, beginning January 2023. Or, submit by March 6, 2023, to be considered for the second cohort, beginning June 2023.

UC San Diego candidates must sign into their AD Single Sign On (SSO) to complete the application form. External candidates must email Erin Kinoshita at ekinoshita@health.ucsd.edu with the subject line "Fellowship Candidate Referral" for an application.

APPLY TO THE FELLOWSHIP →

⭐ Get a sneak peek of the UC San Diego Health: Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship with a FREE online learning module! ⭐

Take A New Communication Framework for Healthcare: Foundations in Compassion — log in here with your UC San Diego AD Single Sign On (SSO) to access the 30-minute course.

Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education

On Friday, September 9, the Center for Mentorship in Medicine is partnering with UC San Diego School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and Rady Children's Hospital San Diego to host a Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education.

This symposium is designed for healthcare professionals across all specialties, including faculty, residents, fellows, medical students, and administrative staff, wishing to learn more about the educational resources available at UCSD School of Medicine and innovations in medical education.

The event will be held at Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, with the option to join by Zoom. CME credit will be provided.

SAVE YOUR SPOT →

Sanford Institute Welcomes 4 New Postdocs

We awarded four new fellowships to UC San Diego post-docs as part of the 2022 Sanford Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Drawn from multiple disciplines across campus, the awardees will work to advance empathy and compassion-related research. Congratulations, Amy Bellinghausen, MD, Pulmonary; Jon Dean, PhD, Anesthesiology; Melissa Karnaze Hedayati, PhD, School of Public Health; and, Zhenggang Zhu, PhD, Neuroscience!

Promote Empathy Among Clinical Learners

The Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education is launching a Google Group for clinical educators who want to promote empathy and compassion with medical, pharmacy, social work, clinical and counseling psychology students, interns, and residents. The Partnership for Engaged Action in Compassion Education, or the PEACE Group, offers a space for medical educators to exchange ideas, challenges, opportunities, and best practices in the field.

JOIN THE PEACE GROUP →

Fadel Zeiden, PhD, Published in PAIN Medical Journal

This month, Sanford Institute researcher Fadel Zeidan, PhD, and director William Mobley, MD, PhD, were published in the PAIN medical journal for new study findings around the effects of mindfulness on pain perception. In the study, they answer a centuries-old question: can mindfulness meditation truly relieve pain — and if so, how? The answer to this question, and the potential it holds for patients living with chronic conditions, at the jump.

READ THE ARTICLE →

Advancing Research at the Intersection of Technology and Empathy

The Center for Empathy and Technology is investigating how medical students engage with personal genetic testing, and how they reflect on technology’s role in mediating individuals’ sense of identity. The team is also evaluating the impact of Compassion Cultivation Training among health trainees and professionals. These studies will guide new directions in compassion and medical education; stay tuned for updates in the coming months.

LEARN MORE →

Sanford Institute Annual Leadership Retreat

How far have we gotten? Where are we going? Does our work help us achieve a kinder, more compassionate health system and world? These were the questions at the core of our recent leadership retreat. Next month, we will share our new vision and mission, and key initiatives. But today, we express gratitude to High Performance Teams - The Simon Leadership Alliance and Estancia La Jolla for hosting two days of fellowship, and to our UC San Diego faculty and staff for their humility, transparency, and mindful collaboration. The best is yet to come.

ABOUT US →

Gentry Patrick, PhD, in The Los Angeles Times

Gentry Patrick, PhD, director for the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Healthcare was recently featured in The Los Angeles Times to commemorate the conclusion of UC San Diego's landmark fundraising campaign, generating $3.05B in philanthropic support over a span of 10 years. Our founder Denny Sanford played a critical role in the success of this Campaign, with $100M to support empathy and compassion research — and we couldn't be more grateful to be the stewards of these funds.

LEARN MORE →

Hearing Myself Think

Free workshop every Thursday for healthcare professionals to reflect on emotional themes through poetry. Hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication.

RSVP NOW →

Daily Meditation Practice

Free meditation sessions for UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students to reduce stress and cultivate peace of mind. Hosted by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness.

RSVP NOW →

ISCR Annual Conference

A symposia to highlight the latest in contemplative research, taking place February 2023 at UC San Diego. Hosted by the International Society for Contemplative Research.

SAVE THE DATE →

Meet Fernando (he/his)

Principal Financial Analyst, Sanford Institute

Fernando is currently...

Sipping on: Usually during the summer I enjoy sipping on some refreshing brews – currently it’s Shipyard Brewery’s Finder Session IPA.

Listening to: Latest album entitled “A Few Stars Apart” by Lukas Nelson and "Promise of the Real," as well as the podcast “South of the 8” (thanks Julie Freeman for the podcast recommendation!).

Reading: "The Wild Muir" by the Yosemite Association and "The 10-Day MBA" by Steven Silbiger.

Excited about: An upcoming 4-day trip with my wife to Sebastopol in the Sonoma wine country, as well as a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii in August with my close friend.

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Newsletter Archive

2024

Sanford Institute Study Reveals Self-Compassion is Related to Better Mental Health Among Syrian Refugees

Sanford Institute Spreads Compassion Nationwide with New Training Program

Sanford Institute Awards Endowed Professorship in Empathy and Compassion Research to Eric Garland, PhD

Sanford Institute Unites National Medical Education Leaders to Spark Empathy-driven Change in Healthcare

UC San Diego School of Medicine Ushers in the Next Generation of Empathic and Compassionate Doctors

Sanford Institute Featured in KPBS for Exploring Empathy in the Brain

Registration Open: Symposium for Innovation in Medical Education, May 17

Sanford Scholars Selected for UC San Diego School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society

Now Hiring: Research Program Manager (Hybrid/Remote)

William Mobley, MD, PhD, Named Director of Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion

Empathy and Compassion Research Day Shares Exciting Study Findings and Facilitates Scientific Exchange

Sanford Institute Awards Endowed Professorships in Empathy and Compassion Research

Registration is Now Open for the Compassion in Medical Education (C-MEd) Forum

2023

A Look Back at the Sanford Institute's Top Empathy and Compassion Milestones of 2023

#1: Expanded empathy and compassion curricula at UC San Diego School of Medicine and beyond

#2: Touched lives through novel empathy and compassion programming

#3: Collaborated with local and national organizations to expand empathy and compassion

#4: Funded basic and applied empathy and compassion research

#5: Practiced compassionate leadership all year long

Sanford Institute Director Featured in Cox Communications Commercial

UC San Diego Health and Sanford Institute Join Forces at American Conference on Physician Health

Sanford Fellow Dr. Jon Dean Awarded NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship

Currently Recruiting UC San Diego Faculty for Endowed Professorships in Research and Medical Education

See How One Sanford Institute Seed Grant Awardee Helped Residents Experience Life as Patients in Novel Simulation

Center for Compassionate Communication Wellness Program Goes Live to Share the Healing Power of Poetry to Healthcare Community

Sanford Scholars Selected for UC San Diego School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society

Compassion as a tool for allyship and anti-racism

Sanford Institute Benefactor Receives UC San Diego Lifetime Achievement Award

Sanford Institute Featured in UC San Diego Health Sciences' Discoveries Magazine

Meet the Next Generation of UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellows

Dr. Maria I Uloko

Dr. Sandeep Segar

Merri Biechler

Public Mental Health During and After the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Opportunities for Intervention via Emotional Self-Efficacy and Resilience

2022

UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellows Graduate

Call for Applicants: 2023-24 Sanford Scholars

Pictured from left to right: Kiley Rucker, Ishan Saha, Niveda Rao, Therese Ahlers, Jenna Tutjer, Lisa Eyler, Tanya Jain, Carmen Conroy, Ashley Sutherland

Application Period Open for UC San Diego Faculty to Become Sanford Scholar Mentors

Empathy and Compassion Research Series Launches with Special Presentations from Sanford Institute Researchers

Satish Jaiswal, PhD

Lindsey Powell, PhD

Pictured from left to right: Vitaly Napadow, Emily Wu, Dhananjay Bambah Mukku, Fadel Zeidan, William Mobley

UC San Diego Health Sciences Launches Fall Speaker Series on "Reproductive Justice in the United States"

Today: Learn the Science of Social Justice and Intergenerational Trauma

UC San Diego Sanford Courtyard Ribbon-Cutting and Dedication Event

BioSci Peer Mentor Program Facilitates Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Among Undergraduate Students

Center for Empathy and Technology Accepting Seed Grant Proposals

Sanford Institute Hosts 2nd Annual Symposium on November 11

Sanford Institute Announces 2022-23Fellows and Seed Grant Awardees

Learning to Practice Compassionate Care: Medical Students Discuss Their Most Memorable Lessons

Association of Compassion and Empathy with Prosocial Health Behaviors and Attitudes in a Pandemic

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Sanford Institute Announces 2022-23
Fellows and Seed Grant Awardees