September 2025

FEATURE 

This past summer, the Sanford Institute came alive with laughter, connection, and discovery as we welcomed eight outstanding rising second-year medical students from our partner institutions — Case Western Reserve University, City University of New York, University of South Dakota, and University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio — for a one-of-a-kind 'Summer CAmP' experience at UC San Diego.

The Compassion Ambassador Program (CAmP) is a yearlong, funded mentorship initiative supporting medical students as they pursue research projects on empathy and compassion under the guidance of faculty mentors at their home institutions. The journey begins with Summer CAmP in San Diego, where students live on campus, explore contemplative practices such as mindfulness and common humanity, and engage with UC San Diego faculty on the science of empathy and compassion.

This year’s CAmP Scholars also gained wisdom from a panel of UC San Diego faculty members, many of which were graduates of our UC San Diego Health: Sanford Compassionate Communication Academy Fellowship. Physicians shared how compassion shapes their clinical practice and helps them navigate challenges. Students connected with Sanford Scholars, too, by engaging in a communication team-building activity and bonding over iconic San Diego experiences: a beachside picnic, an art program at the Timken Museum, and dinner at Balboa Park.

By the end of Summer CAmP, Scholars left not only with eight new lifelong friends but also with a toolkit of practices to carry forward. Over the coming year, the group will continue meeting virtually, supporting one another as they bring their projects to life at their home institutions, culminating in May 2026.

We can’t wait to see how their creativity, empathy, and compassion will ripple outward to transform healthcare! Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months. 

SPOTLIGHT

Last week, the Sanford Institute had the pleasure of attending the 2025 Gold Humanism Summit in Baltimore, MD. We gained so much from the powerful voices at this event, which included but were not limited to: the family of Henrietta Lacks with The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine leadership, CEO and co-founder of The Moral Injury of Healthcare Wendy Dean, MD, author of In Shock Dr. Rana Awdish, and cystic fibrosis and rare disease patient leader Gunnar Esiason. Their stories and perspectives moved us immensely and deepened our resolve to advance empathy in healthcare. 

During our time, we had the distinct honor of sharing the work of the Sanford Institute and UC San Diego School of Medicine with attendees. Our esteemed faculty, Dr. William Mobley and Dr. Sean Evans, as well as NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine Founding Chair Dr. Rolando DeLeon, led a moving panel on "Finding Your Why: Fostering Gratitude, Connection, and Compassion in your Healthcare Provider Journey." 

They were joined on stage by UC San Diego School of Medicine and CUNY School of Medicine medical students — Eli Solomon, Celeste Hsu, Johan Carrascoza-Bolanos, and MarieElena Harrison — who reflected on empathic and compassionate projects and programs, made possible by the Sanford Institute, that positively impacted people in the communities they serve and affirmed their calling in medicine. One thing's abundantly clear after that panel: the future of medicine is bright. 

This panel presentation wasn't possible without the extraordinary leadership of one team member in particular: the Sanford Institute's Director of Medical Education Integration, Jenna Tutjer. She skillfully guided the collaboration between our speakers and the Gold Humanism team with ease and grace. Thank you for all you do, Jenna! 

MEDIA

What if learning to care for your mental well-being was considered as essential as math or writing? Neuroscientist and psychologist Karen Dobkins is working to make that a reality through the Learning Sustainable Well-Being (LSW) program. Supported by the Sanford Institute, the program helps students cultivate compassion and embrace all parts of themselves.

RESEARCH

Depression and burnout have deeply affected healthcare workers. A new study co-authored by Dr. Eric Garland tested whether combining mindfulness training with psilocybin could provide greater relief than mindfulness alone. This first-of-its-kind trial points to promising new ways to support frontline providers’ mental health.

EVENTS

In this free virtual workshop, Dr. Lisa Eyler, Director of the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education, will share strategies for creating more compassionate classrooms. Designed for those teaching adult clinical learners, the workshop will feature self-compassion exercises, reflection on power dynamics, and practical tips to foster belonging while maintaining accountability.

COLLECTIVE LEARNING

Members of the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education, Center Director Lisa T. Eyler, PhD and Director of Research Federica Klaus MD, PhD, recently traveled to Tokyo, Japan for a conference. They took this opportunity to meet with a fellow compassion researcher, Professor Kenichi Asano,

Department of Psychology, Institute of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba. Professor Asano is a practicing psychologist who did a postgraduate certificate in compassion-focused therapy at the University of Derby and has published papers about developing and validating Japanese versions of well-known compassion measures. 

Photo credit: Lisa Eyler

Professor Asano invited the team to present a compassion workshop tailored to an audience of almost 20 faculty, students and clinicians in psychology, nursing and basic sciences from Tsukuba University and Japan Women's University. The workshop focused on the importance of compassion in healthcare, especially in healthcare education, and included two experiential exercises developed by the Sanford Institute's Center for Compassionate Communication and two meditations. The participants shared their own experiences and engaged enthusiastically in the activities, which were translated expertly by two students. A post-session survey showed that 100% of the respondents were moderately or very likely to recommend the session to others.

After an inspiring afternoon, the whole group went to enjoy each other’s company over a delicious traditional Japanese dinner. The Sanford Institute looks forward to future collaborations built on the foundations of this initial visit.

NEWS

— Congratulations are in order for Sanford Scholar, Sadie Munter, and MedGap Sanford Scholar, Eli Solomon, for being inducted into the 2026 Gold Humanism Honor Society. In addition, Dr. Ami Doshi, Director of our Wellness Leader Academy, was recently honored with the UC San Diego 2025 Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award! 🎉

— Early bird registration is still available for the 2026 Lead With Compassion Workshop, an arts- and humanities-based leadership training for health care professionals and medical educators to foster empathy and compassion. Save your spot now — this workshop will sell out.

— Did you catch Sanford Institute Endowed Professor, Dr. Eric Garland, on CNN this month? See a preview of his segment with Dr. Sanjay Gupta here and tune into their Chasing Life podcast episode to further learn how meditation can be a drug-free method for easing pain. Dr. Garland's work is also featured in Dr. Gupta's latest book "It Doesn't Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain-Free Life."

RESOURCES

This free, on-demand webinar, hosted by the Center for Compassionate Communication, introduces the fundamental principles of mediation, offering an overview of key concepts. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the mediation process, enhance their communication and listening skills, learn strategies for resolving conflicts, and recognize when mediation is an appropriate tool for managing difficult conversations.