We tend to think of empathy and compassion as traits we either have or don't. But research tells a different story. Empathy unfolds. It deepens layer by layer as we encounter, sit with, and genuinely engage a human story. Which means that every time we interrupt, assume, or finish someone's story, we don't just miss information—we short-circuit the empathy process itself.

This session draws on original research into empathy decline in healthcare and the conditions that reverse it. Using complexity theory as a lens, participants will explore why empathy erosion is a wicked problem that resists single solutions, and why storytelling, story listening, and intentional reflection and structured debrief protocols are among the most powerful micro-interventions available. Grounded in both science and practice, the session uses story as both subject and method.

Participants will leave with:

● A new mental model: empathy as a dynamic process grounded in story

● A practical, repeatable storytelling, listening, and reflection protocol for clinical settings

● One insight they can apply in their next patient encounter

Designed for healthcare professionals, healthcare educators, medical students, and beyond, this free, interactive series equips participants with practical communication skills to strengthen relationships, navigate difficult conversations, and foster more compassionate, effective interactions with patients, colleagues, learners, and teams.

Register here for this free online event. Please note, this event has been standardized to the Eastern Time Zone.