Compassionate Communication in Healthcare

Chase Crossno combines her unique background in theater arts and public health to revolutionize medical education and healthcare communication. Currently serving as Assistant Artistic Director and Assistant Professor of Medical Education at TCU School of Medicine, she integrates theatrical techniques with public health pedagogies to cultivate empathy in future medical professionals. Her academic foundation includes an MPH from Boston University, where she specialized in global health, social justice, and sexuality studies. With 15 years of experience in direct patient care, she has worked extensively with domestic and international organizations focusing on HIV prevention and sexual health education. As a DEI Consultant at the Center for Compassionate Communication within UC San Diego's T. Denny Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, she continues to advance healthcare communication. Her innovative approach extends to her role as co-founder of an Austin-based theatre company, which uses curated experiences to stimulate critical thinking and cultural enrichment. Through her Coursera course "A New Communication Framework for Healthcare," she shares her expertise in combining arts and healthcare education to develop more empathetic and effective healthcare professionals.

Dr. Evonne Kaplan-Liss serves as Director of the Center for Compassionate Communication at UCSD's Sanford Institute for Empathy & Compassion, bringing a unique blend of journalism and medicine to healthcare communication training. Her remarkable career began at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, leading to work as a researcher for ABC News Nightline, before pursuing medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She holds board certifications in both pediatrics and preventive medicine, complemented by an MPH from Columbia University. As the Founding Medical Program Director at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, she trained thousands of healthcare professionals in empathetic communication. Before joining UCSD, she made history as the first dean-level position focused on communication training at TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine, where she developed The Compassionate Practice® curriculum. Her Coursera course "A New Communication Framework for Healthcare" integrates practices from theater, narrative medicine, journalism, and public health to teach compassionate communication skills. Her innovative approach combines her expertise in journalism, medicine, and public health to transform how healthcare providers communicate with patients, colleagues, and the public.

Dr. Kathryn (Kadee) Winters serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine, specializing in palliative care medicine. Her medical education includes an MD from UC San Diego School of Medicine, followed by an internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at UCSD. As part of the Doris A. Howell Palliative Care service, she provides comprehensive supportive care for patients with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, focusing on improving quality of life through symptom management and emotional support. Her innovative approach includes leading an expressive writing group at Moores Cancer Center for cancer patients and survivors, combining medical care with therapeutic creative expression. Her research has been published in prestigious journals including the Archives of Internal Medicine and the Journal of Palliative Medicine. Beyond clinical practice, she plays a vital role in educating medical students, residents, and fellows at UCSD School of Medicine. As a board-certified internal medicine physician and member of both the American Medical Association and American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, she brings a holistic approach to patient care that integrates medical expertise with arts and humanities.

Tim is Senior Instructional Designer at the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion. Prior to joining UC San Diego, he spent 15 years in consumer electronics and tech designing training programs for Sony Electronics.

Val is a professional actor, director, and teacher. She came to UC San Diego after serving as the Artistic Director of the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine. For the last decade she has created unique curricula based on theater practice