We are deeply honored to welcome Al’ai (LA) Alvarez, MD, a nationally recognized physician leader and champion of humanizing healthcare, as one of our CCARE Compassion Lab guest teachers.
Dr. Alvarez serves as Interim Director of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) and Director of Well-Being for Stanford Emergency Medicine, where he leads innovative, evidence-based initiatives that integrate compassion and wellness into high-performance clinical environments. A Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford, Dr. Alvarez has dedicated his career to preventing clinician burnout, enhancing team performance, and fostering wellness-centered, compassionate leadership.
His work bridges medicine, human performance, connection, and purpose—bringing insights to transform how teams thrive under pressure. Dr. Alvarez regularly delivers grand rounds and keynotes at institutions across the U.S. and internationally and his leadership continues to influence physician well-being nationally and internationally.
As a graduate of both CCARE’s Applied Compassion Training and Compassion Cultivation Training, Dr. Alvarez is a physician who truly walks his talk. His personal practice and lived commitment to these principles allow him to embody the integration of science and compassion that lies at the core of our CCARE Compassion Lab.
Through his session on “Self-Compassion in the Face of Adversity,” LA will offer CCL training participants a powerful window into what it means to bring courage and compassionate presence into the most difficult aspects of our lives and work.
We are grateful to welcome our dear colleague and friend, Dr. LA Alvarez, into the CCARE Compassion Lab!