We are delighted to introduce the speakers for the 2026 CCARE Immersion — a gathering that reflects the extraordinary depth of talent within the CCARE community. This year’s event features Neelama Eyres and Robert Cusick, alongside Al’ai Alvarez and Stephanie Balters. Each has been shaped by their time at CCARE, and together they bring a unique combination of rigorous training, lived experience, and genuine commitment to the science and practice of compassion. We are proud to celebrate the voices that have grown from within our center — and share them with you.
Neelama Eyres — Director of Program Development
Neelama Eyres has spent 25 years developing and facilitating experiential programs for individuals, leaders, and organizations around the world. As co-founder of CCARE’s Applied Compassion Training and Compassion Lab, she brings a rare blend of contemplative depth and practical expertise — having trained participants at organizations including Google, Slack, and MetLife. Her mastery lies in creating immersive learning environments where compassion becomes not just a concept, but a lived experience.
Robert Cusick — Director of Compassion Education
Robert Cusick is a Stanford Lecturer, co-founder of CCARE’s Applied Compassion Training and Compassion Lab, and a long-time meditator with roots in multiple contemplative traditions. He is ordained as a monastic in Myanmar, has studied with renowned teachers across Zen, Insight Meditation, and the Diamond Approach, and brings decades of inner practice to his work as a Sr. Certified CCARE instructor. He also offers grief counseling and bereavement support, reflecting his commitment to compassion in its most tender forms.
Al’ai Alvarez, MD — Interim Director
Dr. Al’ai Alvarez is a Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and a national leader on physician well-being, diversity, and compassion in healthcare. A member of the inaugural cohort of CCARE’s Applied Compassion Training ambassadors, he has completed multiple CCARE programs and brings that training directly into his work building high-performance, human-centered medical teams. His research and speaking bridge self-compassion, inclusion, and the science of thriving in demanding professional environments.
Stephanie Balters, PhD — Director of Compassion Research
Dr. Stephanie Balters is a neuroscientist pioneering the study of collective thriving — using portable dual-brain neuroimaging to map what happens in the brain during real human connection and collaboration. As Director of Research at CCARE and head of the Empowerment Neuroscience Lab, her work translates the neurobiology of compassion into concrete tools for teams and organizations. With a background spanning mechanical engineering, human-centered design, and clinical neuroimaging, she brings rare scientific rigor to the heart of what it means to flourish together.