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Leah Weiss Ekstrom – TEDx Traverse City 2012
Leah Weiss Ekstrom is a Contemplative Educator whose research and teaching focuses on the application of meditation in secular contexts. Leah has engaged in extensive retreat practice in the Kagyu/Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. She is also trained as a clinical social worker, having worked with refugees in India, Nepal, and the United States.
She has taught clinicians in a variety of settings including Harvard-affiliated hospitals, the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the National HIV/AIDS Conference. In 2008, Leah co-founded the Foundation for Active Compassion, a nonprofit organization that offers meditation practices to people involved in social service and social change work in an effort to provide tools for prevention and healing from burnout and compassion fatigue.
Currently, Leah is Director of Compassion Education at Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). She is on the cusp of completing her doctoral degree in Theology and Education.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxTraverseCity, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxTraverseCity event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
Lectures: Michael W. Kraus
Michael W. Kraus presenting his talk, “Noblesse Oblige? Empathy, Compassion, and Social Class in America.”
Lecture: Dr. Philip G. Zimbardo
“Heroic Transformations from Violence to Peace Healing and Compassion in Wounded Communities,” presented by Dr. Yotam Heineberg, Dr. Philip G. Zimbardo, Dr. Rony Berger, and Mr. Rudy Corpuz Jr.
Festival of Faiths
Sacred Silence: Pathway to Compassion combines an interest in contemplative practice within an interfaith forum to explore the nature of sacred silence. The goal of this exploration is to provide an opportunity for spiritual growth for the largest possible assembly of people.
For more information and registration click here.
James R. Doty, MD, speaks at Zócalo Public Square
Location: Los Angeles, CA
CCARE’s Founder & Director, James R. Doty, M.D., will participate in a Zócalo Public Square series on healthy living. Panelists will discuss the latest in medical science and altruism and what the findings mean for us all.
See event website for more information.
Wisdom 2.0 Youth
Location: Computer History Museum, 1401 North Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View, CA
Raising or working with children today is no easy task. Technology pervades our (and their) lives. We struggle to find our own balance, and at the same time navigate their use of cellphones, social networks, and computer games.
Our challenge is to harness the power of technology as parents and educators, while supporting wellness and balance that are essential for a healthy child and a sane society.
Join Wisdom 2.0 Youth September 17th in Silicon Valley for the first ever Wisdom 2.0 Youth Conference. Together we will explore living consciously and supporting wellness, wisdom, and mindfulness in young people today.
Read more or Register today
TEDx Hayward
The theme for this year’s TEDxHayward is Peace Innovation where we cast a spotlight on how technology and emerging social behaviors and insights are promoting new paths to global peace. We hope you will join us, the Stanford Peace Innovation Lab, CSU East Bay Peace Innovation Lab, and Associated Students Inc. of CSU East Bay @ TEDxHayward. Remember to reserve your space (tickets are free!) by clicking on the Tickets link above! http://tedxhayward.org/
Request Dr. Weiss as a Speaker
Leah Weiss, PhD, LCSW
Director of Education
Want Dr. Weiss to be a speaker at your next event? Send her a request below.
Request Dr. Seppala as a Speaker
Emma Seppala, PhD
Associate Director, CCARE
Want Dr. Seppala to be a speaker at your next event? Send her a request below.
Request Dr. Doty as a Speaker
James R. Doty, MD
Director and Founder, CCARE
Adjunct Professor of Neurosurgery, Stanford University
Want Dr. Doty to be a speaker at your next event? Send him a request below.
Request a Speaker
Want a member of CCARE to be a speaker at your next event? Send us a request below.
Al’ai Alvarez, MD
Director
Al’ai Alvarez, MD is a Stanford emergency physician and recognized national leader in clinician well-being, compassion, and high-performance teams.
He is a Clinical Professor in Stanford Emergency Medicine and Director of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. He also serves as Director of Well-Being for Stanford Emergency Medicine, Co-lead of the Human Potential Team, and Fellowship Director for the Physician Wellness Fellowship. At the Stanford Medicine WellMD/WellPhD Center, he chairs the Physician Wellness Forum and directs the Physician Resource Network Support Program, Stanford’s peer-to-peer support program for faculty and trainees.
Dr. Alvarez’s work focuses on humanizing physician roles and supporting teams in high-performance clinical environments. He challenges the false divide between compassion and performance, showing how human-centered systems can strengthen trust, learning, safety, and team effectiveness. His work connects clinician well-being, process improvement, clinical operations, quality, peer support, leadership development, and professional fulfillment.
From 2016 to 2021, Dr. Alvarez served as Assistant and Associate Residency Program Director for the Stanford Emergency Medicine Residency Program. He regularly gives grand rounds and leads national and international lectures and workshops on self-compassion, clinician well-being, leadership, mentorship, compassion, and high-performing teams.
His recent honors include the 2022 John Levin Leadership Award at Stanford Health Care, the 2024 Sharp Index Physician Leader of the Year Award, and a 2025 Excellence in Our Workplace Award Honorable Mention through the Stanford Health Care Medical Staff Awards. He was also selected as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in Medical Sciences for Brazil through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program for 2026-2027 and received the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University at Buffalo.
Dr. Alvarez is a member of the inaugural cohort of ambassadors for CCARE’s Applied Compassion Training and has completed several compassion-based education programs, including Compassion Cultivation Training and Awakening Humanity at Work.
James R. Doty, MD
December 1, 1955 - July 16, 2025
James R. Doty, MD was the founder and director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford, of which His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the founding benefactor. Dr. Doty was a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who was on the faculty of the Stanford University School of Medicine in the Neurosurgery Department. Most recently, his academic focus was on meditation, compassion, and self-compassion for which he lectured throughout the world.
Dr. Doty attended U.C. Irvine as an undergraduate, received his medical degree from Tulane University and completed neurosurgery residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. Doty served 9 years on active duty in the U.S Army attaining the rank of major. He completed fellowships in pediatric neurosurgery and electroneurophysiology.
He was an inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He held multiple patents and was the former CEO of Accuray (ARAY:NASDAQ). Dr. Doty provided support to a number of charitable organizations supporting peace initiatives and providing healthcare throughout the world. Additionally, he supported research, provided scholarships, and endowed chairs at multiple universities.
Dr. Doty was a consultant to medical device companies and was an operating partner and advisor to venture capital firms. He served on the Board of a number of non-profits and was the vice-chair of the Charter for Compassion International and the former chair of the Dalai Lama Foundation. He was on the Senior Advisory Board of the Council for the Parliament of the World’s Religions and served on the Board of Governors of Tulane University School of Medicine and the President’s Council at Tulane University.
James R. Doty, MD was the New York Times bestselling author of Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discovery the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart now translated into 40 languages. Dr. Doty was also the senior editor of the Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science. His final book, Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything was published by Penguin Random House in May of 2024.
History
CCARE was envisioned by Dr. James Doty, a Stanford neurosurgeon, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Dr. Doty had a longstanding interest in the fundamental motivations of individuals to do good. He originated the concept of a rigorous multi-disciplinary scientific effort at Stanford directed at understanding the neural, mental, and social bases of compassion and altruism, and he provided the initial funding for the endeavor.
This interest was further spurred by the historic visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Stanford University in October of 2005, a visit hosted by the Stanford School of Medicine, through the leadership of Dean Philip A. Pizzo, and the Stanford Office of Religious Life, headed by Rev. Scotty McLennan. A high point of this visit was a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Stanford scientists from the fields of neuroscience, psychology, and medicine. This dialogue, moderated by Dr. William Mobley, former Professor of Neurology and former Director of the Stanford Neurosciences Institute, had the important consequence of recognizing that a deep engagement between science, especially in the cognitive science disciplines of neuroscience and psychology, and Buddhism and other contemplative traditions could make significant contribution towards a deeper understanding of many important aspects of the human mind and emotion.
Recognizing the historic nature of the initial dialogue held at Stanford between scientists and the Dalai Lama, Dr. Doty organized an informal group of individuals with similar interests to further explore these areas. Subsequently, he provided the funding for Dr. Thupten Jinpa, a noted contemplative scholar and translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to come to Stanford as a Visiting Scholar and join Project Compassion as the principal contemplative scholar. As the group expanded, it became evident that there was serious interest in formalizing what was informally called “Project Compassion.”
With the encouragement of Dr. Mobley and Dr. Gary Steinberg, Chairman of Neurosurgery and Director of the Stanford Institute of Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neurosciences, Dean Pizzo created The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford (CCARE). Thus, CCARE came into being with Dr. Doty as Director, Dr. Mobley (who has since left Stanford to work as Chair of Neuroscience at UCSD) as Co-Director, and Mr. Tenzin Tethong (Distinguished Scholar, Tibetan Studies Initiative at Stanford) and Dr. Steinberg serving as members of the founding Executive Committee.
Courses
Learn to develop the qualities of compassion, empathy and kindness for oneself and for others lorem
Videos
Research
Compassion as Human Potential
For more than a decade, CCARE has advanced compassion as a rigorous, evidence-based field. Drawing on neuroscience and related disciplines, we study compassion as a measurable capacity that helps people lead effectively, work together efficiently, and create healthier learning and care environments.
What we study
- Compassion as a measurable human capacity
- How interaction quality shapes performance, resilience, and decision-making
- The role of listening, trust, and stress regulation in complex systems
- Individual, interpersonal, and systems-level processes
How we translate this work
- Strengthen relational quality in teams and organizations
- Examine how compassion shapes attention, judgment, coordination, and collective problem-solving
- Develop practical approaches that strengthen trust, reduce friction, and support high performance
Why it matters
- Clearer judgment, stronger teamwork, healthier cultures
- Reduced costs from burnout, conflict, and miscommunication
- Impact from individuals to teams to entire institutions
Work with us
We partner across research, health care, education, technology, industry, sport, and public leadership to meet complexity with skill and humanity.
📩 Inquire about research partnerships
Featured Research: Dual-Brain Neuroscience in Real-World Teams
CCARE applies dual-brain (inter-brain) neuroscience to examine how compassion and coordination emerge in real time during high-stakes interactions.
🎥Explore dual-brain research in action
Press
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Contemplative Studies Grow at Brown University — and Beyond
Written by Jaweed Kaleem. Three times last week, between classes in neuropharmacology, neural systems and journalism, Brown University junior Henry Langton changed into sweatpants, sat with dozens of classmates on cushions in a campus dance studio and …
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It’s Time to Confront Our Compassion Phobia
Written By Andy Fraser. When I was first invited to take part in Compassion Week, I had a bit of a reaction. It’s not that I didn’t want to get involved in next week’s events in San Francisco – it’s just that I have a problem with the word compassion. …
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A Recipe for Air Rage
Written by Stephanie Rosenbloom. Why do some travelers squabble about overhead bin space? Or feud over an armrest? Why, when a passenger reclines his seat, does another respond with rage befitting the pages of “Lord of the Flies”? What makes rational t …
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5 Habits of Highly Compassionate Men
Written by Kozo Hattori I remember being a very compassionate child. While watching “The Little House on the Prairie,” I cried my eyes out when Laura couldn’t give Pa a Christmas gift. But 12 years of physical abuse and being forced to the confines …
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Stanford Scholar Helps Veterans Recover from War Trauma
Written by Clifton B. Parker. Breathing meditation is a powerful ally for military veterans recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to Stanford research recently published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress. For several years, …
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Top 5 Ideas for Celebrating International Friendship Day
Written by Kellie Edwards. Wednesday, July 30 is International Friendship Day. I can’t resist a good list or an excuse to celebrate. So I was curious: Based on mindfulness and the psychology of flourishing, what would be my top five ideas for celebrati …
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Q&A: Emma Seppälä on the Power of Compassion
Written by Emma Wheaton. Our connected world means we are increasingly aware of the tragedies and sufferings of others – whether it is the effects of war thousands of kilometres away or the struggles of someone closer to home. That empathy we feel towa …
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Cool Under Pressure
Written by Laura McKelvie. You’re at the service line, trying to focus. It’s late in the last set, and your team is down by one. If you miss this serve, the other team will win. As much as you want to relax or focus on the positive, you feel incredibly …
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Compassion as a Biological Imperative
Written by Amy Busek. If you ever find yourself in a conversation with Dr. James Doty, a pioneering neurosurgeon who revolutionized the idea that empathy and compassion are biological traits, don’t offer up Darwinian logic as a counter-argument. “A lot …
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Compassion Week 2014
Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), the Tenzin Gyatso Institute, Inc. (TGI) and The Charter for Compassion will host Compassion Week 2014 in San Francisco from November 10 – 16, 2014. This will incl …
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Scientists Tie Social Behavior to Activity in Specific Brain Circuit
Written by Bruce Goldman. A team of Stanford University investigators has linked a particular brain circuit to mammals’ tendency to interact socially. Stimulating this circuit — one among millions in the brain — instantly increases a mouse’s appetite f …
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Americans Experience Special Session on Spirituality at Stanford University Session
Written by NDT Bureau. The United States saw a special session on spirituality when world-renowned spiritual and humanitarian leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi interacted with leading neurosurgeon-philanthropist Dr. James Doty, the founder and director …
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Amma Highlights Value of Compassion at Stanford University Session
New Delhi: The United States saw a special session on spirituality when world-renowned spiritual and humanitarian leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi interacted with leading neurosurgeon-philanthropist Dr. James Doty, the founder and director of the Cente …
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India’s ‘Hugging Saint’ Shares Her Life Experiences and Insights as a Spiritual Leader
Written by Jenna Shapiro. Have you ever waited over an hour in line for a hug? Mata Amritanandamayi, better known as “Amma” (or “Mother”), has devoted her life to embracing the masses through her global charities known as “Embracing the World” and her …
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James Doty’s Helper’s High: He Gave Away His Last $30 Million and Felt Free—a Case Study in Altruism
Written by Bonnie Tsui. James Doty is not a subject under study at the altruism research center that he founded at Stanford in 2008, but he could be. In 2000, after building a fortune as a neurosurgeon and biotech entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, he los …
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Can Meditation Promote Altruism?
Written by Hooria Jazaieri. Mindfulness, or the moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and environment, has been associated with a host of benefits, including reduced stress, greater positive emotions, and a healthier body image. Recentl …
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Compassion in the Workplace
Written by Stephanie Castellano. Compassion training yields an early return-on-investment. Move over, exercise. Compassion is the new panacea. Mounting research shows that compassion can improve the health and well-being of individuals and corporations …
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What Makes a Compassionate Man?
Written by Kozo Hattori. I remember being a very compassionate child. While watching The Little House on the Prairie, I cried my eyes out when Laura couldn’t give Pa a Christmas gift. But 12 years of physical abuse and being forced to the confines of t …
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What Would You Do? The Science of Selflessness: When Do We Get Involved and When Do We Do Nothing?
Written by Heidi Groover. On a cold February night, snow is falling in short spurts. A man lies bloody in the middle of the street. Do you stop? In Spokane last month, multiple drivers didn’t. Not the first driver who hit him and not at least two other …
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The Power of Compassion to Drive Your Bottom Line
Written by Rob Asghar. Is kindness the missing piece of your brand—the ingredient that can allow your organization to stand out in an age in which consumers long to be treated as more than a nuisance? Lloyd H. Dean, president and CEO of Dignity Health, …
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Cashing in on Kindness
Written by Bonnie Tsui. On February 24, the Dalai Lama came to Silicon Valley to talk business. As with most public appearances made by His Holiness, the event was mobbed. Four thousand people packed the Leavey Center, Santa Clara University’s basketba …
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Can Cultivating Compassion Lead to Happiness?
Written by Danna Staaf. You know how Jesus said to love thy neighbor and Buddha urged compassion for all beings? Well, modern science agrees. Stanford psychologists recently found that cultivating compassion not only makes you kinder, it makes you happ …
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The Dalai Lama Talks Business, Compassion and Happiness
Written by Emily Hite. One Christmas, my dad gave me and my siblings copies of the Dalai Lama‘s book The Art of Happiness – a quick read with a valuable missive. (“Be content with this book – you didn’t need other presents” was my takeaway.) I was remi …
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Stanford Research: Compassion Aids Well-Being
Written by Clifton B. Parker. Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education co-sponsored the Dalai Lama’s visit to Silicon Valley for a talk on business, ethics and compassion. It highlighted recent achievements at Sta …
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Ethics ‘Dialogue’ at Santa Clara Univ. Features Dalai Lama, CEO Who Stripped Hospitals of Catholic Ties
Written by Matthew Archbold. In a heavily promoted event that is already sold out, Santa Clara University will host a dialogue between the Dalai Lama—who in the past has advocated abortion and population control—and the CEO of Dignity Health, who strip …
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.