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We are deeply moved by how many of our program graduates want to bring compassion practices into their communities, workplaces, and organizations. This is exactly the kind of ripple effect we hope for. We want to support it in a way that is clear, fair, and sustainable.

To protect the integrity of this work, CCARE course materials are provided for personal learning and practice only. This includes recordings, slides, curricula, exercises, handouts, meditations, written materials, and the overall course structure.

These materials may not be used to:

• Develop a new course, workshop, training, retreat, coaching program, or consulting offering based on CCARE content
• Adapt, reproduce, translate, or replicate CCARE curriculum, materials, practices, or course structure
• Teach, facilitate, or lead a similar course or training for others
• Share, post, sell, upload, or distribute CCARE recordings, slides, handouts, or written materials
• Use CCARE materials in any paid, professional, organizational, or commercial offering without written permission

This applies whether the offering is free or paid, formal or informal, in person or online, and regardless of audience size.

Sharing Your CCARE Experience

You are welcome to describe your personal experience as a CCARE course participant or graduate on a website, resume, LinkedIn profile, biography, or other public-facing material.

Please avoid language that implies:

• Affiliation with CCARE or Stanford University
• Sponsorship, endorsement, approval, or supervision by CCARE or Stanford
• Certification or authorization to teach, facilitate, adapt, or represent CCARE programs
• Permission to use CCARE curriculum or materials in your own offerings

Completing a CCARE program does not authorize someone to teach, train, certify others, represent CCARE, or use CCARE educational materials outside of personal learning and practice.

Interested in Formal Teaching or Partnership Opportunities?

If you are interested in exploring a formal pathway to teach, facilitate, or implement CCARE-informed programs, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact CompassionEducation@stanford.edu before moving forward with any offering that uses, adapts, references, or builds upon CCARE educational materials.

If you have questions about what falls within these guidelines, please contact us at CompassionEducation@stanford.edu before moving forward.

Thank you for helping us protect the clarity and integrity of this work while keeping the door open for more formal ways to partner with alumni in the future.

Our goal is simple: to help compassion travel well.

Continuing Education Credits (CECs) for Healthcare Professionals:

NYSED, ASWB/ACE and ANCC approved for 12 CE contact hours

You may be eligible to earn 12 CE credits for successfully completing the Compassion & Wellbeing in Healthcare course. Please read the information below and confirm with your state licensing board before enrolling. CE credits are included in the cost of the course.

CE credits are provided by New York University’s Silver School of Social Work and Rory Meyers College of Nursing, which is co-sponsoring the Compassion & Wellbeing in Healthcare course. Healthcare professionals from states other than New York should check with their licensing board as to whether or not they accept CEs approved by New York State Boards.

Social Work

• New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed Social Workers {#SW-0012}. This organization (NYU Silver School of Social Work, #1415) is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. NYU Silver School of Social Work maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: 11/11/25 – 11/11/28. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits.

Mental Health Counseling – NY State

• New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors {#MHC-0083}.

Marriage and Family Therapy – NY State

• NYU Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists {#MFT-0126}.

Psychologists – NY State

• New York University, Silver School of Social Work, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists {#PSY-0268}.

Licensed Psychoanalysts – NY State

• NYU Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts {#P-0066}.

Licensed Creative Arts Therapists – NY State

• NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, & Human Development is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists (LCAT) {#CAT-0062} and now has an affiliation for LCATs with NYU Silver School of Social Work.

Nurses

• NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing Center for Nursing Continuing Professional Development is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

For questions about whether NYU CEs are valid for you, contact your state licensing board directly. 
If you have any questions regarding the process of CE administration or if you’re eligible to earn credits, please email silver.continuingeducation@nyu.edu.

Once enrolled, it is the sole responsibility of the participant to arrive within 15 minutes of the start of each class, to participate with their video (camera) on, and to submit a separate course evaluation form after the final class. No partial CE credit is available if more than one class is missed.

Continuing Education Credits (CECs) for Health Professionals:

You may be eligible to earn 14 CE credits for successfully completing the Cultivate a Compassionate Heart course. Please read the information below and confirm with your state licensing board before enrolling if directed to. The processing fee for CE Credits is $175, which will be paid during registration.

• CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring Cultivate a Compassionate Heart. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

• The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.

• LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.

• SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes.

• For questions about your certificate or the content, logistics, or other support issues regarding this course, please contact CompassionEducation@stanford.edu. For questions about whether APA CE is valid for you, contact your licensing board directly. For general questions about APA CE or to report a grievance, contact SCA at ce@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com.

Once enrolled, it is the sole responsibility of the participant to arrive within 15 minutes of the start of each class, to participate with their video (camera) on, and to submit a separate course evaluation form after the final class. No partial CE credit is available if more than one class is missed.

8-Week Compassion Course for Clinicians and Healthcare Providers

Live on Zoom: September 9 – October 28, 2026

Compassion and Wellbeing in Healthcare is an eight-week course that teaches practical skills to support emotion regulation and is especially well suited for healthcare professionals navigating emotional exhaustion, overwhelm, empathic distress, and loneliness. Taught by practicing clinicians with experience in healthcare and compassion training, this course focuses on individual capacity building while acknowledging systems-level contributors to distress.

🎥 Hear from Dr. Al’ai Alvarez, Stanford emergency physician and CCARE’s Director, about compassion training for clinicians and healthcare providers.

Registration for Fall 2026 is Now Open

DATES
– Wednesdays | September 9 – October 28
– 1:00 – 2:30pm PT / 4:00 – 5:30pm ET

FEES
– General Registration: $750
– Early Registration: $595
– 12 CE credits offered (learn more)
– STAP eligible upon approval

REGISTRATION
– Registration open July 15 – September 2
– Early registration through July 28
– Limited scholarships available – apply here

Early Registration Open
Save over $150 through July 28th

Working in healthcare is
rewarding AND hard

We witness a great deal of suffering. Although we are wired for compassion, daily stressors, and life experiences can erode our capacity to respond to others and to ourselves with kindness. Compassion Education at Stanford CCARE (CESC) recognizes compassion is natural to us and also a trainable clinical skill.

Based on research and insights from psychology and neuroscience, the semi-structured curriculum consists of lectures and group discussion designed to support the inner capacity to care for the self and others, interactive exercises and practical tools to increase mindfulness and meaning in everyday life, and a structured sequence of evidence-based guided meditations aimed at cultivating a warm-hearted and robust responsiveness while protecting against burnout, moral injury and distress.

This course is designed to meet you just where you are at and participants are encouraged to track their wellbeing as part of the process. Related measurable factors targeted in the training are those repeatedly identified in the research:

• Professional meaning
• Interpersonal connection
• Self-compassion
• Emotion regulation

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, engaged participants will be able to:

• Describe the differences between empathy and compassion, and explain how each influences resilience, wellbeing, and patient care.
• Apply evidence-based compassion and self-compassion practices to navigate difficult interactions, emotional overwhelm, and exposure to suffering.
• Analyze the impact of the inner critic, perfectionism, and self-judgment on professional fulfillment and identify opportunities to cultivate self-compassion and growth mindset.
• Evaluate personal patterns, habits, and relationships that influence connection, loneliness, wellbeing, and occupational fulfillment
• Design a personalized plan that integrates compassion practices and principles to strengthen resilience, meaning, and purpose over time.

Meet the Teachers

Dr. Bornali Basu

Founding Teacher & Co-Director of Compassion in Healthcare

Dr. Bornali Basu is a psychologist and Clinical Instructor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, specializing in the treatment of depression and anxiety among healthcare professionals and college students. She previously served as Senior Psychologist at Bellevue Hospital, where she founded the integrative Mind-Body Program for people living with chronic medical conditions. A CCARE-certified instructor, she has facilitated compassion-based programs to reduce burnout across multiple healthcare systems in New York and serves on the senior faculty at the Center for Compassionate Leadership.

Dr. Sara Owens Woodard

Founding Teacher & Co-Director of Compassion in Healthcare

Dr. Sara Owens Woodard is a retired psychologist whose career centered on trauma recovery, and the clinical application of attachment theory. She has developed and delivered compassion and loving-kindness training programs for physician and operational leaders in a large healthcare organization and smaller community-based settings, with a focus on emotion regulation, healthy, collaborative relationships and team dynamics, and burnout prevention. Sara brings nearly forty years of formal Buddhist meditation practice to her teaching and is deeply committed to making contemplative tools accessible across diverse professional contexts.

🎥 Hear from Dr. Sara Owens Woodard about her compassion training experience and why she’s teaching this course for clinicians and healthcare providers.

On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, Immersion participants will have an opportunity to “choose your own adventure” from a selection of 2-hour mini-workshops led by guest speakers, who are experts in their fields and have unique perspectives to offer to the compassion community.

Registered participants will have an opportunity to select from the workshops listed above after registration. Space for each workshop is limited and not guaranteed.

The CCARE Immersion offers several ways to engage, share your work, and connect with others. Each format is designed to foster learning, reflection, and meaningful connection within a supportive community.

The Compassion Showcase takes place on Sunday morning and will be an opportunity for registered participants to share their compassion work with the community in an open exhibition format. The showcase is a unique opportunity to highlight your compassion initiatives, spark conversation, and connect with others who have shared interests.

Poster Presentations

All registered participants may apply to present in this category

Poster presentations are reserved for research-focused work, including completed studies, ongoing projects, or evidence-informed initiatives related to compassion, well-being, or aligned fields. This format emphasizes informal, interactive discussion rather than formal presentation. You can expect one-on-one and small group conversations where participants explore your methods, findings, and implications together. This is an opportunity to receive thoughtful feedback, exchange ideas, and contribute to a shared understanding of the science and practice of compassion.

CCARE Showcase Tables

CCARE alumni who are registered participants may apply to present in this category

CCARE Showcase Tables provide CCARE alumni with space to share their current work, programs, or initiatives and connect with others in the community. The focus is on relationship-building and dialogue rather than promotion. Participants can expect meaningful conversations, opportunities to exchange ideas, and the potential to spark collaborations grounded in shared interests.

Featured Talks

ACT graduates who are registered participants may apply to present in this category

These talks offer ACT graduates the opportunity to share insights, experiences, or applications of compassion-based work with the broader group. Presentations are concise and focused, with an emphasis on clear takeaways and real-world relevance. The environment is supportive and reflective, encouraging authenticity and shared learning rather than performance. Presenters will have a maximum of 7 minutes to present with 2 minutes for audience questions.

Across all formats, the emphasis is on connection, curiosity, and collective learning. You are encouraged to participate in ways that feel aligned with your interests and goals for the Immersion.

Spaces for the Compassion Showcase are limited and subject to review. Full application details will be provided after registration.

The CCARE Immersion is built around four interconnected pillars, each shaped by what our compassion community has most requested. Together, they create an experience that moves beyond the typical conference format: one where you don’t just learn about compassion, but practice it, explore the science behind it, and build relationships that sustain it. Whether you’re a clinician, educator, researcher, or practitioner, each pillar offers a unique pathway into this essential work and the foundation to carry it forward.

1 | Compassion Practice

At the heart of the Immersion is the understanding that compassion is not just an idea—it is a trainable, embodied capacity. Through guided practices, real-time exercises, and meaningful group discussions, participants will move beyond insight into direct experience, strengthening the inner conditions that allow compassionate action to arise naturally in daily life.

2 | Featured CCARE Speakers

The Immersion brings together leading voices from within CCARE to offer diverse perspectives on compassion. Our featured CCARE speakers come from the fields of science, healthcare, compassion, and contemplative practice, and are actively applying compassion in high-impact, real-world contexts. Together, they reflect the extraordinary depth of talent within the CCARE community. Learn more about our speakers by clicking on the photos below:

Learn more about the guest speakers who will lead two-hour mini-workshops on Saturday and Sunday.

The Immersion is grounded in a commitment to integrating compassion practice with cutting-edge research and lived application.

Participants will engage with emerging insights from neuroscience, psychology, and compassion science—exploring what actually supports (and inhibits) compassionate responding. By making research accessible and relevant, we aim to deepen understanding, strengthen credibility, and empower participants to apply evidence-based approaches in their personal and professional lives.

4 | Community Building & Connection

Compassion is not cultivated in isolation—it is strengthened in relationships. The Immersion is intentionally designed to foster a deep sense of connection across sectors, backgrounds, and lived experiences. Through structured exercises, shared practice, and intentional gatherings, participants will have the opportunity to build relationships rooted in authenticity and shared aspiration. The vision is more than an opportunity for connection over these three days—it’s also about fostering an ongoing CCARE Community of Compassion that continues to support and inspire well beyond the Immersion.

General Information

The CCARE Immersion is a 3-day in-person event taking place October 9-11, 2026 at Stanford University.

Registration is open!

Register

2026 Immersion Fees

Stanford faculty and staff: CCARE programs are STAP eligible upon approval

Scholarships: A limited number of partial scholarships are available to support access for participants who would otherwise be unable to attend. We expect and welcome people from different financial realities. Learn more about and apply for a scholarship here.

Travel & Accommodations

The CCARE Immersion takes place in-person at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. You can find travel information in the Visitor Resource Guide here.

If you will need overnight accommodations, CCARE has secured room blocks at the following locations:

• Stanford Guest House
• Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel

Accommodation costs are not included in the registration fee. Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own accommodations.

More information about booking accommodations will be provided after you register. Please wait to book your room until you have completed your registration. A unique reservation code will be provided to take advantage of CCARE’s special rates.

Event Policies

Review the CCARE Immersion Event Policies here. You will be asked to acknowledge these policies during the registration process.

Questions?

• First, please review the FAQs page.
• If you still have questions, reach out to compassioneducation@stanford.edu.

Compassion and Healthcare Conference

Science of Compassion Conference

Science of Compassion Summer Research Institute Conference

Compassion & Technology Conference

Compassion & Business Conference

Science of Compassion Conference

Defining Compassion Conference

Where the Science of Compassion Meets Practice

CCARE partners with organizations to apply the science of compassion in real-world contexts. We translate research into measurable approaches that strengthen collaboration, decision-making, and wellbeing within complex systems.

What this offers you

• Research-grounded methods that can be tested in real environments
• An independent academic partnership that strengthens credibility and learning
• Structured collaboration to pilot, evaluate, and refine applied work

Why it matters

Lasting change requires more than good intentions. Evidence-informed innovation enables organizations to move from insight to measurable, ethical, and sustainable action, with clear return on investment.

Who is it for

Institutions and leaders seeking science-based approaches to strengthen human systems at scale, across health care, education, technology, industry, sport, and public service.

Support this work

Philanthropic support makes applied research and real-world testing possible. Contributions help bring the science of compassion into practice where it can create lasting impact.

Investing in the Next Generation of the Science of Compassion

CCARE supports researchers at pivotal career moments with funding, mentorship, and access to an interdisciplinary research community.

What this offers you

• Time and support to cultivate creative, interdisciplinary ideas into fundable research.
• Access to interdisciplinary expertise across neuroscience, healthcare, education, and leadership.
• Opportunities to test and translate research into real-world settings, interventions, and systems.
• Academic affiliation and access to a global network of collaborators.

Why it matters

Advancing the science of compassion requires early, flexible support that traditional funding rarely provides. These fellowships and seed grants accelerate rigorous research and applied experimentation, enabling promising ideas to mature into measurable, real-world impact.

Who it is for

Students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, industry and practice experts, and collaborators seeking to build high-impact research in the science of compassion.

Support this work

We welcome philanthropic support to sustain and grow these fellowships and grants. Donations directly enable emerging researchers, collaborative projects, and the long-term advancement of the science of compassion.