For a new medical resident, or even an experienced doctor, the emotional toll of the job can be overwhelming. Dominic Vachon ’80, ’85 M.Div., a practicing psychologist, experienced it firsthand—he found himself burnt out, stretched thin, and emotionally detached from his patients, so eight years ago he came to Notre Dame determined to understand the scientific implications of compassion from a biological, neuroscientific, and psychological perspective. Now, Vachon is Notre Dame’s John G. Sheedy, M.D., Director of the Ruth M. Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine and is training the next generation of doctors to root their practice in compassion.
“Compassion is essential for patient care and it's essential for the well-being of the clinician. The two go hand in hand,” Vachon explains. He underscores that compassion isn’t sentimentality, but is instead an applied use of skills, knowledge, and communication to foster successful doctor-patient relationships.
Sam Grewe ’21 has seen the impact of compassion from the other side of medicine. When he was 13 years old, Grewe developed osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, and was eventually required to amputate one of his legs. As a teenager undergoing treatments, surgeries, and therapies, he said his doctors, especially the ones who took the time to explain, who provided comfort, and who gave him a sense of agency, motivated him to work hard and do well. Now, he’s a Paralympic high jumper and is planning to attend medical school next fall.More: https://go.nd.edu/CompassionInMedicine
More from What Would You Fight For?
- 2:01Notre Dame Fighting For NICU Babies and Their FamiliesMention the word NICU, and so many parents are instantly transported back to days spent there with their tiny babies. The loud monitors. The blinking machines. Crying babies. Doctors and nurses rushing around. But Dr. Bob White ‘71 has a different experience.For decades, Dr. White, a practicing neonatologist and Notre Dame professor, has spearheaded a team of physicians, nurses, researchers, architects and regulators who created recommendations for NICU design and care. Based on clinical research, the recommendations have led to improvements in NICUs around the globe, including the one where Dr. White works in South Bend.These guidelines are the gold standard and lead to healthier results for both babies and families.
- 2:01Fighting for Those with Rare DiseasesWith 10,000 known rare diseases, the chances of being diagnosed with one in the United States are 1 in 10. That’s 30 million Americans affected. Fewer than 5% of rare diseases have an effective treatment leaving millions without options.At Notre Dame, studying rare diseases is a priority that places patients and families at the center of our work.The Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare Diseases was one of the first basic science rare disease research centers in the country, and Notre Dame Science recently launched the nation’s first minor in rare disease patient advocacy.https://go.nd.edu/FightingForRareDiseases
- 2:01Fighting to Combat America's Mental Health CrisisWhile 54 million people in the United States experience mental illness, fewer than half of adults and children with a mental health disorder ever receive treatment, often due to a lack of mental health resources in communities.The University of Notre Dame is working to change that. In September 2024, Notre Dame broke ground on the Wilma and Peter Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, which is expected to open in 2026.Once at full capacity, the clinic will serve more than 1,500 residents in the local area through mental health assessment, intervention, and prevention services. It will also foster partnerships with community organizations to expand access to mental health care throughout the South Bend, Indiana region.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/FightingForMentalHealth
- 2:01Fighting to Improve Education PoliciesThere are 18 million adults in the United States who do not possess a high school diploma. In many states, after age 21 they are no longer eligible to receive one, and must get a GED, which typically offer less promising outcomes.Goodwill saw this gap and launched the Excel Center, an adult, tuition-free adult charter school that also offers services like childcare and life coaching, to ensure the success of their students.They saw what they believed was great success at their flagship, Indianapolis location, but they lacked data to help it grow, so they invited Notre Dame’s Wilson-Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) to assess their program.Its study showed graduates from the Excel Center saw a 40 percent increase in earnings in five years. Graduates were also more likely to move into jobs that became careers, and to support their families long-term.Based on this data, states like Arizona have changed their legislation and pledged money to build Excel Centers.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/ImproveEducationPolicies
- 2:01Fighting to Defend Human RightsWhen Nobel laureate Maria Ressa was arrested for cyberlibel in the Philippines she turned to Notre Dame Law professor Diane Desierto.As the director of the Law School’s new Global Human Rights Clinic, Desierto has fought for human rights primarily in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. She's working to foster community amongst Notre Dame Law students and human rights defenders across the world."Notre Dame is one place that has genuine freedom to do all of it and be all of it. Where we strive to realize the human rights outcome.”Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/f5eceb
- 2:01Fighting to Combat the Opioid CrisisOpioids, specifically fentanyl, are currently the leading cause of death for adults ages 18 to 45. They are highly accessible, available even on mainstream social media, and often lethal. Fentanyl is also often used as a filler in other drugs, so many people don’t even know they’re taking it.Illicit drug markets are constantly evolving with technology, making them difficult to track and stop. Fanny Ye, associate professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, is developing a robust, AI-powered framework to dismantle the systems that allow for opioids to be sold on both social media and the dark web.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/b35248
