The One Friend They Miss the Most: The Impact of Pet Interactions on Pediatric Experience
Published June 5, 2025
When his son, Brayden, passed away due to complications from a congenital heart defect, John Otten harnessed the power of his grief into action and founded Brave Like Me. Listen in as he and Amy Cielak, board member, discuss the profound impact an interaction with a pet can have on a patient, and how they hope to bring that experience to more and more children across the country.
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Patient Family & Community Engagement
Beyond a Seat at the Table: Building the Infrastructure for True Patient and Family Partnership
Published February 25, 2026

Darcel Jackson, Manager, Patient and Family Centered Care Paige Warner, PFA Engagement Specialist Children’s National Hospital For years, patient and family engagement in healthcare has been framed as offering “a seat at the table.” While well-intended, that language often limits partnership to presence rather than influence. Our experience taught us that families don’t need a
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Patient Family & Community Engagement
Correlation between Resident Physician and Patient Perceptions of Empathy in the Emergency Department
Published November 12, 2025
Background: Empathy is essential for emergency medicine physicians, impacting patient outcomes and experiences, especially in the fast-paced emergency department (ED). However, empathy often declines during medical training, negatively affecting care. Little is known about how emergency medicine trainees perceive their empathy compared to their patients. Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between patient
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Patient Family & Community Engagement | Staff & Provider Engagement
Connecting Compassion for Patients with Health Care Worker Wellbeing
Published July 29, 2025
This webinar will explore: understanding who patients are, what they need, and how compassion can be shown; research on the benefits of compassionate care for patients and providers; and practical communication skills to avoid common pitfalls that increase suffering. By reconnecting healthcare workers with the “why” of their roles, we can enhance patient experience and
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