Barry Kerzin, MD, the Dalai Lama’s personal physician, is back to dive deeper into: the difference between empathy and compassion, why compassion (versus empathy) is a critical aspect of medical care, generating self compassion, and answers to listener email.

Guest Bio: Barry Kerzin, MD is a US born and trained family physician who for the past several decades has resided as a monk in Dharamshala, India — home of the Tibetan community in exile. In addition to serving as H.H. the Dalai Lama’s personal physician, Dr. Kerzin is the founder of the Altruism in Medicine Institute, whose mission is to increase compassion and resilience among healthcare professionals and extended professional groups, such as police officers, first responders, teachers and leaders.

Self described as “…a doctor, a monk, a teacher, a lazy man. All of these things, yet none of these things,” you can follow Dr. Kerzin on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram or learn more about his story here.

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We Discuss:

The difference between empathy and compassion;
Can compassion be taught?
Listener email about having a hard time switching between empathy and compassion;
Barry’s response to the listener's email;
Self compassion after a bad patient outcome;
Exercises to help build compassion;
The decision point between accepting people how they are and trying to change them;
And More.

90. The Dalai Lama’s Doctor Has a Prescription for You | The critical distinction between empathy and compassion

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90. The Dalai Lama’s Doctor Has a Prescription for You | The critical distinction between empathy and compassion