Stanford University- Centre for Academic Medicine
Compassion, and the Legacy of Jonathan Xu.
Recently, I had the enormous privilege of speaking at the Centre for Academic Medicine at Stanford University, as the inaugural speaker for the Jonathan Xu Memorial Series. It was a deeply meaningful experience, one I’ll carry with me always.
Jonathan Xu was a young patient whose life, though far too short, left an extraordinary mark on the world. His parents, in their love and grief, have lovingly established this speaker series in his memory. It’s dedicated to championing compassionate care, something Jonathan experienced, and something his family hopes will grow and ripple outwards through every clinician who delivers medical care.
To be invited as the first speaker in this series was both humbling and incredibly moving.
I spoke on compassionate care, through the lens of language and communication; how the words we choose shape trust, connection, and the emotional landscape of care. I gave a Grand Rounds-style talk followed by an interactive workshop, and both were met with such warmth, openness, and curiosity. There’s something incredibly energising about being in a room full of clinicians and students who want to do better, want to show up differently, and are actively looking for new ways to connect more meaningfully with patients and families.
We explored how small shifts in language can radically alter how people feel seen or unseen. How words like “failure,” “incompatible,” or “withdrawal of care” can carry unintended pain, and how reframing those same moments with clarity and compassion can bring dignity and calm to even the most complex situations.
What moved me most was how ready everyone was to lean in. To reflect. To imagine new ways forward. Both Jonathan and Evie’s spirits were definitely in the room that day- encouraging, kind, and quietly courageous.
It was one of those experiences that will stay with me forever. And I left feeling hopeful, reminded that even in the most academic or clinical settings, there’s space for love, for listening, and for language that heals.
