Laura Vater, MD
MEDIA & SPEAKING
Keynote Speeches
To be healthier, we don't need more information. We need a system. This keynote provides a simple strategy to prioritize physical and mental health. Target audience: general, non-medical population.
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Discuss the science behind five key components of healthy living, including sleep, exercise, meditation, connection, and nutrition
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Introduce a simple tool to prioritize physical and mental health, and highlight how living healthier improves energy, mood, and productivity
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Encourage audience self-assessment of their health in each category and provide tangible strategies to improve each area
Cultivating Compassion In Medicine
Showing compassion is not only essential for the patients we serve, it is also protective for clinicians. In this talk, medical trainees will:
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Learn why compassion matters
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Build skills to communicate with intention and clarity
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Discuss the social determinants of health and how these factors lead to health disparities
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Understand how social justice and humanism in medicine are intertwined
Finding Joy and Meaning in Medicine
There are many challenges clinicians face in medical training and practice, and one in five clinicians plan to leave medicine within the next few years.
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This talk includes journaling prompts and tangible strategies to help rediscover joy and meaning within a medical career.
Medical Errors and Self-Compassion
"You can't go through training without making an error unless you are not taking care of patients," said Dr. Colin West in a New York Times article. In this session, we'll discuss factors that contribute to medical errors, the mental health implications for clinicians, and a strategy to learn from these mistakes and move forward.
Group sharing, journaling prompts, and a guided practice to enhance self-compassion are optional components of this talk.
Speeches Given
Invited Presentations – Conferences, Keynotes, Grand Rounds
Date | Title Of Speech | Venue |
|---|---|---|
07/01/2022 | Exploring the Myth of Resiliency in Medicine. | Presented in collaboration with Ergotron and Beckers Healthcare. |
05/03/2022 | Cultivating Compassion in Medicine. | Presented at the Gold Humanism Induction Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
03/15/2022 | The SMILE Scale. | Presented at Internal Medicine Grand Rounds at Parkview Medical Center. |
02/26/2022 | Mental Health and Burnout in Medical Training. | Presented to the Region 6 AMWA Premedical Annual Conference. |
11/12/2021 | Cultivating Compassion in Medical Practice. | Presented at Ob/Gyn Grand Rounds, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. |
11/10/2021 | Cultivating Compassion in Medical Training. | Presented at the Annual Compassion Training Workshop at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
04/28/2021 | The SMILE Scale: A Tool for Health. | Keynote speech at TrueLearn Annual Conference. |
04/21/2021 | The SMILE Scale. | Presented at Dermatology Grand Rounds, Indiana University School of Medicine. |
04/05/2021 | Gold Humanism Induction Ceremony Keynote. | Presented to Gold Humanism Honor Society inductees at Lincoln Memorial University Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
03/28/2021 | Physician Panel for Pre-medical Students. | American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Annual Meeting |
03/29/2020 | Cultivating Compassion in Medicine. | Presented at the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Annual Meeting |
04/27/2020 | Prioritizing our Health during COVID-19. | Virtually presented to Rush Generations (a health community of approximately 6000 adults). |
10/29/2019 | The SMILE Scale: A Tool for Clinical Health. | Presented at the Aurora Advocate Annual Nursing Conference, Chicago, IL |
04/01/2017 | Hope without the Hype: Finding the Right Balance with Advertisements and Science News. | Presented with Dr. Barry Kramer at the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers (NACCDO) and Public Affairs and Marketing Network (PAMN) Annual Conference. Lexington, KY |
03/31/2023 | How Exhaustion Kills Compassion | TEDx Rush University |
05/05/2023 | Commencement Address: University of Minnesota Medical School | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN |
Invited Presentations – Residency and Fellowship Programs
Date | Title Of Speech | Venue |
|---|---|---|
04/07/2021 | Humanism in Medicine for Patients and Clinicians. | Presented to pediatric residents at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. |
04/13/2021 | Compassion for Patients and Self-Compassion (two hour session with writing prompts). | Presented to the University of British Columbia pediatric residents at the annual resident retreat. |
05/19/2021 | The SMILE Scale: A Tool for Clinician Health. | Presented to the Family Medicine residency (residents and faculty) at the Cleveland Clinic. |
Prioritizing the Mental and Physical Health of Residents. | Presentation & Q&A with pediatric residents at the Universidad Católica de Chile. | |
05/11/2022 | Medical Errors and Self-Compassion | Presented at the Indiana University Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Morbidity and Mortality conference. |
Invited Presentations – Medical and Pre-Medical Students
Date | Title Of Speech | Venue |
|---|---|---|
01/22/2020 | Health disparities and humanism in medicine. | Presented to Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
01/19/2021 | Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. | Presented to medical students at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
01/20/2021 | Developing compassion and prioritizing our health in medical training. | Presented to pre-medical students at Oakland University. |
02/01/2021 | The SMILE Scale: Your health matters. | Presented to medical students at Indiana University School of Medicine. |
02/02/2021 | Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. | Presented to the Canadian Association of Women Investigator Trainees. |
03/31/2022 | Cultivating compassion in Medicine. | Presented to medical students at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
04/07/2021 | The SMILE Scale. | Presented to premedical students in the USF Integrative Medicine and Wellness Interest Group. |
04/07/2021 | Humanism in Medicine for patient and clinicians. | Presented to medical students at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
04/09/2021 | Health disparities and humanism in medicine. | Presented to medical students at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
04/14/2021 | The SMILE Scale: A tool for health. | Presented to medical students at Eastern Virginia Medical School. |
04/19/2021 | Your health matters too. | Presented to medical students at Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. |
04/22/2021 | Advocating for your health in a medical training. | Presented to the SUNY Upstate Integrative Medicine Club. |
04/23/2021 | Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. | Presented to the University of Notre Dame Compassionate Care in Medicine Club. |
05/06/2021 | The SMILE Scale. | Presented to medical students at the University of Chicago School of Medicine Wellness Group. |
05/07/2021 | Cultivating Compassion in Medicine. | Presented to medical students across 8 schools in the Czech Republic via the United International Medical Schools organization. |
05/19/2021 | Mental health in medical training. | Presented to post-baccalaureate students at the University of Pennsylvania. |
06/16/2021 | Cultivating compassion in medicine, and the SMILE Scale (two hour session) | Presented to medical students at the California University of Science and Medicine, as a Core Learning Activity (CLA) session. |
06/21/2021 | Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. | Presented to pharmacy students at the University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy as part of the course Healthcare and Humanities. |
07/19/2021 | The SMILE Scale. | Presented to medical students at the University of Buckingham's Women's Health Society. |
08/02/2021 | Path to Medicine. | MED Talks for Teens (a student-led organization to help pre-medical students). |
08/17/1921 | Humanism in Medicine. | Presented to medical students at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
07/14/2021 | Narrative medicine as a tool to enhance humanism in medicine. | Presented to the Gold Humanism Honor Society at Marion University College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
09/21/2021 | The SMILE Scale: How meditation can be a tool for medical students. | Presented to medical students in the Mindfulness and Meditation Student Interest Group at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. |
09/24/2021 | Career advice for women in medicine (Q&A session). | Presented to medical students at the Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend Campus, as part of an AMWA event. |
09/30/2021 | The SMILE Scale and advocacy in medicine. | Presented to medical students at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
10/05/2021 | Cultivating compassion in medicine. | Presented to medical students at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, as part of the Compassionate Care Elective. |
10/08/2021 | Women in medicine, discussion panel. | Presented to medical students in the AMA Medical Student Section, as part of a virtual pnel for Women in Medicine Month. |
10/12/2021 | Prioritizing the mental and physical health of medical trainees. | Presented to medical students at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
11/02/2021 | The SMILE Scale. | Presented to medical students at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. |
11/02/2021 | Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. | Presented to MD/PhD students at the University of Western Ontario. |
12/03/2021 | Cultivating compassion in medical training. | Presented to medical students at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. |
01/13/2022 | Being a woman in medicine. | Q&A discussion with medical students at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. |
01/27/2022 | Path to medical training. | Q&A session with pre-medical students at the Oakland University Pre-Medical Society. |
02/22/2022 | AMWA Women in Medicine Panel. | Discussion with medical students at Indiana University School of Medicine. |
03/14/2022 | Health Disparities and the social determinants of health. | Presented to medical students at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
03/17/2022 | Path to Oncology. | Q&A session with medical students at the Lake Erie College of Medicine. |
04/22/2022 | Prioritizing Physical and Mental health in Medical Training. | Presented to medical students and residents at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). |
04/28/2022 | Journey to Oncology. | Q&A session with the Premedical Society at Syosset High School. |
05/06/2022 | Finding Joy and Meaning in Medicine. | Presented to IU School of Medicine third-year medical students during clerkship orientation. |
05/06/2022 | Finding Joy and Meaning in Medicine. | Presented to IU School of Medicine third-year medical students during clerkship orientation. |
Podcasts
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
​
Invited Presentations – Conferences, Keynotes, Grand Rounds
-
Exploring the Myth of Resiliency in Medicine. Presented in collaboration with Ergotron and Beckers Healthcare. July 2022.
​
-
Cultivating Compassion in Medicine. Presented at the Gold Humanism Induction Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. May 3, 2022.
​
-
The SMILE Scale. Presented at Internal Medicine Grand Rounds at Parkview Medical Center. March 15, 2022​​
​
-
Mental Health and Burnout in Medical Training. Presented to the Region 6 AMWA Premedical Annual Conference. February 26, 2022.
​
-
Cultivating Compassion in Medical Practice. Presented at Ob/Gyn Grand Rounds, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. November 12, 2021.
​
-
Cultivating Compassion in Medical Training. Presented at the Annual Compassion Training Workshop at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. November 10, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale: A Tool for Health. Keynote speech at TrueLearn Annual Conference. April 28, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale. Presented at Dermatology Grand Rounds, Indiana University School of Medicine. April 21, 2021.
​
-
Gold Humanism Induction Ceremony Keynote. Presented to Gold Humanism Honor Society inductees at Lincoln Memorial University Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. April 5, 2021.
​
-
Physician Panel for Pre-medical Students. American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Annual Meeting, March 28, 2021.
​
-
Cultivating Compassion in Medicine. Presented at the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Annual Meeting, March 29, 2020.
​
-
Prioritizing our Health during COVID-19. Virtually presented to Rush Generations (a health community of approximately 6000 adults) on April 27, 2020.
​
-
The SMILE Scale: A Tool for Clinical Health. Presented at the Aurora Advocate Annual Nursing Conference, October 29, 2019, Chicago, IL.
​
-
Hope without the Hype: Finding the Right Balance with Advertisements and Science News. Presented with Dr. Barry Kramer at the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers (NACCDO) and Public Affairs and Marketing Network (PAMN) Annual Conference, April, 2017, Lexington, KY.
Invited Presentations – Residency and Fellowship Programs
​​
-
Medical Errors and Self-Compassion. Presented at the Indiana University Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Morbidity and Mortality conference. May 11, 2022.
​
-
Prioritizing the Mental and Physical Health of Residents. Presentation & Q&A with pediatric residents at the Universidad Católica de Chile.
​
-
The SMILE Scale: A Tool for Clinician Health. Presented to the Family Medicine residency (residents and faculty) at the Cleveland Clinic. May 19, 2021.
​
-
Compassion for Patients and Self-Compassion (two hour session with writing prompts). Presented to the University of British Columbia pediatric residents at the annual resident retreat. April 13, 2021.
​
-
Humanism in Medicine for Patients and Clinicians. Presented to pediatric residents at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. April 7, 2021.
Invited Presentations – Medical and Pre-medical Students
-
Finding Joy and Meaning in Medicine. Presented to IU School of Medicine third-year medical students during clerkship orientation. May 6, 2022.
​
-
Journey to Oncology. Q&A session with the Premedical Society at Syosset High School. April 28, 2022.
​
-
Prioritizing Physical and Mental health in Medical Training. Presented to medical students and residents at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). April 22, 2022.
​
-
Path to Oncology. Q&A session with medical students at the Lake Erie College of Medicine. March 17, 2022.
​
-
Health Disparities and the social determinants of health. Presented to medical students at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. March 14, 2022.
​
-
AMWA Women in Medicine Panel. Discussion with medical students at Indiana University School of Medicine. February 22, 2022.
​
-
Path to medical training. Q&A session with pre-medical students at the Oakland University Pre-Medical Society. January 27, 2022.
​
-
Being a woman in medicine. Q&A discussion with medical students at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. January 13, 2022.
​
-
Cultivating compassion in medical training. Presented to medical students at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. December 3, 2021.
​
-
Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. Presented to MD/PhD students at the University of Western Ontario. November 2, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale. Presented to medical students at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. November 2, 2021.
​
-
Prioritizing the mental and physical health of medical trainees. Presented to medical students at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. October 12, 2021.
​
-
Women in medicine, discussion panel. Presented to medical students in the AMA Medical Student Section, as part of a virtual pnel for Women in Medicine Month. October 8, 2021.
​
-
Cultivating compassion in medicine. Presented to medical students at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, as part of the Compassionate Care Elective. October 5, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale and advocacy in medicine. Presented to medical students at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. September 30, 2021.
​
-
Career advice for women in medicine (Q&A session). Presented to medical students at the Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend Campus, as part of an AMWA event. September 24, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale: How meditation can be a tool for medical students. Presented to medical students in the Mindfulness and Meditation Student Interest Group at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. September 21, 2021.
​
-
Narrative medicine as a tool to enhance humanism in medicine. Presented to the Gold Humanism Honor Society at Marion University College of Osteopathic Medicine. September 14, 2021.
​
-
Humanism in Medicine. Presented to medical students at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. August 17, 2021.
​
-
Path to Medicine. MED Talks for Teens (a student-led organization to help pre-medical students). August 2, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale. Presented to medical students at the University of Buckingham's Women's Health Society. July 19, 2021.
​
-
Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. Presented to pharmacy students at the University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy as part of the course Healthcare and Humanities. June 21, 2021.
​
-
Cultivating compassion in medicine, and the SMILE Scale (two hour session), presented to medical students at the California University of Science and Medicine, as a Core Learning Activity (CLA) session. June 16, 2021.
​
-
Mental health in medical training. Presented to post-baccalaureate students at the University of Pennsylvania. May 19, 2021.
​
-
Cultivating Compassion in Medicine. Presented to medical students across 8 schools in the Czech Republic via the United International Medical Schools organization. May 7, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale. Presented to medical students at the University of Chicago School of Medicine Wellness Group. May 6, 2021.
​
-
Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. Presented to the University of Notre Dame Compassionate Care in Medicine Club. April 23, 2021.
​
-
Advocating for your health in a medical training. Presented to the SUNY Upstate Integrative Medicine Club. April 22, 2021.
​
-
Your health matters too. Presented to medical students at Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. April 19, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale: A tool for health. Presented to medical students at Eastern Virginia Medical School. April 14, 2021.
​
-
Health disparities and humanism in medicine. Presented to medical students at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. April 9, 2021.
​
-
Humanism in Medicine for patient and clinicians. Presented to medical students at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. April 7, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale. Presented to premedical students in the USF Integrative Medicine and Wellness Interest Group. April 7, 2021.
​
-
Cultivating compassion in Medicine. Presented to medical students at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. March 31, 2021.
​
-
Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. Presented to the Canadian Association of Women Investigator Trainees. February 2, 2021.
​
-
The SMILE Scale: Your health matters. Presented to medical students at Indiana University School of Medicine. February 1, 2021.
​
-
Developing compassion and prioritizing our health in medical training. Presented to pre-medical students at Oakland University. January 20, 2021.
​
-
Humanism in medicine for patients and clinicians. Presented to medical students at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, January 19, 2021.
​
-
Health disparities and humanism in medicine. Presented to Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. July 22, 2020.
​