Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH

Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH is the Director of Compassionate Medical Education at the Hippocratic Collective. She is an oncologist and assistant professor at the largest medical school in the US, the Indiana University School of Medicine. A physician-writer and national advocate, her overarching career goal is to keep healthcare human by promoting compassion for patients and clinicians through storytelling, education, and advocacy. She speaks and teaches on physician mental health, narrative medicine, and the emotional weight of caring for others. Her writing has been featured in Write for Your Life by Anna Quindlen, several medical and narrative journals, and the Where It Hurts anthology by editor Donna Bulseco. She has participated in institutional projects aimed at reducing stigma around physicians seeking mental health support, and she regularly provides micro-mentorship to trainees nationwide through her writing and online community. She is a frequent keynote speaker and invited lecturer, having given more than 100 talks to medical groups, including Grand Rounds lectures at major institutions, TEDx talks, and multiple commencement addresses. She also created, trademarked, and piloted the SMILE Scale, a behavioral health tool for patient and clinician well-being.