Healthcare EmpathyRx Lab

Dr. Maria Keckler is a faculty research fellow with SDSU’s Virtual Immersive Teaching and Learning (VITaL) Research Center. Her neuroeducation doctoral research and transdisciplinary approach to developing micro-learning interventions inspired the EmpathyRx Lab project. With nearly two decades of entrepreneurial and strategic communications expertise, Dr. Keckler has been instrumental in helping healthcare and life sciences organizations nurture stronger communicators and leaders.

Dr. Williams is an Assistant Professor at SDSU School of Nursing, co-founder of the EmpathyRx Lab, and faculty research fellow with SDSU’s Virtual Immersive Teaching and Learning (VITaL) Research Center. She has extensive experience in healthcare administration, literacy, and operations and has expertise in creating and implementing healthcare provider education and professional development curricula. Her research aims to improve health literacy and advance empathy in nursing education and practice.  

Dr. Hauze oversees SDSU’s Virtual Immersive Teaching and has been a key partner and technical advisor in facilitating evidence-based research for the EmpathyRx Lab. He has co-authored and presented findings internationally with Dr. Keckler. He also serves as Senior Director of Instructional Technology at San Diego State University. He is a doctoral faculty member in the San Diego State University/Claremont Graduate University joint Ph.D. program in education.

Aaron C. Elkins is an Associate Professor in the department of Management Information Systems and Director of the James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence Research at San Diego State University (SDSU). Prior to joining SDSU, he was a postdoctoral researcher at both the University of Arizona and Imperial College London. Elkins researches human-robotics interactions that incorporate AI to explain and predict human emotion, deception, and mental health based on physiological and nonverbal behavior.  Elkins also investigates how human decision makers perceive and incorporate these technologies into their lives.

Dr. Tong is a physician executive with diverse healthcare practice and management experience and senior executive roles in the biopharma, MD&D industry with the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies and early-stage life science companies. His recent focus has been consulting or advising for early-stage technology companies in the life sciences and healthcare, occasionally serving as interim medical director or chief medical officer. Since 2018, Dr. Tong has been an adjunct instructor for the MIT, New England Regional Innovation Node NSF I-Corps program and a MIT Venture Mentoring Service mentor. He began supporting the I-Corps site at SDSU/CSU in 2018. 

Dr. Paul J. Zak is a Professor at Claremont Graduate University and is ranked in the top 0.3% of most cited scientists with over 200 published papers and more than 20,000 citations to his research. He has written three general audience books and is the founder of Immersion Neuroscience and SIX, a free app designed to help individuals live a healthier, longer, and more redically fulfilled life. His Neuroeconomics lab and company create technologies that enable human flourishing. His specialties include digital health, behavioral neuroscience, neuroeconomics, neuromarketing, and neuromanagement. 

Dr. Manjiri Khare is a physician in obstetrics, specializing in maternal–fetal medicine in the United Kingdom. Her commitment to advancing empathetic perinatal care has been recognized by The Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, earning her the distinction of Empathy Champion at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.  An advocate for empathy in healthcare, Dr. Khare serves as Associate Professor at the University of Leicester Medical School, where she contributes to teaching, mentoring, and research in women’s health and fetal medicine. Her academic and professional leadership reflects her dedication to shaping the next generation of empathetic healthcare professionals in her field.