Dr. Lucy Kalanithi

Dr. Lucy Kalanithi, an internal medicine physician and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, is known for her advocacy for patient-centered and end-of-life care. In addition to her responsibilities at Stanford, she also practices at Stanford Health Care. Her professional interests include healthcare value, meaning in medicine, and healthcare delivery innovation. She is the widow of Dr. Paul Kalanithi, author of the #1 New York Times-bestselling memoir "When Breath Becomes Air," to which she contributed the epilogue.

Dr. Kalanithi's education includes a degree from the Yale School of Medicine, residency at the University of California-San Francisco, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford’s Clinical Excellence Research Center. Her recognition in the field is evidenced by her induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society, her fellowship with the American College of Physicians, and her receipt of several awards such as the "Excellence in Service Award" from Stanford Health Care in 2021 and the Addario Lung Cancer Foundation's Caregiver Award in 2015. Furthermore, she has been recognized as a "the one hundred" honoree by Mass General Cancer Center in 2017, for her substantial contributions in combating cancer.

Dr. Kalanithi has implemented innovative healthcare delivery models in primary care and hospitals and actively contributes to research on healthcare delivery innovation for various conditions. Her research also includes the study of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases and the potential of redesigning stroke care for cost-effectiveness. She has been recognized in the "American Journal of Medical Quality" for her work on improving communication in healthcare settings.

Dr. Kalanithi also hosts the award-winning podcast "Gravity", which explores narratives of suffering, grief, and loss. She resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her daughter, Elizabeth Acadia. Her work and her words continue to inspire and drive improvements in patient care, healthcare value, and meaningfulness in medicine.