What does it mean to stay tender-hearted—and even a little wild—while working in modern medicine? Dr. Wendy Lau, an emergency physician and Zen practitioner, shares the GRACE approach (Gather, Recall, Attune, Consider, Engage/End) that helps clinicians meet patients with genuine compassion, even on the busiest shifts. She explains how naming moral residue and moral injury can lift hidden weight off our shoulders and introduces self-stewardship as a practical way to set healthy limits so we can keep serving over the long haul. Along the way, Wendy reflects on community, creativity, and finding hope in the simple truth that everything changes—one breath and one patient at a time.

Resources mentioned

• Upaya Zen Center
• GRACE Framework – developed by Roshi Joan Halifax
• Cynda Rushton, PhD, RN – research on moral residue and self-stewardship
• The Inner Practice of Medicine – book by Dr. Wendy Lau

If the episode resonates, share it with a friend or send us your reflections—each voice helps broaden our circle of compassionate care.