Mission
To support and advance compassionate health care in which caregivers, patients and their families relate to one another in a way that provides hope to the patient, support to caregivers and sustenance to the healing process

History
The Kenneth B. Schwartz Center reflects the vision of health care attorney Ken Schwartz, whose friends, family and caregivers established the organization shortly after his untimely death from lung cancer in September 1995. The Center is a strong and active voice for promoting and preserving a health care system that values empathy and compassion for every patient.

Programs
The Schwartz Center creates, conducts and sponsors innovative education, training and support programs that strengthen the relationship between patients and caregivers.

	Schwartz Center Rounds
	Clinical Pastoral Education Fellowships
	Grantmaking
	Public Education

Structure
The Schwartz Center is an autonomous, nonprofit organization operating under the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Its separate Board of Directors has complete discretion over the Center's budget. The Schwartz Center depends on the generosity of individuals, the business community and foundations to support its work. Donations are tax-deductible.

Highlights from a Decade of Compassion
1997 — The Schwartz Center Rounds are successfully piloted at Massachusetts General Hospital giving caregivers the unique opportunity to focus on the social and emotional aspects of patient care.

1998 — The Schwartz Center Clinical Pastoral Education Program for Health Care Professionals is launched at Massachusetts General Hospital.

2002 — The Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists presents the Schwartz Center with the Sullivan Award in recognition of the Center's outstanding efforts to enhance the relationship between physicians and patients.

2003 — The Schwartz Center awards a $35,000 grant to Boston Medical Center to teach communication skills to 651 Boston Medical Center residents in a program that could become a national model.

2004 — The number of grants awarded by the Schwartz Center to organizations since 1999 reaches 100.

2005 — The Schwartz Center celebrates its first decade of strengthening the relationship between caregivers, patients and their families with a symposium entitled "Beyond the White Coat and the Johnny: What Makes for a Compassionate Patient-Caregiver Relationship?" and a dinner attended by 1,800 supporters.

2005 — The Schwartz Center awards its largest grant ever of $75,000 to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA, for its collaborative plan with Heritage Hall and the Baystate Visiting Nurse Association/Hospice to deliver compassionate, empathic, patient- and family-focused care, particularly at transition points as patients transfer from one setting to another at the end of life.

2006 — The Schwartz Center elects Peter Biagetti, Esq., member, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, as Board Chair, and Thomas Lynch, MD, cheif of the MGH Cancer Center, as Board Vice Chair.

2006 — As of October 2006, Schwartz Center Rounds are currently in 92 hospitals, five nursing homes, two community health centers, and one outpatient clinic in 25 states.

2006 — The Schwartz Center announces launch of a new patient-centered initiative which will address the need to directly support and involve patients and their families in enhancing their communication with caregivers.