For Lynn Wiatrowski, supporting the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare has always been about protecting the “soul” of medicine by balancing its increasingly complex science with its essential art. Over the past twenty-three years, Lynn has been a cornerstone of our community, serving on our Board of Directors as a dedicated philanthropist whose personal investment fuels the very engine of our mission.

Her vision is anchored in the belief that while the science of medicine saves lives, it is the art of compassion that makes those lives worth living. Beyond her own contributions, Lynn has been a tireless volunteer leader, leveraging her expertise to secure the corporate funding necessary to scale our impact. She understands that for the Center to truly support and advance compassionate healthcare as a systemic reality, we must mobilize a broad cohort of partners committed to these same high-touch standards of care.

By championing the Schwartz Compassionate Care Model, Lynn has helped provide the research-backed framework necessary to embed empathy into the fabric of clinical training and delivery. Her sustained commitment ensures that “high-tech” advancements never outpace the “high-touch” necessity of human connection, transforming healthcare environments into places where both the caregiver and the patient can truly thrive.

“In the high-tech world of modern medicine, we can never afford to lose the high-touch reality of the human connection,” says Lynn. “I give to the Schwartz Center because they protect the art of those quiet, essential moments—the hand-hold, the active listening, and the shared understanding. When we apply the science of our Compassionate Care Model to support the caregiver’s heart, we ensure the patient’s dignity is never lost. It is about making compassionate care the universal standard, not the exception.”

CVS Health is transforming the landscape of accessible healthcare by ensuring that “community care” includes the emotional well-being of the clinicians providing it. Recognizing that MinuteClinic practitioners are often the primary point of entry for patients navigating acute needs, CVS is integrating the Schwartz Rounds program directly into their retail health sites. This initiative acknowledges a fundamental truth: to provide truly compassionate care in a high-volume environment, providers must first feel supported and heard by their own organization.

Through this program, MinuteClinic staff have a dedicated space to process the unique pressures of retail health—bridging the gap between clinical efficiency and the raw anxieties of a neighborhood clinic. This essential “buffer” allows them to maintain a deep human connection in every patient interaction, even during the busiest shifts.

Beyond this internal implementation, CVS Health’s philanthropy fuels the Schwartz Center’s broader mission. By investing as both an early adopter and a sponsor, CVS ensures that the emotional tools they use to protect their own staff are made available to caregivers everywhere. They aren’t just expanding access to medicine; they are championing the emotional resilience of the practitioners who make that care possible.

At the heart of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) is the commitment to “show up for everyone like they’re the only one.” Recognizing that frontline teams are the primary bridge between complex policy and vulnerable patients, BCBSMA has redefined employee wellness by integrating the Schwartz Rounds program into their member services and claims departments. This initiative ensures that for a representative to provide truly compassionate service, they must first feel supported, heard, and valued by their own organization.

Through the Schwartz Rounds program, staff navigating the raw anxieties of patients—from life-altering diagnoses to financial stress—have a dedicated space to process the weight of compassion fatigue. Beyond their internal implementation, BCBSMA’s generosity extends into a profound philanthropic partnership that fuels the Schwartz Center’s broader mission. Their steadfast charitable support demonstrates their long-held belief that compassionate care should be a universal standard, not an exception. By investing their resources as both a program participant and a sponsor, BCBSMA ensures that the emotional tools they use to protect their own staff are made available to caregivers everywhere. They aren’t just managing health risks; they are championing the emotional well-being of every life their business touches.