Evaluation of the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Change of Compassion Cultivation Training in Medical Students

The Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT©) is an 8-week standardized meditation program conducted in groups of 15-20 participants and consisting of weekly 2 hour on-line sessions with 20-30 minutes of daily formal meditation practices and informal compassion practices. The CCT© program will be guided by a certified instructor form the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University. The CCT© program comprises six sequential steps: 1) Settling the mind; 2) Loving-kindness and compassion for a loved one; 3) Self-directed loving-kindness and compassion; 4) Common humanity; 5) Cultivating compassion for others; and 6) Active compassion (Tonglen).