BOSTON, MA - December 15, 2025 - Veteran nurse and healthcare advocate Jenifer Bakewell is urging people to rethink what compassion looks like in modern medicine — and in everyday life. Drawing on decades of experience across clinical, research, and community settings, Bakewell believes that meaningful change starts with empathy, awareness, and small daily acts of care.
“Healthcare doesn’t begin in hospitals,” she said. “It begins in homes, neighbourhoods, and communities where people choose to look out for each other.”
Why Compassion Still Matters
According to the World Health Organization, burnout among healthcare workers has reached historic highs, with up to 52% of nurses reporting emotional exhaustion. A Harvard Medical School study also found that empathy from caregivers directly correlates with improved patient outcomes and faster recovery rates.
Bakewell says those numbers reveal something deeper. “People are craving genuine connection,” she explained. “Whether you’re a nurse, a teacher, or a neighbour, compassion changes outcomes — not just for others, but for yourself.”
Throughout her career — from biomedical research to home healthcare and medical-surgical care — Bakewell has seen the difference a few extra moments of attention can make. “When you sit with a patient instead of rushing to the next task, you remind them they’re seen,” she said. “That’s where healing begins.”
Service Beyond the Workplace
Bakewell’s advocacy extends far beyond hospitals and clinics. She volunteers locally and abroad, supports youth mentorship programmes, and has opened her home to foster children and international students.
“Service isn’t just something you schedule,” she said. “It’s a mindset. It’s asking, ‘What can I do today that makes life easier for someone else?’”
Her work reflects a broader truth about community-based care: that personal effort and compassion can scale just as effectively as institutional programs. Research from the National Institute on Aging shows that people who regularly volunteer report a 44% lower rate of depression and significantly higher life satisfaction.
“Small acts of care — checking on a neighbour, volunteering a few hours a month — create ripple effects,” Bakewell noted. “You don’t need a medical degree to make a difference.”
How People Can Take Action
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Listen more, talk less. “People will tell you what they need if you slow down and pay attention,” she said.
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Give your time. Volunteer with a local health clinic, youth group, or senior centre.
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Practice empathy daily. Ask one person how they’re really doing — and mean it.
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Prioritize rest. “Caring for others starts with caring for yourself,” she added. “You can’t help anyone if you’re running on empty.”
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Stay connected. Check in on family, friends, and colleagues regularly, even when nothing seems wrong.
“Compassion doesn’t require money or status,” she said. “It’s the decision to notice and respond.”
A Human Message for a Changing World
As healthcare continues to evolve — with new technologies, faster systems, and increasing demand — Bakewell believes that the future of medicine depends on rediscovering its human core.
“Science will keep moving forward, but empathy should never fall behind,” she said. “We can’t automate kindness. We can’t outsource connection.”
Her vision is one of collective responsibility — a reminder that compassion isn’t confined to professional roles or institutions. “You don’t have to travel abroad to serve,” she added. “You can start by being fully present for the person right in front of you.
“I’ve seen firsthand how one act of kindness can ripple through a community,” she said. “If each of us made a habit of small, consistent care, we’d transform the way people heal — not just in hospitals, but in life.”
About Jenifer Bakewell
Jenifer Bakewell is a Massachusetts-based nurse, researcher, and mentor with extensive experience in clinical care, dialysis, biomedical research, and home healthcare. She is also an active volunteer, youth mentor, and advocate for compassionate, community-centered healthcare.
Email: jeniferbakewell@emaildn.com
Read the full interview here.
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