Inspired by a shared commitment to well-being and human connection, Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences has launched the Compassion for Everyone Lunch-and-Grow Series. The six-month virtual program starts Aug. 18 and will provide practical strategies to strengthen compassion for self, others and the systems in which participants work.
The series reflects the broad reach of the Henry Ford + MSU partnership, drawing on expertise from Henry Ford’s Innovation Institute, Behavioral Health and Learning and Development areas, and Michigan State University’s College of Arts & Letters. The pilot series will run from August 2026 through January 2027 and will initially be available to Henry Ford Health employees. Henry Ford + MSU plans to expand future offerings to include Michigan State University employees as the series evolves.
“What makes this collaboration especially compelling is the opportunity to bring science and the arts into conversation with one another,” said Mary Beth Heeder, director of the Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing Initiative at MSU College of Arts and Letters.
Science helps explain the factors that shape how people think, communicate and make decisions, while the arts and humanities offer practices that encourage reflection, empathy and connection. Together, they translate research into practical tools participants can apply in their everyday work.
Heeder will lead the series with Vikas Relan, academic and innovation partnerships manager at Henry Ford Innovations. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to fostering workplaces where people remain at the center of the work.
“This series grew from a shared belief that supporting people is essential to the success of any organization,” said Relan. “By combining expertise from across Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University, we were able to create something that is both meaningful and relevant to the challenges people face every day.”
Through monthly 45-minute virtual sessions, participants will have the opportunity to explore real-world topics such as understanding stress before it becomes suffering, the power of rest, cultivating curiosity, building belonging, creating psychologically safe environments and rebuilding trust after a misstep.
“My hope is that participants leave with more than new information—they leave committed to making one small change that helps more people answer ‘yes’ to ‘Do I matter? Do I belong? Do I make a difference?’” said Heeder. “Together our small changes become meaningful steps toward making everyday compassion our way of caring for ourselves and one another.”
The series is also rooted in the belief that compassionate and supportive workplace cultures help individuals and teams do their best work, creating conditions where new ideas and collaboration can thrive.
“Innovation doesn’t begin with technology—it begins with people. When people feel seen, supported and cared for, they become more willing to share ideas, take thoughtful risks and solve problems together,” said Relan. “Compassion isn’t separate from innovation; it’s the environment that allows innovation to thrive.”
The six-session series will be held virtually from 12:10 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. and will include:
- Aug. 18, 2026: Care for Self
Stress Becomes Suffering – What Is Your Body Telling You - Sept. 15, 2026: Care for Self
Rest – Why Doing Less Helps You Do More - Oct. 20, 2026: Care for Others
Practicing Compassionate Curiosity Across Communities - Nov. 17, 2026: Care for Others
Building Belonging While Honoring Differences - Dec. 15, 2026: Care for the System
Make it Safer to Speak - Jan. 19, 2027: Care for the System
Rebuilding Trust After a Misstep
Space is limited to approximately 200 virtual participants. Select portions of the sessions may be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing. Henry Ford Health employees can learn more about the series on OneHENRY. For questions about Henry Ford + MSU Compassion for Everyone Lunch-and-Grow Series, please email henryfordmsu@msu.edu.