nathanho

Dr. Houchens’ research focuses on interpersonal relationships, communication and human connection in healthcare settings, including their roles in patient and clinician satisfaction, medical education, professionalism and compassionate care. His work also examines the effects of empathy and compassion on healthcare delivery and outcomes, clinical reasoning, problem-solving and medical education. He has extensive experience leading communication skills training at the local, regional and national levels.

In addition to his role as a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, Dr. Houchens serves as acting chief of medicine at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System and director of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Learning Program for the Internal Medicine Residency Program. He is also executive director of the Sacred Moments Initiative, a multidisciplinary group focused on studying and sharing meaningful moments of human connection in healthcare and beyond. As part of this work, he hosts “Boundless Moments,” a storytelling podcast featuring personal experiences of these moments.

He has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications, a book, Teaching Inpatient Medicine: Connecting, Coaching, and Communicating in the Hospital, and three book chapters.