Maria Keckler, Ph.D.

Maria Keckler, PhD, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pivotal Empathy, Inc. , where she transforms patient stories into tools to prevent clinician burnout. A transdisciplinary behavioral researcher, she also co-founded the EmpathyRx Lab at San Diego State University. People who have worked with her often describe her as forward-thinking, strategic, engaging, and a gifted communicator.

Outside of her professional work, Maria is deeply committed to her community, serving for over ten years on the board of the Davids Harp Foundation. She is an author and enjoys spending time with her family, including traveling with her husband and daughter.

Interesting fact: Her own challenging experience as a patient became the catalyst for her doctoral research into the decline of empathy in healthcare.