The UCSF MERI Center for Humanity in Healthcare is grounded in the belief that connection, self-expression, and education all cultivate healing. In a life shaped by both joy and struggle, we are called to seek meaning, to serve one another, and to face living with consciousness and grieving with peace.

Drawing on the humanities, the enduring wisdom of cultures around the world, and the clinical expertise of UCSF, the MERI Center supports those facing serious illness, helping people find purpose and meaning, and providing skills to promote resiliency.

Through this work, the MERI Center strives to build a healing community— supporting patients and families, training volunteer and professional caregivers, strengthening the capacity and openness of health care teams, and inviting broader conversations about serious illness, loss, grief and death. 

The Story of Our Name — MERI

Merijane Block was cared for at the UCSF/Mount Zion campus for a quarter of a century. Merijane died in 2017 after more than 25 years of living with metastatic breast cancer. Merijane is beloved among the doctors, nurses, and staff at the cancer center. She insisted that her health care team treat her with dignity and respect. Moreover, she insisted that her professional caregivers recognize their own humanity in the work they do with patients. Merijane’s insistence--a lesson to hundreds of health care professionals over the years (including Dr. Rabow and Ms. Keyssar)-- is a poignant and inspiring re-statement of the mission and values of the MERI Center. Patients and caregivers are joined in a sacred but common task of caring for each other in the face of challenge and loss.

 

THANK YOU to the supporters of the MERI Center:
Founding Sponsor:

Core Sponsors: Germanacos Foundation  |  Peter and Lindsay Joost  |  Nancy Grand | Anonymous Donor     

 Key Sponsors: Jean Collier Hurley  |  Janet Martinez  |  Rachel Katz

MERI in the News

Dr. Danielle Chammas - the 2026 recipient of the AAHPM Humanities Award

Our very own Dr. Danielle Chammas has been awarded the 2026 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine's Humanities Award.  She follows in the footsteps of Redwing Keyssar, who received the award in 2019.

2024 CAPC's The John A. Hartford Tipping Point Challenge Finalist

This year the MERI Center was named one of the finalists for The John A. Hartford Tipping Point Challenge in their Innovation Category for our work in Poetic Medicine. We were one of 7 organizations recognized (3 winners and 4 finalists) of over a hundred applicants. We are so proud of this achievement.