I founded the consultancy Relationship Centered Health Care in 2000 to help healthcare leaders, teams and organizations improve their effectiveness by paying close attention to the relational dimension of their work. My colleagues and I helped leaders strengthen their communication and relationship skills and their self- and interpersonal process-awareness. We helped groups learn to be more aware of how they were interacting so they could work together more effectively and reach higher levels of quality, efficiency, patient satisfaction and personal satisfaction and meaning. 

Our approach was built upon the insights of Relationship-Centered Care, a movement in health professions education that called for training in relationship skills to be added to the more traditional technical curriculum to make patient care more respectful, empathetic and collaborative. We promoted the practice of Relationship Centered Administration to foster work environments that would be conducive to the provision of Relationship-Centered Care. Treating the healthcare workforce with greater respect, empathy and partnership makes it more likely that they will treat patients and families in that same way.

I’ve now stepped back from consulting and teaching, but through this website I’m hoping to continuing sharing what I and others have learned over the years with you:  clinicians, healthcare leaders, consultants, researchers, students, teachers – anyone interested in improving relational quality. In the other tabs on this website, you’ll find articles, blogs and other resources organized by topic. You’ll also find links to connect with consultants and organizations who are doing state-of-the-art work in this field. And you can find my contact information if you’d like to talk.

I wish you every success in your work. The world is in urgent need of better relationships…your work matters more than ever!

Anthony Suchman, MD, MA
Senior Consultant and Founder, Relationship Centered Health Care
Clinical Professor Emeritus, University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry