Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli: Compassionomics | The Science That Proves Caring Drives Outcomes, Lowers Costs, and Prevents Burnout
May 04, 2026
Welcome to The Care2Grow Show
In this powerful episode of The Care2Grow Show, Dr. Larry Arbeitman sits down with Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, Co-President and CEO of Cooper University Health Care, to explore one of the most important and overlooked forces in modern healthcare:
Compassion.
This is not a philosophical conversation.
It’s a data-driven discussion grounded in over 500 scientific studies proving that caring is not a soft skill — it is a measurable clinical and operational advantage.
Together, they unpack the growing compassion crisis in healthcare and why reconnecting with patients may be one of the most powerful solutions to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and prevent provider burnout.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• The truth about the compassion crisis in modern healthcare
• Why compassion improves clinical outcomes, cost efficiency, and patient adherence
• The surprising connection between compassion and reduced provider burnout
• Why empathy alone can lead to burnout — and how compassion is different
• The concept of “depersonalization” and its role in provider exhaustion
• How small moments (as little as 40 seconds) can dramatically impact patient experience
• Why healthcare must move from transactional to relational care
• How leadership and systems must support compassionate care at scale
• The role of technology (including AI) in restoring patient connection
A Defining Insight
“Compassion is not a soft skill. It improves outcomes, lowers costs, and decreases burnout.”
Dr. Mazzarelli shares that the data is clear:
When providers connect with patients in a meaningful way, three things happen:
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Better outcomes
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Lower healthcare costs
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Less provider burnout
This is the foundation of Compassionomics — and a call to reimagine how healthcare is delivered.
About Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli
Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE is the Co-President and CEO of Cooper University Health Care and Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
He leads a $3B nonprofit academic health system with over 14,000 employees and 1,800+ providers across 95 specialties .
He is the co-author of the bestselling books:
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Compassionomics
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Wonder Drug
His work focuses on leadership, healthcare transformation, and the science of compassion in medicine.
Why This Episode Matters
Healthcare is evolving.
Patients are no longer just looking for treatment —
They are looking for connection, trust, and care.
This episode challenges providers and leaders to rethink how they show up:
Not just as clinicians…
But as humans serving humans.
Next Steps
🎧 Listen on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6DChMMsiKHU3RGxyPET2K8
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-care2grow-show/id1862210422
https://www.compassionomics.com/
https://a.co/d/0dhrTAmb (Book available for purchase on Amazon)
https://www.wonderdrugbook.com/
https://a.co/d/0fkQy2o2 (Book available for purchase on Amazon)
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Together, we can rebuild a healthcare system rooted in compassion, connection, and care.
Because we have to Care… to Grow.
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