Cecile Carson, MD and Queen Maeve

Project Trainer and Facilitator

Dr. Cecile A. Carson, M.D. has been Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical School in Rochester, NY, since 1986. An internist and counselor, she has focused her teaching primarily on improving communication between clinicians and patients. She has been active in the American Academy on Physician and Patient as facilitator, speaker and innovator.

In 1988, through a grant from the National Fund for Medical Education, she developed a curriculum in nonverbal communication for medical residents. This curriculum has been widely used since that time across medical disciplines: surgery, oncology, physical therapy, dentistry, pharmacology, nursing, diabetes education, and veterinary medicine. She has published it in a variety of formats including medical textbook and online interactive media, and has taught it both nationally and internationally, including Cancer Care Ontario in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and for the European Academy on the Medicine of Aging in Geneva, Switzerland.

Bramblewood's Queen Maeve has been an important part of Cecile's introduction to the world of veterinary medicine and to the human-animal bond. Maeve speaks eloquently nonverbally and continues to stretch Cecile's language skills in this domain. A therapy dog, her intelligence and unconditional positive regard sets a positive tone for any encounter.