The Karnieli-Miller Communication and Professionalism Lab
Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences,
Tel Aviv University, Israel
The Department of Medical Education
The Karnieli-Miller Communication
and Professionalism Lab
Humanistic Medical Education Research
The Department of Medical Education,
Gray Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University
About Our Lab
The Communication and Professionalism Lab is located in the Department of Medical Education, at the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University. The lab's mission is to foster the professional identity formation of medical students and health professionals, promoting their development as attentive, sensitive, and caring practitioners.
Led by Prof. Orit Karnieli-Miller, the lab team focuses on teaching and investigating medical students' and physicians' values, knowledge, and competencies. Core research and training areas include innovative AI-driven simulations and interpersonal and communication skills, with a particular emphasis on: Breaking bad news, shared decision-making, professionalism, reflective practice.
The lab's research seeks to enhance healthcare communication education by addressing diverse stakeholder needs (including physicians, medical students, patients, and family members), while deepening the theoretical understanding of physician-patient and physician-patient-family interactions. Additionally, the lab examines medical students' learning experiences and coping mechanisms when encountering emotionally challenging communication scenarios.
The lab team consists of experts and students from diverse backgrounds (including social sciences, medicine, and the health professions), utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methods to generate impactful insights and educational innovations.
Recent Publications
Karnieli-Miller, O., & Elyoseph, Z.(2026)
Breaking bad news with reflective AI virtual experience (BRAVE): development and evaluation of a generative AI-based simulation tool
Advances in Simulation, 11(30)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41077-026-00429-8
Misgav, K., Palombo, M., Neufeld-Kroszynski, G., & Karnieli-Miller, O. (2025)
Human Analysis vs. Artificial Intelligence: Analyzing of Qualitative Medical Students’ Narratives
Qualitative Health Research, 36(2-3) 218–230.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10497323251359445
Neufeld-Kroszynski, G., Michael, K. & Karnieli-Miller, O., (2024)
Associations between medical students’ stress, academic burnout and moral courage efficacy.
BMC Psychology 12, 296.
Tokatly Latzer, I., Friedman, D., Williams, D. N., Gardiner, L., Kukla, A., Karnieli-Miller, O.,* & Pearl, P.* (2026)
SUDEP Awareness and Effect on Parental Trauma, Grief, and Coping After the Death of a Child: A Qualitative Investigation.
Neurology. 106 (5) e214623
Ablin, E., Furman, D., & Karnieli-Miller. O. (2025).
Loss as a Journey, the Story that Changes and Never Ends – Processes and Core Concepts in Coping with Loss and Grief. R. Berger (ed.), Tomorrow the sun will rise: Theory and Protocols for Guiding Arts-Based Interventions to Support Coping with Grief and Loss.
Ono Academic College, in collaboration with the Mashabim Center and the Israeli Ministry of Defense, pp. 27-43.
https://www.dr-ronenberger.com/_files/ugd/9279d9_0c3bce3be2bf4c39848c8a1bf803231d.pdf
Gutgeld-Dror, M., Laor, N., & Karnieli-Miller, O. (2023). Assertiveness in physicians’ interpersonal professional encounters: A scoping review.
Medical Education. https://asmepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/medu.15222
Current ongoing and past research grants
2025-2027
Breaking Bad News in a Shared Traumatic Reality: Experiences, Needs, and Practices of Families, Social Workers, and Casualty Notifiers
CO-PI (with Keren Michael)
Science Forefront: Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs
2025-2028
Developing GAI-Driven Simulator for Breaking Bad News: Enhancing Professional Competency and Well-Being
PI (with Keren Michael)
Science Forefront: Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology
2026-2028
Developing an AI-driven simulator for SUDEP counseling for better care for people with epilepsy and their families
Co-PI (with Tokatly Latzer & Pearl)
BAND Foundation, to prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)
2025-2027
Breaking bad news during collective trauma: Understanding professional teams' experiences to establish a policy for managing future crises
PI (with Keren Michael & Ronit Shalev)
The Israel National Institute for Health Policy Research
2024-2025
Developing a Trauma informed care intervention for OGYN clerkship
(with Gili Ofer-Bialer, Keren Tckach-Meliniak, Anna Padoa)
Briah Foundation ‘Borot’ seed money
Prof. Orit Karnieli-Miller, PhD
Team
Endowed Chair of Dr. Sol Amsterdam & Dr. David P. Schumann in Medical Education,
Past Head of the Department of Medical Education, Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
She received her PhD in Social Work with a specialty in communication in healthcare. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Regenstrief Institute at Indiana University School of Medicine, focusing on professionalism and humanism in healthcare.
Throughout her academic career, Prof. Karnieli-Miller has focused on enhancing patient-centered care with expertise in the field of:
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Breaking bad news
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Multi-participant conversations (patient-physician-companion)
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Professionalism in medicine
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Reflective practice
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Educational innovative teaching methods including AI
Prof. Karnieli-Miller is the director of communication skills training at the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, at Tel Aviv University.
She recently received the Academy of Communication in Healthcare Lynn Payer Award for “outstanding contributions to the literature on the theory, practice and teaching of effective healthcare communication and related skills.”
Prof. Karnieli-Miller has been awarded numerous significant research grants and has published widely in leading peer-reviewed journals within the field of medical education and communication in healthcare.
Resources
Developed by Meitar, D., & Karnieli-Miller, O. (2021). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0142159X.2021.1928618
Disscusing Karnieli-Miller, O. Palombo, M. Meitar, D See, Reflect, Learn more: Qualitative Analysis of Breaking Bad News Reflective Narratives
An Example of Reflective Practice in Teaching Communication Skills
Developed for the manuscript Reflective practice in the teaching of communication skills
Developed by Prof. Karnieli-Miller, based on the SPwICES model.
Orit Karnieli-Miller discusses her Professional Formation module, The Hidden Curriculum and Professional Formation with interviewer, Preston Reynolds, MD, PhD
HAMALKA - (In Hebrew)
A model for dealing with emotions and providing empathy based and modified from n.u.r.s.e Smith, Francesca & Fortin
In the news
Orit Karnieli-Miller introduces BRAVE - an innovative generative AI–based simulator that allows medical students to practice breaking bad news
Orit Karnieli-Miller discusses Karnieli-Miller et al., More than just an entertainment show: Identification of medical clowns’ communication skills and therapeutic goals.
Video Lectures
A collection of recorded lectures by Prof. Orit Karnieli‑Miller, covering core topics in communication, professionalism, and medical education. Explore the videos below.
Rector’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2025–2026: Prof. Orit Karnieli‑Miller & Sharon Pelles| The Gray Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
An invited talk for the Ukrainian-Swiss project “Medical Education Development”
An interview with Orit Karnieli-Miller on Israel Healthcare Highlight
Recent Events
Contact
The Department of Medical Education
The Faculty of Medicine
Tel Aviv University
Israel