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.
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:
-
Breaking bad news
-
Multi-participant conversations (patient-physician-companion)
-
Professionalism in medicine
-
Reflective practice
-
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.
Recent Events
Contact
The Department of Medical Education
The Faculty of Medicine
Tel Aviv University
Israel