The Engine of the Heart: Compassionate Global Health with Dr. Shams Syed

What does it mean to lead with compassion in global health—and why does it matter now more than ever?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shams Syed to explore how compassion, partnership, and service are not just values—but strategies for systems change. From his early work designing bi-directional hospital partnerships across continents to his reflections on faith, identity, and burnout, Shams shares hard-won insights from decades of work in the field.

We talk about:

• Reimagining quality improvement through a human-centered lens
• The role of compassion in leadership, policymaking, and health equity
• What it means to create safe systems for transformation
• How faith, curiosity, and lived experience shape global health work
• The difference between empathy and compassion—and why action matters

Alongside co-hosts Dr. Ashley Ono and Dr. Lopa Basu, this conversation weaves the technical with the spiritual, exploring how love, service, and deep listening can shift not just outcomes—but the very way we move through the world.

 "Improvement cycles are driven by an engine—and that’s the engine of the heart." — Dr. Shams Syed

Resources & Mentions:

• WHO’s Global Compassion Rounds
• Dr. Rana Awdish, In Shock
• Rumi quote: “Listen with ears of tolerance…”
• The compassion equation: awareness → empathy → action

 Tune in and subscribe to Inspire Global Radio for more conversations that explore healing, leadership, and the courage to care.