Kate Lorig, Dr.P.H. – SMRC

Our programs, including the flagship Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), have enhanced the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Our small group workshops for people with chronic disease and their caregivers, are offered in in person in community settings, virtually via Zoom or other platform, and online. The programs are facilitated by Leaders with their own health challenges. Our programs are highly interactive, focusing on building skills, sharing experiences, and support.

Our staff of professional health educators have worked together for thirty years, and are all highly respected in the field of health education and nursing. Our published books, consumer articles and peer-reviewed journal articles are extensive. We have served as technical consultants both nationally and internationally.

Kate served as the Director of the Stanford Patient Education Research Center and Professor of Medicine in the Stanford School of Medicine. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Boston University, and her masters and doctorate of public health in health education at the University of California, Berkeley. She came to Stanford in 1979 while a graduate student at Cal to develop and research an educational program that emphasized self-help skills for people with arthritis. This program became the Arthritis Self-Help Course and was the prototype for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, The Diabetes Self-Management Program, the Aging Well with HIV for HIV, the Cancer: Thriving and Surviving Program, the Building Better Caregiver’s Program, the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program, and others. She has authored several books and many articles about arthritis, chronic disease in general, health education and behavioral science. She travels extensively at the invitation of organizations concerned with patient care and academic research. She lives in Los Altos, CA, with her collection of Native American art.