Tessie October, M.D., M.P.H., is a board-certified physician in pediatrics, pediatric critical care and palliative and hospice medicine. She blends expertise from these three areas to serve her academic mission of transforming the communication healthcare experience for patients and families as they navigate critical illness. Dr. October is a clinical scientist who designs interventions that teach the healthcare team high-quality communication skills necessary to support family decision-making. She also develops interventions to activate families to ensure they have a seat at the decision-making table. As an educator, Dr. October uses her expertise to train the next generation of physicians and faculty to provide empathetic, equitable, family-centered care.