About
Kennan DeGruccio, LMSW

I am a Licensed Social Worker and Simulated Patient Educator (SPE), partnering with academic medical centers and hospitals in the NYC area and abroad for communication skills training programs as an actor, educator, collaborative research partner and facilitator. My unique role as both actor and educator has been instrumental in simulating realistic patient-provider interactions that advance clinician communication skills, help reinforce targeted interventions, refine strategies, provide experiential learning and allow clinicians to receive feedback from the “patient” in real time.

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For more than a decade, my work has been instrumental in providing tailored skills practice for doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian, Weill Cornell, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group and others. Hours of practicing and coaching in clinical encounters and contributing to research in the field has helped me hear and respond to communication techniques that provide the best outcomes for patients and doctors. 

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A graduate of Columbia School of Social Work, I have counseled patients and their family members as a licensed social worker in hospitals, clinics, schools and community programs and provided therapy for individuals and groups. My most meaningful experiences center on my work as a volunteer patient advocate for over two decades, supporting dozens of patients in clinical encounters with their medical practitioners, hearing and seeing firsthand how skilled, empathic doctors make a positive impact on patient health outcomes.