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Mindful Practice

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

"Mindful practice refers to our ability to be aware, in the moment, on purpose, with the goal of providing better care to patients and to take better care of ourselves. Being mindful is at the core of clinical competence. The purpose of this program is to give students, residents and practicing physicians some tools to help them become more mindful during daily clinical practice."

- Ronald Epstein, M.D.

With support from the Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company (MLMIC) and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation (AVD), the mindful practice curriculum at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry is specifically focused on cultivating mindfulness in clinical work settings with two goals: to improve the quality of care and to improve physician well-being. Clearly, these two goals are linked. In this program, we will focus on four attributes of mindfulness: attentive observation, critical curiosity, informed flexibility, and presence. Learn why this program was developed.

Click here to learn more about the attributes of Mindful Practice.

Mindful practice modules will help students and residents develop a capacity for mindfulness, by:

1. being responsive rather than reactive
2. noticing things about oneself and situations even though they might be unpleasant;
3. acting with awareness and intention (not being on “automatic pilot”), and
4. focusing on experience, not the labels or judgments we apply to them (e.g. understanding patients and their problems rather than just categorizing or judging them).

Participants will develop clinical habits of self-questioning, self-monitoring and self-awareness. The program is based on several educational theories and techniques: mindful practice, the Rational-Emotive model, Appreciative Inquiry; Narrative Medicine and Reflective Questioning.

Click here to view the Mindful Practice Curriculum

For further information contact the OEER:

Office of Educational Evaluation and Research
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Avenue
Box 601
Rochester, NY 14526

Room G-7808
(585) 275-4521
( 585) 273-3290 (fax)