Kit Lee, MD

Graded Pass/Fail only.

Description of Activities:

The Mind Body Medicine Skills Selective is an opportunity for students to gain knowledge and skills to engage the mind and body interaction. Students will be exposed to and experience various techniques that can be helpful for improving mindfulness, encouraging relaxation, improving coping skills, and enhancing the ability to address stress-related illness.

The selective requires seven, two-hour sessions.  Each session will include two components:

1. Yoga, including vipassana (awareness) meditation, asana (movement), and body-scan during Savasana. Yoga sessions will be held in the fitness center studio and will be open to all who are interested, but attendance is required for elective students.
2. Mind-body skills training. The second hour focuses on mind-body skills training for personal enrichment and for practice with others. This component will include:
   1. Didactic portion. Learn the science behind the skill.
   2. Experiential
   3. Sharing of the experience

Sessions will be held on Wednesdays as follows:

Yoga: 1:00-2:00 p.m., Loyola Center for Health and Fitness

Mind-Body Skills: either 12:00-1:00 pm or 4:00-5:00 pm, following PCM1 small groups, location TBD

Requirements

1. 1. Attend all seven sessions. One excused absence may be allowed if approved by Student Affairs with advance notice and is allowed only in extenuating circumstances. More than one absence will result in withdrawal from the elective.
   2. Read/view required assignments and participate and class activities.
   3. Brief Inquiry Paper: a brief analysis of the role of yoga in medicine required for excused/missed session.
   4. Final Reflection: write a brief reflection at the end of the elective on how new mind body skills may be applied
   5. Commit to not using technology—phones, tablets, computers—for all sessions

 All sessions are in-person

Elective Curriculum and Course Outline:

1. Introduction:

This part-time elective incorporates skills training in mind and body principles.  Students who participate will gain knowledge and skills for personal practice, as well as for the potential use in patient care settings. The course will include seven session, two-hours each, covering the following topics:

1. Working with imagery for self-discovery – 3 drawings
2. Autogenic training/biofeedback
3. Guided Imagery
4. Meditation-concentrative, mindfulness, expressive
5. Breath and Movement-different types of pranayama
6. Emotions-dialogue with issue/symptom/problem
7. Tapping into intuition-wise-guide/safe place imagery
8. Mindfulness-principles, examples-mindful eating, generous listening, one-minute breathing space, mind traps
9. Closing-3 drawings, sharing, closing ritual

Learning Objectives in relation to Stritch School of Medicine Competencies

1. 1. (1.1) Explain the cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurologic and other organ system changes that result from techniques in mind body medicine
   2. (1.1) Describe the key parts of anatomy that are engaged in movement during yoga practice
   3. (1.3) Describe how mind body skills can be utilized as a non-pharmacologic approach for the prevention and treatment of select illnesses
2. Patient Care
   2. (2.3) Demonstrate appropriate mind body skills techniques that could be utilized in patient care setting as appropriate based on individual needs
   3. (2.5) Apply communication techniques to guide patients in acquiring new mind body skills

 3. Interpersonal and Communication Skills

1. 3. (3.2) Communicate effectively regarding the principles and techniques of mind body medicine, with peers and future patients

 4. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

1. 4. (4.1) Identify strengths and limitations in mind body techniques and coping skills
   5. (4.4) Demonstrate curiosity for the elements of mind body medicine that may be implemented in self-care and patient-oriented settings

 5. Professionalism

1. 5. (5.1) Develop a sense of self worthy of one’s own respect and cultivate respect, compassion and empathy towards one’s classmates, faculty, and others
   6. (5.2) Demonstrate integrity and accountability in fulfilling course assignments in a timely manner and presenting as open and committed to the course content

 6. Personal and Professional Development

1. 8. (8.1) Demonstrate new knowledge and skills for healthy coping, and for maintaining physical and mental well being while fulfilling personal and professional obligations
   9. (8.2) Integrate the practice of self-inquiry in order to sustain meaning and purpose in being a physician
   10. (8.3) Develop and apply skills and qualities such as humility, compassion, emotional regulation, attention and concentration

Students will be evaluated by a narrative assessment on the basis of participation and Reflection paper.

Graded Pass/Fail only.