Thursday, May 16, 2019, Reception & Book Signing: 5:30 – 6:00 pm, Talk: 6:00 –7:00 Faculty Conference Room, UMMS

 “The current distress experienced by physicians and other health professionals is, in part, a breakdown of the relationship between our inner lives – our sense of calling and meaning – and the environment in which we work.”

Join us for an illuminating talk with Dr. Ronald Epstein, a family physician, palliative care physician, writer, researcher and teacher of communication and mindful practice in medicine.

Including three objectives*, Dr. Epstein describes that his talk “will focus on the inner lives of physicians and other health professionals, specifically, how we can attend to and focus on what matters the most, adopt attitudes of curiosity and beginner’s mind when encountering surprises and difficulties, and cultivate presence and deep listening. It will also focus on how health care institutions must change to support healing relationships, humanism, quality of care and sustainability of the health care workforce.”

 Objectives:

* Describe the current stresses faced by clinicians working in chaotic and dynamic healthcare environment

* Explain how self-awareness and mindfulness might contribute to clinician well-being, quality of care and therapeutic relationships in clinical practice

* Describe ways in which changes in institutional structure and climate might enhance humanism, healing and sustainability of the healthcare workforce

Books will be available for purchase.

Sponsors: Worcester District Medical Society and the Humanities in Medicine Committee of the Lamar Soutter Library