Mindfulness in Medicine @UMKC

Examine and analyze the domains of suffering and how clinicians typically respond

1. Compare and contrast empathy and compassion as ever-present dynamics and as reactions/responses to suffering

2. Appraise the role of presence in promoting a healthy professional relationship towards suffering in the medical context

3. Explore how responding to suffering can enhance clinicians’ sense of purpose and well-being

Suggested Readings and Materials to review before this session: "Responding to Suffering"

• “Keeping Quiet (A Callarse)” by Pablo Neruda (translated by Stephen Mitchell) [http://rantingandrejoicing.wordpress.com/2007/02/03/nerudas-keeping-quiet/]

• “Kindness” by Naomi Shihab-Nye [https://poets.org/poem/kindness]

For further information about Suffering, Empathy, and Compassion:

• Cassell, EJ (1982). “The nature of suffering and the goals of medicine.” N Engl J Med, Mar 18;306(11):639-45.

• Coulehan, J (2010). “Incident at a chinese restaurant.” J Gen Intern Med, 25(2): 169-170.

• Ekman E, Krasner M. “Empathy in medicine: neuroscience, education, and challenges.” Med Teach. 2017;39(2):164-73.Epstein RM & Back AL (2016). Responding to Suffering. JAMA.

• Frank, AW (1995). The Wounded Storyteller: Body, Illness, and Ethics. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

• Kleinman A (2017). “Presence.” Lancet, 389: 2466-2467

• Makowski SK & Epstein RM (2012). “Turning toward dissonance: lessons from art, music, and literature.” J Pain Symptom Manage, 43(2): 293-298.

• Meier DE et al. (2001). “The inner life of physicians and care of the seriously ill.” JAMA, 286.

• Rumi, J. “The guest house.” In The Essential Rumi by Barks C (1997). San Francisco, CA: Harper Press