Mindfulness in Medicine is a program that offers Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) sessions to rural providers (MD, NP, and midwives). In pausing together, providers can care for one another in ways that activates our personal and collective resilience, which is much needed during this time of great transition in healthcare, the planetary health crises, and deep calls for social justice. This participatory, trauma-sensitive course consists of eight weekly 2.5-hour classes and one day-long class on a Saturday.
What are the benefits of the program?
Through practicing mindfulness, we may restore a sense of connection and agency to act in our collective best interest. We mobilize foundational capacities for inhabiting complexity, together.
Other potential benefits include:
- Mitigating symptoms of exhaustion & isolation
- Recognizing and responding differently to internal biases
- Better tolerating uncertainty, change and complexity
- Perceiving self & others with more clarity & compassion
- Improving communication and decision-making skills
- Accessing personal creativity and adaptability
Program Details for Winter 2025
RCCbc is supporting 1-2 MBSR virtual programs per year for rural providers (MD, NP and midwives). The winter 2025 session for rural healthcare providers cohort will take place Thursdays from Jan 23rd to March 13th, 2025 with an all day sesssion on Saturday, March 1st, 2025.
8 Weekly Sessions and Day-Long Retreat:
Dates: Thursdays from Jan 23rd to March 13th, 2025 from 6:30-9:00 pm. The full day session on March 1st is from 9:00-4:30 pm.
Cost: The program is free offered through support from RCCbc.
Eligibility: Healthcare providers (MD, NP, midwives) who live and or practice in rural BC .
Accreditation: This program is accredited for 23.5 Mainpro+ credits, based on the number of sessions you attend.
Location: Online via Zoom
Registration: Fill out this form to confirm interest. Registration will be confirmed by email.
Attending all classes and committing to regular practice will ensure full benefit to the program. Missing 1-2 classes is work-able if necessary.
Following completion of this program, providers are welcome to join a provincial community of practice that meets monthly.
Program FAQ’s
- What is considered a BC rural community? It is one defined within the framework of an RSA (Rural Service Area), where eligibility for the Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement is determined based on the level of isolation. You can refer to the RSA Communities List for more details.
- Is this program accredited? Yes, this program is accredited for 23.5 Mainpro+ credits, which are based on the number of sessions you attend.
- What is the anticipated size of the group? We anticipate that the size of this cohort will be around 15 people, with a maximum capacity of 20 registrants.
- I currently practice in a rural community but reside in an urban setting. Can I still register? Yes, individuals who serve rural communities in BC are eligible to register for this program.
- What is included in the full-day course? The full-day program provides an opportunity to integrate all of the various practices and ideas we will exploring. Past participants often name it as the highlight of the course.
I loved that it was virtual. It was an exceptional course. Best I’ve done in the last 3 years with virtual conferences and learning opportunities. I would highly recommend to EVERYONE. I already have been recommending it to everyone.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course participant
I notice that now I handle situations better. I’m calmer. I feel less anxious. I’m on a 1/3 of the dose of my anti anxiety pills and I feel great. I interact with my family members better – the way I want to be, not angered or short tempered. I sleep better.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course participant
About the Facilitator
Dr. Rahul Gupta is a settler born on the lands of the Anishinaabe people and now lives and works on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Shishalh and Squamish People. He works as an integrative medical physician, professional coach, mindfulness instructor, and advocate for provider wellness. He also is a Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner and integrates trauma-sensitive approaches into all of his trainings. He has over 18 years experience of supporting physicians and healthcare teams in cultivating compassionate self & situational awareness.
Walk Slowly
It only takes a reminder to breathe,
a moment to be still and just like that,
something in me settles, softens,
makes space for imperfection. The harsh
voice of judgment drops to a whisper
and I remember again that life isn’t a relay race;
that we will all cross the finish line;
that waking up to life is what we were born for.
As many times as I forget, catch myself charging forward
without even knowing where I am going,
that many times I can make the choice
to stop, to breathe, to be and walk
slowly into the mystery.
Dana Foulds
Related Stories
Team Involved
Related Projects
Thriving Project
The Thriving Project aims for rural health care practitioners to learn how to cultivate and strengthen your compassion to thrive, both personally and professionally.
Isolated Medical Provider Aftercare Team
IMPACT offers confidential peer-to-peer support to rural doctors and to nurses in remote nursing stations in British Columbia who have experienced a potentially challenging incident at work.
