Meditation & Mindfulness for Physicians Retreat 

May 3-5, 2019

As physicians, we all experience suffering, sometimes even moral injury. We may inherit a practice full of too many patients on narcotics for whom we are now responsible, have an unending “inbox”, or have to concern ourselves with being rated on productivity when we want to spend time caring for suffering people who need our attention and time. . Even in the best of practices, patients are suffering, families are under stress, people die. It is meaningful, but not easy, work we do.

Our personal lives include suffering too, whether it is the death of a parent, a divorce, infertility, an empty nest, or feeling like you don’t have enough time and energy for your children, your spouse, or your friends.

We have a calling to be present for the people that come to us for help. But we need to fill our own cups up first so we can be present for those who are suffering.

We all learned to multi-task in medical school— looking up a lab result while doing charts and waiting on hold for a consultant. Yet what will help us most to get back in touch with the healer within, is mindfulness (which may be the opposite of multi-tasking.)

Come share a weekend with us:

beautiful private setting in Napa Valley

healthy cooking and eating

time for healing

resources for your patients

a community of like minded physicians.

WHO

This retreat is for you if:

You prefer a small gathering with a balance of time for quiet reflection and small group interaction.

You are a physician who recognizes (or wants to recognize) your value as a wounded healer.

You deserve some time and attention for your inner life.

You are willing to come with a beginner’s mind.

Facilitators

Sharon McCoy George MD MPS

Sharon has been practicing medicine for over 25 years. Because she has a heart for doctors that are overwhelmed and burnt-out, she holds space for you to breathe and reconnect with yourself. She is a gardener who is learning to work in the bigger space of this 5 acres, hillside retreat in Napa. She is currently creating a medicinal plant garden and making plans for a labyrinth and likes to grow herbs, greens, and tomatoes for healthy meals. She is a family doctor with an interest in integrative medicine. She has a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies and teaches the Healer’s Art to medical students at UC Davis, where she also mentors and teaches Family & Community Medicine resident physicians. Sharon recently completed the Living School for Action and Contemplation, based in Albuquerque, where she met Maria Hoober. Their mutual interests in contemplation, meditation, and physician wellness brought them together to create this retreat.

Guest co-facilitator: Maria Hoober, M.D., M.P.H.

Maria is an internist who has been practicing primary care medicine for over 25 years in Pittsburgh, PA where she also did all her medical training.  She has a passion for team based health care to enable whole person care of patients.  She believes in the importance of attending to the mind, body and spirit of individuals as the only way to real wellness.  She has practiced meditation for many years and trained in several different traditions.  Maria is currently in training with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. She is an avid runner and hiker and feels drawn to the outdoors. She also thoroughly enjoys her two adult sons.

WHEN

Friday evening May 3 through Sunday mid-day May 5, 2019.

Friday arrive anytime between 3:00-7:00p Session will end at 9p

Sat. first session starts at 9:00 am, evening session will end between 8 and 9p

Sun. first session starts at 9:00 am. CME sessions end by noon, with optional activities in the afternoon

This is a small group retreat (10-15 max).

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Mindfulness & Meditation Learn (or refresh) the latest research on benefits of mindfulness and meditation, and practice some ways to teach patients how they can use these practices in their own lives.

Share struggles and experiences as physicians in facilitated exercises with the intention to heal so you return to your practice with your cup a bit more full and with a plan for ways to keep refilling it.

Forest Bathing Spend some time with the old evergreen Coastal Oaks. Walk through the Bay Laurel forest. Sit in the tree swings and listen for the owls.

Healthy Meals, generally Mediterranean diet based (let us know any special requests when you register and we will do our best to accommodate). After recently completing the Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives course at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, I’m inspired to share simple, healthy cooking in community. Those who wish will share preparation of one simple, healthy meal and take recipes home to share with patients. Other meals prepared by Chef Steve and he will spoil us!

Mindful Wine Tasting Seeing, smelling, tasting, savoring different aromas, colors, and flavors found in wine as a mindful practice. Slowly smell herbs, licorice, leather, grass, and others and learn to recognize these sensations in sipping some of the fruit of Napa Valley.

Relax in the hot tub or sit by the fire under the stars. Enjoy the swings hanging up the hill in the Mother Oak.

CME Credit. “This Live activity, Meditation & Mindfulness Retreat for Physicians, with a beginning date of 05/03/2019, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 8.00 Prescribed credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.” AMA/AAFP Equivalency: AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted by the American Medical Association as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™ toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. When applying for the AMA PRA, Prescribed credit earned must be reported as Prescribed, not as Category 1.

Transportation. We are on the western hills of the city of Napa. Closest major airports are Sacramento (SMF), Oakland (OAK), and San Francisco (SFO). All can be just over an hour drive in good traffic; Sacramento tends to have less traffic. There is a bus between OAK or SFO and Napa, at scheduled times throughout the day. Search for Evans Napa Airporter.

Accommodations. Napa has multiple hotels, B&B’s, and AirBnB’s if you are staying off-site. We are in the Brown’s Valley neighborhood, just over a mile from Brown’s Valley Market.

Retreat + Room includes private room with private or semi-private bath.  Introductory price $995 (Regularly $2495)

Retreat Only for those staying off site. Introductory price $795 (Regularly $1995)