Enthusiasts everywhere see mindfulness as an essential tool, personal as well as professional, a potent adjunct in the treatment of acute and chronic disease, easing symptoms, promoting well-being and enhancing the capacity to cope with the stresses of life.
C. Ronald MacKenzie, MD, is an attending physician at The Hospital for Special Surgery and Professor of Clinical Medicine and Medical Ethics at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, N.Y. Recently named The C. Ronald MacKenzie Chair in Ethics and Medicine at the Hospital for Special Surgery, he has practiced rheumatology and general internal medicine and has provided perioperative care at this institution and New York Presbyterian Hospital for the past 30 years.
Editor’s note: For more information on mindfulness, see “Mindfulness May Improve Medical Efficacy in Rheumatology Patients”.
References
- Stahl B, Goldstein E. A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook. New Harbinger Publications. Oakland, Calif.: 2010.
- Kabat-Zinn J. Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. Dell Publishing. New York: 1990.
- Pickert K. The art of being mindful. Time. 2014 Feb 3.
