On February 27, 2014, The UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine was pleased to present David P. Rakel, MD as he gave a resident didactic lecture entitled "Mind-Body Tools: Mindfulness, Journaling, Guided Imagery, Emotional Awareness for Yourself and Others".
Dr. Rakel talked with the residents about empathy that involved the art of removing ones own lenses (biases and opinions) and seeing from the patients perspective. He also talked about the current state of the healthcare system in this country and the difference between what currently matters vs what should matter. During this didactic lecture Dr. Rakel also lead the group in a mindful meditation and a session on guided imagery which left the group with a sense of peace and awareness.
After the resident didactic lecture he presented Family Medicine Grand Rounds with a lecture entitled "The Clinician Effect: How You Trump Pills." Dr. Rakel shared personal experiences and offered factual findings on placebo vs pills and how connecting with the patient and showing compassion really does trump the use of pills. He also discussed that by taking the time to listen to your patients story you not only get a deeper connection with the patient but you also get the whole story which can be insightful and reveal the complexities of the patient that go beyond what their original presentation of symptoms.
Both lectures were filled with inspirational and thought provoking insights into a mindful approach to patient care. This mindfulness reaches beyond the clinic walls and gives us a way interact with everyone around us.
These educational lectures were supported by the Marcel and Josephine Patterson Memorial Lecture in Family Medicine and the Jesse B. Heath Lectureship in Family Medicine.
Dr. Rakel is currently an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
