Mindfulness in Medicine

This book provides healthcare professionals with a comprehensive guide on how to implement effective mindfulness programming and tactics in their practices and at their institutions. It is designed to fill a gap in the field by providing practical, evidence-based information and guidance for both our patients and ourselves -  tailored to the specific needs of healthcare professionals.

The book is structured in a practical and sequential manner, each chapter building on the information presented in previous chapters. The guide begins by introducing the concept of mindfulness and its history, followed by an in-depth examination of the benefits of mindfulness meditation for both patients and healthcare professionals. Subsequent chapters delve into the specifics of implementing mindfulness programming within individual patient interactions,  practices and medical institutions -- including the selection of the appropriate mindfulness techniques, staff training, and measurement of programming effectiveness. Finally, Mindfulness in Medicine addresses the broader potential impact of mindfulness in contemporary medicine, providing readers with the knowledge we need to make informed decisions about incorporating mindfulness into our work. Mindfulness in Medicine demonstrates the potential of mindfulness meditation to improve patient outcomes, reduce stress and burnout among healthcare professionals, and promote a more holistic approach to medicine.

This is an essential guide for any healthcare professional interested in incorporating mindfulness into our practices, careers, and personal self-care tactics.

Rajat Chand, MD, is a board-certified radiologist who is based in Austin, Texas. He specializes in both adult and pediatric diagnosis and intervention.

He has served as an author and editor for multiple textbooks, as well as a speaker for international medical conferences on topics related to both radiology and mindfulness.

Dr. Chand enjoys cooking, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, artistic exploration, and spending time with his pets. He will be a lifelong student in Yoga and aims to integrate eastern spirituality not only into his holistic view of healthcare, but also in teaching to future generations of physicians.

Greg Sazima, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, educator, and author, based in Northern California. In addition to his psychotherapy practice, he serves as Senior Behavioral Faculty at the Stanford-O'Connor Family Medicine Residency Program in San Jose.

Dr. Sazima was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated in 1983 from the Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Social Relations; earned his MD in 1987 from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; and completed his psychiatric residency training at the University of Connecticut and Stanford University Medical Centers. He has maintained his private practice and teaching roles since 1991. 

His current clinical, teaching and writing/media work has included mindfulness and its applications in healthcare, the MD/patient relationship, and physician wellness. His first book, Practical Mindfulness: A Physician's No-Nonsense Guide to Meditation for Beginners (Turner Publishing) won the 2021 Gold Prize for Mind/Body/Mind/Spirit titles at the Foreword/Indies Book Awards competition.  His essays on mental health and behavior have been published in the Sacramento Bee, Philadelphia Inquirer, and other periodicals. Volunteer work has included board positions at Capital Public Radio and Snowline Hospice.

Dr. Sazima resides in Granite Bay, CA with his wife, Tracy Brown Sazima, MD, a family physician in clinical and leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. The couple has three adult sons.  Dr. Sazima has a deep interest in jazz piano yet only questionable skills in performance; his other interests include hiking, cooking, kayaking, and meditation.