Overview

In The News

The Transcendental Meditation elective is meant to provide students a technique they can use as a tool for wellness and transformation during their physician training and beyond.

The elective requires:

  • Introductory session
  • Individual training in Transcendental Meditation (1-1.5 hours/day over four consecutive days)
  • Personal practice of Transcendental Meditation, 20 minutes twice a day
  • Meet two to three times a year for meditation with instructor
  • Attend five lecture discussion throughout the elective. (These will also be filmed and available online for viewing, must supply a one-page summary.)
  • Complete final paper

The entire Stritch community, including faculty and staff, are invited to the lecture discussions.

2017-18 Schedule Overview

ALL FOUR YEARS AND ENTIRE STRITCH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE COMMUNITY INVITED*:

*Each meeting is preceded at 5:30 p.m. with a group meditation for those practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique.

Following meditation, refreshments will be served,

August 23

(6:30-8:30 PM/SSOM 460)

I.

What does 45 years of research tell us about the Transcendental Meditation technique?

Special guest, David Orme-Johnson PhD, prolific researcher and widely cited presenter on the Transcendental Meditation technique and advanced programs, has reviewed research on the effects of meditation (on chronic pain and insomnia) for the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine and for the NIH Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) and Johns Hopkins University.

October 18

(6:30-8:30 PM/SSOM 360)

II.

Measurement of brain functions: What differing modalities show during TM practice and afterward?

Special guest, Fred Travis, PhD, Director, Brain, Consciousness and Cognition Lab; Maharishi University of Management.

November 15

(6:30-8:30 PM/SSOM 360)

III.

The effects of the Transcendental Meditation on Gene Expression.

Special guest, John Fagan, PhD, Dean, College of Sustainability and Professor of Molecular Biology; Maharishi University of Management.

February 7

(6:30-8:30 PM/SSOM 360)

IV.

The Transcendental Meditation Technique for You and Your Medical Practice.

Richard Carroll, MD, ScM, FACC, board-certified cardiologist and Regional Vice President for Quality/Co-Chief Medical Officer, Adventist Health System, Midwest Region.

April 4

(6:30-8:30 PM/SSOM 360)

V.

The Role of the Transcendental Meditation Program in Reducing Medical Costs

Special guest, Robert Herron, Director of the Center for Health Systems Analysis in Fairfield, IA. He has conducted extensive research on how to improve medical system effectiveness and reduce national and corporate medical expenditures.

April 18

(6:30-8:30 PM/SSOM 360)

VI.

Evidence for Preventive Medicine, Developing Resilience, and Reversing the Impact of Post-Traumatic Stress.

Special guest, Col. Brian Rees, MD, veteran of five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, former VA physician, civilian MD. He has published research about promotion of soldier resilience and resolution of PTS, most recently as lead author of two published studies about the effects of Transcendental Meditation practice in resolving post-traumatic stress in Congolese refugees.