Compassion, connection, and capacity: Outcomes of a yearlong contemplative medicine fellowship.
Explore (New York, N.Y.) January 1, 2025 Anne Kennard, Jennifer Clinkenbeard, Erin Gillespie et al.
A year-long Contemplative Medicine Fellowship that integrates mindfulness, compassion training, and peer support was associated with reduced burnout and increased well-being and compassion among physicians. Emotional exhaustion dropped by 10.0 points and depersonalization by 3 points, while compassion increased by 0.4 points. Participants also reported high satisfaction and a greater sense of community. The findings suggest that contemplative training may help mitigate burnout and moral distress while fostering meaning and connection in clinical practice.