Compassion, connection, and capacity: Outcomes of a yearlong contemplative medicine fellowship.

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

To evaluate how a year-long Contemplative Medicine Fellowship impacts physician burnout, moral injury, work-life integration, meaning, capacity for compassion, and professional resilience. A pre-post survey observational study using a combination of validated survey tools and questionnaire items authored by the research team. The New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care (NYZC), an educational nonprofit in the US, offers a year-long, remote learning fellowship in contemplative medicine that integrates mindfulness, compassion training, reflective inquiry, community engagement, and other contemplative approaches to the practice of medicine. Participation in the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship, which includes experiential contemplative practice, didactic instruction, mentorship, peer-group reflection, and cultivation of a community of support over 12 months. Primary outcomes included changes in burnout, well-being, and compassion (Maslach Burnout Inventory, Physician Well-Being Index, DPES-Compassion Scale). Participant's perceived value of the intervention is also assessed. Participants showed statistically significant reductions in emotional exhaustion (-10.0 points, P < .001) and depersonalization (-3 points, P = .015); increases in measures related to well-being; and statistically significant increases in compassion (+0.4 points, P = .022). Participants also reported a high level of satisfaction with the intervention and an increased sense of community. Contemplative training may mitigate burnout and moral distress while fostering compassion, meaning, connection, and leadership in clinical practice. Future endeavors may consider more widespread education and implementation of these concepts into medical education and practice as part of a cultural shift of medicine towards sustainable clinician well-being.