Meaning in Medicine:
Finding Strength in Community

A 2-day CME workshop with Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.
Open to physicians and residents

May 11 & 12, 2007
Mill Valley, California

Cost:
$450 to $250* see below

Workshop Description

This workshop is for physicians who are interested in exploring the unique and personal meaning of a physician's work and learning how to start and run a Finding Meaning in Medicine physician/resident support group in their community.

The workshop focuses on the Finding Meaning in Medicine (FMM) group process developed by the Institute for the Study of Health and Illness. Organized as a conversation and discovery process, FMM group meetings enable physicians and/or residents to uncover the deep meaning of medicine through story and personal insight and find strength within a community of physicians who share similar values. Our sessions will include instruction on how to create and maintain an FMM group of colleagues in your own professional community.

The FMM process offers an opportunity to strengthen the basic values that are the foundation and lineage of medicine: compassion, harmlessness, reverence for life and service. Forming a community of shared values is often the key to greater passion and commitment in doctoring. Come prepared to cultivate greater joy and satisfaction in your work and learn how to set up and maintain an FMM group -- the simple, no cost way to refresh and renew commitment and motivation in the company of peers.

• Experience support from a community of peers
• Experience safe space and harmless relationships
• Learn how to create and maintain safe space
• Learn a journal strategy for finding meaning in work
• Learn techniques for using symbols to explore and strengthen the meaning of work
• Learn two personal strategies to preserve meaning and passion for the practice of medicine
• List 3 methods of preventing professional burnout
• Participate in finding meaning in medicine groups with colleagues

• Start and run a Finding Meaning in Medicine group at a work site
• Discuss the relationship between meaning, commitment and burnout
• Reaffirm and strengthen deeply held professional values
• Strengthen a personal commitment to service
• Explore and share the meaning of the work of medicine with peer professionals
• Discuss the power of story to capture professional meaning
• Participate in topic discussions on a national FMM website

Who should attend: This workshop is for physicians and residents.

About Rachel Naomi Remen, MD: Dr. Remen, the Founder and Director of The Institute for the Study of Health and Illness (ISHI) at Commonweal, is a professor of clinical medicine at UCSF School of Medicine and the nationally known author of Kitchen Table Wisdom and My Grandfather's Blessings. Her curriculum for medical students, The Healer's Art is taught in medical schools nationwide. For the past twenty-five years her presentations, writings and CME workshop programs have enabled physicians to remember their calling and revitalize their work. The innovative approaches in this workshop have proved helpful to thousands of physicians and serve as an introduction to ISHI's professional programs.

CME credit: This is an activity offered by the Institute for the Study of Health and Illness at Commonweal, a CMA-accredited provider. Physicians attending this course may report up to 12 hours of Category 1 credits toward the California Medical Association's Certification in Continuing Medical Education and the American Medical Association's Physician's Recognition Award.

Workshop Logistics

Location: Acqua Hotel, 555 Redwood Highway, Mill Valley, California
Dates: May 11 & 12, 2007
Hours: 9:00 am - noon and 1:30 - 5:00 pm
Cost:
$450 for physicians (CME credit included) Pre-registration required.
$250 for residents (CME credit included) Pre-registration required.

Registration & payment: Pre-registration is required. To register online click here or to download a registration form you can mail in click here. We will accept payment by credit card (online only) or check. If you have questions or problems, please contact Corrie at or call 707-575-6801.

Refunds: Due to the constraints of budget planning and administration, no refunds will be issued after April 11. However, you may reassign or transfer your registration at no charge.

Cancellation Policy: A full refund (less processing fee of $25) will be issued for cancellations BEFORE April 11.

Work exchange & scholarships: This workshop is a fundraising effort for the Institute for the Study of Health and Illness (ISHI) at Commonweal, a nonprofit organization. We regret that we are unable to offer work exchange or scholarships for this event.

Lodging: A special room rate has been negotiated for workshop attendees at the Acqua Hotel in Mill Valley, California, the workshop site. Call the Acqua Hotel's toll-free reservation line at (888) 662-9555 to reserve one of these rooms, which are available on a first come, first serve basis. You MUST request the account name "RACHEL REMEN WORKSHOPS 2007" at the time of booking by phone in order to get the special rate. You can also reserve these rooms (with special room rate) online, by following these directions:
Go To: www.acquahotel.com
Click: Reservations
Click: Corporate Rate
Enter: RNRWORKSHOPS

To confirm reservation, follow search prompts for date availability, rates & room choice. Based on availability at the time of request, guests can then select their preferred reservation date and room type. Rate changes may occur during a guest stay, based on day and length of stay. Daily rate details will be noted on each hotel confirmation notice. All reservations are accepted based on space availability. A two-night minimum may be in effect on selected weekends. Note: the RACHEL REMEN WORKSHOPS 2007 "corporate rate" link must be clicked to view discounted rates.

Transportation to site: Many participants fly in from all over the country to attend our workshops. If you are arriving by plane and will be renting a car, either the San Francisco or Oakland airport are recommended. The SF airport is approximately an hour south of the Acqua Hotel; the Oakland airport is around 90 minutes - it depends on the time you fly in and traffic, which can be quite heavy during morning and evening rush hours. We suggest participants fly in the evening before a workshop, and leaving the morning after it's over - and leave plenty of time to get to either airport.

If you don't plan to rent a car, we recommend flying into San Francisco International and taking the Marin Airporter shuttle service that has a stop very near the Acqua Hotel (Seminary Dr/Mill Valley).

Additional lodging: We can provide names of alternative accommodations in a range of prices in the immediate vicinity of the event. Click here for this list.

Meals: There will be 90 minutes available to eat lunch each day, from approximately noon to 1:30 pm. You may choose to either pre-order (when you register) a catered box lunch that will be served onsite during the workshop, or opt to eat out at one of the many restaurants in the immediate area (in which case, you will need a car as there is no easily accessible public transportation). The box lunches cost $14.00 (inc. tax) per person, per day, and must be pre-paid. They will vary each day, and you may choose either vegetarian or regular (meat) lunch. For example:

• Box Lunch #1: Grilled chicken focaccia sandwich, pesto pasta salad, biscotti
• Box Lunch #2 (veggie): Grilled vegetables focaccia sandwich, pesto pasta salad, biscotti

Note: If you are on a special diet or cannot eat carbs, we recommend that you eat lunch at a restaurant where you can be sure to have your needs met.

To pre-order a lunch online, please go to the online registration form. If you are registering by mail, be sure to checkmark the desired lunch(es) when you send in the form and include payment with the form. The Acqua Hotel does not have its own restaurant; however they do offer a very good continental breakfast for hotel guests staying with them. There are only a couple restaurants within walking distance for lunch or dinner. We offer the option of ordering a box lunch each day of the workshop. However, if you are not local and arrive via airport shuttle, you may need to call a cab to get to restaurants for dinner. In the past, many participants have opted to go out to eat together, making impromptu plans during the workshop.

A list of local restaurants is available, click here.

Map: Area map and directions are available, click here.