Remember, we are human first

Remember,
we are human first

Health care practitioners have a high rate of burn-out. Our training teaches us to deflect the impact that our work can have on our own psyche, health, and relationships.

There is another way.

Contemplative practices are rooted in awareness, curiosity, the direct acknowledgement of suffering and how we respond to stress. They provide a path for learning and maintaining compassion for self and others.

Our 8-week live zoom course is an experiential introduction to a contemplative orientation.

We hope you find wisdom, rituals and community that can bring calm and joy into your life as we explore together. Join us as we pause, listen, and heal.

Our approach is one that moves beyond telling clinicians what to do, instead having them experience and reflect, with the hope that over the sessions, one or more contemplative practices will resonate. We want to change awareness and behavior!

This course invites you to establish patterns for simple daily practices and a supportive community that fosters maintaining practices that bring you joy.

Course: Human First

WHEN: Jan 22, 29, Feb 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12

Join us for 8 consecutive Wednesday evenings. 

Each session will be 90 minutes on Zoom from 530-7:00 pm PDT.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Minnesota Medical Association and Human First. The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Minnesota Medical Association designates this activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Registration ends at midnight Jan 19. If you register later than Jan 15 or wish to register after Jan 19, please send us an email at humanfirst@pauselistenheal.com so that we can connect with you.

Cost: $550

 

What to Expect

Week 1: Introductions and community building

Week 2: Pause and curiosity

Week 3: Bearing witness and compassion

Week 4: Fear and forgiveness

Week 5: Suffering

Week 6: Grief

Week 7: Delight

Week 8: Transitions and beginning again

Each session we will guide a variety of mindfulness experiences, review a topic, facilitate 1:1 and small group conversations, and suggest references for further learning and ways to practice at home and work. Each week there will be a suggested activity to help expand your personal practice.

Contemplative approaches are NOT fully learned, perfected, or finalized in a short course. We hope you leave with a sense of where to go for further learning and exploration.

Other HUMAN FIRST Offerings

Other Human First Offerings

Join us in person: Be Here Now

Contemplative Practices Through the Senses

May 23-25, 2025 in Sedona, Arizona

In person experiential program beginning Friday afternoon, ending Sunday evening.

A time to be together. We believe in connection and community.

We will have daily yoga, short meditations, fix and eat meals together, have time for conversation, and explore mindfulness through the senses.

Program activities and all meals included $600

Lodging and transportation will be on your own.

CME is not available for this weekend.

Connect (monthly)

Free monthly offering. All are welcome.

30 minute Zoom drop in sessions

Fourth Sunday 5 pm PST/7 CST/8 EST

Each session is unique and led by one of us with a contemplative practice.

Expect activities such as mindfulness meditation, generous listening in conversation, readings, and simple yoga.

To join the group:

Please send an email to us at humanfirst@pauselistenheal.com 

Do you want to create a unique opportunity for your group?

 

We are happy to create an individualized program for your group to explore resilience. We use experiences to explore strategies, practice awareness, and curiosity.

Please contact us at: humanfirst@pauselistenheal.com for questions, fee structure, and further discussion.

Who We Are

We met in 2021 during the inaugural Contemplative Medicine Fellowship through the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. During our year together we learned about joy, suffering, compassion, purpose, and community. We were changed for the better. 

Nancy Lanphear, MD is a developmental behavioral pediatrician in Vancouver Canada. She is originally from St Louis and attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She had some early meditation experience in medical school and in her early 20’s. She has practiced yoga for more than 27 years and became a certified hatha yoga teacher in 2011. She returned to mindfulness meditation in 2019. The daily practice of yoga and meditation has brought calm, gratitude, and a sense of possibility to her life. The fellowship provided a new community, a way to see how living this one life is so important, and a deeper understanding of some of the ancient teachings related to mindfulness. These practices have helped her listen more deeply, find calm in times of change, and a perspective in making choices related to her work and family.

Robin Obenchain, MD is a medical oncologist living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. She has also served as a medical director for several hospice organizations and completed an Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona in 2020. In July 2022, she graduated from the New York Zen Center Contemplative Care Medicine fellowship where she reconnected to what matters most and was surrounded by others who felt the same. Being a provider who cares for dying patients has required an intimate relationship with suffering and grief. Over the years it became harder to offer compassion to patients and she felt an internal shift to just getting through the day and getting the work done instead of being present. Engaging in the contemplative care fellowship has reinvigorated her love of patient care, her ability to pause and listen and to extend heartfelt compassion in the setting of profound sadness. She has also developed a deeper relationship to her personal life, interests outside of being a doctor and the joy of creating balance.

Wendy Wallskog, MD lives and works as an anesthesiologist in Minneapolis, MN.  Her current practice is at a busy trauma center and high-volume obstetrical hospital. She is finishing her term serving as president of the board for her private practice group.  She has completed two fellowships–Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona in 2017 and Contemplative Medicine through the New York Zen Center in 2022. During the fellowship with Nancy and Robin, Wendy incorporated simple ways to be more fully present at work without requiring extra to-dos or effort.  Her personal meditation practice began 15 years ago as a tool to use when she felt anxious and insecure.  As she practiced pausing, being curious, and allowing “on the cushion” she noticed during intense, stressful, high-stake moments at work she felt more grounded, calm and clear.  She has been teaching mindfulness to patients and colleagues for 10 years.

FAQs (human first course)

Healthcare practitioners such as physicians, advanced practice nurses, midwives, nurses, and physician assistants.

It is a way for clinicians to approach healthcare in a new way. Aspects of this care include bringing mindfulness into daily activities, and generously listening to the people who seek care from us. It is an orientation that shifts the “medical” model into authentic connection and compassion. Training in this is rooted in Buddhist practices of meditation and contemplation.

This course is an excellent introduction of these concepts taught at a level for busy healthcare workers by physicians who have more than 50 years of combined practice.

 

Most of the concepts that we will cover are of ancient wisdom and practices. Often the retelling of these stories and practices can be “new” even to experienced practitioners. Each time we hear a story, we are not the same person who heard it in the past. When a group forms, new perspectives can be found. If you have a lot of experience, consider bringing a “beginner’s mind” to this course. 

No. We encourage you to engage in all aspects of the course (sessions, readings, etc). We also know everyone is busy. You will get the most out of this course if you can find time for the activities suggested. We hope that our suggestions throughout the course will invite you to explore.

We plan to set up a Whatsapp chat for all participants. There will be weekly content sent through this group. It is also a forum to share your thoughts and experiences through the weeks.

We will communicate with you primarily via email.

Attend weekly 1.5-hour sessions.

We will suggest other things that could take minutes up to a few hours per week. It is totally up to you what you do.

Our hope is that you discover mindfulness in your day. This can be one breath, one pause, or one activity. It could be more. Changing behavior takes time. So, exploring patterns and what works for you is important.

This program is NOT a substitute for mental health care which is individualized for each person. It is possible that as you sit with yourself, explore suffering and grief, you may find that there is a need for further support. This type of support is not available through Human First and we would suggest that you consider your own needs and resources to obtain this help.

We understand that there can be extenuating circumstances where the suggested program price is not possible. Please connect with us via email for a discounted price. No explanation is needed.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

—Viktor Frankl

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.”

—Hermann Hesse

Past participants comments
(about Human First Course)

What did you find valuable during the experience?

“I have grown immensely…(and) made connections in this group like no others…I carry myself differently, with a magical tool box that gives me freedom to listen intently, feel compassion and hold space with others without having to carry every load and fix every complaint. Thank you.”

“A sense of comraderie, friendship, support. A feeling of being a part of a group who is dealing with many similar, some universal issues/problems. Better in touch with some of my own feelings – better understanding leading to some better acceptance and self forgiveness.”

“The friendship and time to unwind and focus on myself.”

“…everything – quiet thinking, relationship building/meeting you all, thoughtful listening, taking a breath…your leadership…”

What worked well with the zoom/virtual format?

Our smaller group size. The breakout sessions.”

“Cohesive collaborative leadership helped this to work well. It really did allow us to participate together.”

“Ease of participation by so many different individuals in all parts of the country.”

Would you recommend participating in “we are Human First” to a colleague?
Please comment on why or why not:

“This was my first experience in contemplative medicine. We do SO MUCH education and recertification in the science and practice of medicine, but NONE in being human in that role and the emotional and spiritual aspect of this work. This course was really helpful to me as a person and physician.”

“I felt like it was a really exceptional group of people, committed to participating honestly and openly, and that was part of the success. The participants were in several different stages of life, but I don’t think anyone felt like they didn’t fit in. However, I was glad that I wasn’t the only person who was retired or nearing retirement.”

“This was a delightful course and was perfect for me.”

“The roots of a lasting relationship are mindfulness, deep listening and loving speech,
and a strong community to support you.”

— Thich Nhat Hanh