Higher Vibrations in Higher Education

Great People Doing Great Work: How to brave your journey

Sarah Wang is a dual MD-PhD student at the University of Virginia. She is also a patient advocate for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), where we met. I was instantly impressed by her thoughtfulness and contributions to the advisory board on which we serve: Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science (CEDS). In this episode, Sarah shares about a loved one's cancer diagnosis and the impact it has had on her life and career trajectory. For all of us, she outlines some strategies for braving your academic or medical journey; which may also apply to a healthcare journey (as a patient or caregiver). One of my favorite aspects was her reflections related to the fact that life is an emotional roller coaster; a mindfulness practice allows you to embrace "the transient nature of emotions."
Other takeaways include:
Using experiments as anchor points for your schedule
Practice to speak up-- you belong. Your opinion matters...even when you feel a lump in your throat
Her passion is at the intersectionality of healthcare: Triangle of provider, caregiver, researcher
Community support is imperative when something tragic is going on
Based on some of her experiences, she knows her mantra for providing quality care will be akin to: "If I can't cure your cancer, I want to be a support member for you."
Sharing about your needs for support in your research team can help you a) get resources that are needed and b) give yourself time and space to balance everything that is happening in your life
In your training, seek elective courses, like UVA's “The heart of medicine” that shares about wellness, intentionality. *If your program doesn't have one, perhaps seek online resources. Learning how to put your own oxygen mask on first is imperative.
There's a general void in knowing the truth of "what we are getting into." Think critically, find mentors, share what this job (biology, medicine) is going to look like
Flourishing is living your life fully- the way you want to... It's a chosen path with opportunities to find the beauty in the pain..."stars can't shine without darkness."
Sarah shares the impact of art of life lessons from others before us. Specifically, a quote from Raymond Carver's Late Fragment: "And did you get what you wanted from life, even so?”
A reminder that if your environment isn't helping you function, seek options (e.g., switching labs, programs, or universities)
Great people are doing great things-- the purpose of academics is to teach you the rigor of science. The politics of science are overwhelming, but remember your "why" can help you stay the course.
Being brave or having courage is willingness to be yourself - show the world who you are. "Give them your pure thoughts and not be afraid to share that."
More about Sarah Wang as well as the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) in general:
PCORI: https://www.pcori.org/
Sarah Wang: https://med.virginia.edu/bims/congratulations-to-sarah-wang-recipient-of-an-nih-f30-ruth-l-kirschstein-national-research-service-award/

Samma Says: Permission to hold a firm time-limit boundary

Ever have a "got a sec" turn in to 10 min diatribe or a 60-min zoom call running 6 over- back-to-back-to-back so there's no transition time? (Shout out to Dr. Alyssa Gatto in "Trip, fall, and leap into your next step, and let the transition time be gentle" (episode 4).
 
A reminder to use your throat chakra to get on the same page with your colleagues. Only have 50 min? Tell them. And maybe more than once. Calendar invite says 50 minutes, start the meeting with an agenda and end time reminder, and conclude with "our final 5 minutes let's discuss..."
 
Too simple? I hear you. But, in my experience it's simple but not easy. We don't want to offend. However, clarity begets more clarity and... ultimately, cohesion.
 
So, let's stop stealing time from ourselves or colleagues and
- Make shorter meetings
- Take meetings to email where we can
- Practice that it's ok to hold your time limits. You are worthy, you always have been.

Partnering with journalists to disseminate your science

Freelance journalist, Meredith Lindemon, reached out to me for my first Virginia Living feature about the Blue Zones—places where the highest proportion of people 100+ years of age live—the article is taking off and bringing new opportunities with numerous organizations. I thought you might want to hear some tips for this dissemination option, too.
Know yourself: Are you funny? Be funny! If you’re not funny, don’t be.... But definitely don’t talk like you’re giving a lecture
Know who you’re talking to: What you’re doing is a dinner party conversation with their whole audience, but talk directly to the journalist
Answer the question: Avoid jargon, skip the sound bite, don’t think “how can I give a great quote”
Do your homework: What do they write? How do they address subject matter?
Important conversion rate ~20-30% do what they read!
Speak conversationally and the quote will emerge
How do you know yourself?
Grow where you’re planted- know your purpose- you can do this wherever you end up because you have it within you already
Financial stability: Need to be able to do the work, but you also need to be able to be a human being
Imagine your box of existence: Horizontal line = baseline (things need to be above this) and another horizontal line on top = limits (nothing above this) Boundaries within which you can exist: "I have to find another solution to this"
How do you explore your baseline needs? Many of us are experiencing this through breakdowns
Seek workshops, have fun, share your passions!
More at:  https://meredithlindemon.com/

I trust myself: A yogi’s journey to handstands and a white coat

Pull up a chair to join future Dr. Emma Kange and I as we talk about medical school, yoga, and balancing life. My favorite line is, "Doing your best doesn’t mean doing the most."
Grad and med school (or work) are demanding, but give yourself permission to take time away—perhaps on the mat, handling errands, or eating a nourishing meal
Family and trusted others can help guide us on our paths
Be open and relaxed in rotations for medical school
Parking lot prayers: Some call it spell, prayer, manifestation, quantum physics, whichever you identify with—can you take some moments to still and visualize yourself “take me to the white coat”
Prayer of “thank you” gratitude- thankful for the opportunity to be stressed doing things I love. 
Chakra system for medical school: quiet the idea that you don’t belong (root); feel into your calling—create opportunities for yourself (sacral); I am willing do to the work (solar plexus); I speak my trust (throat); keep my heart open to possibilities (heart); see myself stepping into my goal/role (third-eye); surrender the outcome (crown)
I’m on my way somewhere, I don’t know where, but I’m on my way
As a yoga teacher- I recognize you’re on your journey- I might give you a template, but I am not controlling your experience.
A yoga studio is not a place to do asana sessions, it’s a place to build community, safety, finding oneself
Teaching yoga is not an orchestrated act. Neither is teaching in academia
Nothing lasts forever- the fulfilling or unfulfilling
Priority list- life, joy, job- with 4 things per category
Love everyone for who they are—instead of “people aren’t meeting me in this way” instead look at what they are there for you for
What might change medicine: Increasing the importance of patient-centered care and wondering what is going on with the patient.

Fire Up: Balancing the Solar Plexus in Your Work Life

An introduction to the solar plexus: Associated with fire, the color yellow, self-discipline, and core work. A time to recommit to work life balance.
- Niyama: Tapas, fire, discipline, commitment
- A perfect time to re-investigate yearly intentions, resolutions, etc.
- To resolve means to do something steadfastly. Can you rest steadfastly as well? Take breaks? Create boundaries?
- I share an excerpt from my book about the gut-punch that is my own mental chatter about how stressed I am or am not "allowed" to be
- Mantra: I can do hard things
- Cued through a plank meditation

Extension’s worthy endeavors: Being mindful of the mission to educate and serve

Dr. Ahlishia Shipley embodies her roles within Family and Consumer Sciences and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) when she posits that, to invest in a healthier society, we start with families: “Families are (one of) the most important piece to society. That’s where people are built.” Yes. Yes, indeed. More about the people, policies, and programs within this episode. Key takeaways are that:
Relationships are the key to Extension work.
Need help maintaining relationships: A tool can be to say “I’m sorry how can I fix it?”
Remember: One kind interaction might lead to something decades down the road
Overall goal summarized: Wide and lasting impact on health and communities
Education as an equalizer
How to flourish at work: Engage in worthy endeavors
“Alignment of our hands to our flourishing spirit”
Some things need to be done yesterday, but taking care of our own health remains a priority.
Dr. Ahlishia Shipley is a National Program Leader (NPL) for Family and Community Health in the Division of Family and Consumer Sciences within the Institute of Youth, Family, and Community. She provides leadership for the Rural Health and Safety Education Program, the Extension COVID Immunization Training and Education (EXCITE) Program, and supports initiatives focused on health equity and well-being across the research, education, and extension mission areas. Dr. Shipley joins NIFA from the National Institutes of Health, Center for Scientific Review where she was the Scientific Review Officer for the chartered study section, Lifestyle Change and Behavioral Health providing leadership for the peer review process for extramural research applications focused on chronic disease prevention and health promotion. She previously served as an NPL for Families and Health at NIFA.

Samma Says: This is your permission slip to take time to rest

Babe- if you need a permission slip to rest, let this be it. You are allowed to take time away from work. True time away from work. Nobody at the end of life said they wish they worked harder.
Overworking before you leave work isn’t taking rest
The fact that you have a lot to do when you return is called job security
Asteya (yama- ethical principles) of non-stealing ... from yourself and your familty
Scarcity and fear let us think we can be replaced: Can we change the narrative to know that we are a valued member of the community?
What would you do with an extra hour a day… an extra breath?
It’s not about time management, it’s energy management
You are a worthy member of the community you serve. 
How will you embrace the weekend, the evening, vacation, sabbatical?
Microbreaks, detaching from email on phone, environmental cues to help you with your intention
Smile and know that behavior change is hard.

Using Science and Extension to Open our Minds and Hearts

Dr. David Buys is an associate professor of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion and state specialist for Mississippi State University. His expertise spans farmer stress and health to opioid misuse and participatory research. I left with so many take-aways but two in particular: There’s opportunity to “open our minds and our hearts” and, no matter where you are on your life or career journey, “we haven’t arrived yet… we’re still on the journey.” This helps me think through, ok, it’s no longer, “Now what? It’s, now anything!”
 
As we try to define a Cooperative Extension Health Specialist, he describes his job as an Extension specialist like a healthcare provider generalist or primary care provider: “I take what walks in the door.” Extension has to continue to be responsive and robust.
Consider expertise: Different titles for different states but agents/ county-based educators are the experts. Specialists—slow down from wanting to “bring” curriculum-- invest in people.
Nurture relationships, communicate the relationship process in your tenure and annual reviews—Some Extension work doesn’t fit nice and neat into a table – storytelling as a way to communicate “impacts”
We struggle with the emotional energy of “the job” and how to turn off and turn to family
There are many right paths to get you to the job, there aren’t a lot of “wrong” paths. Take your major and your time.
Show up whole at work: Bring our perspectives, and leave anxiety at the door
Reminder: We love what we do
The system is the people.
More people want expansion, connection, diversity, inclusion, love, than the louder voices that say, “be scared of how you and what you think” and “restrict yourself." We start this change one lab or team at a time.
Follow Dr. Buys on twitter @DrBuys

What you are Creating Matters: Sacral Chakra Visualization, Mantra, and Meditation

The sacral chakra is associated with creativity, birthing ideas, sensuality, connection.
Some of these terms can seem "not for me". Suggestions for rethinking the narrative- we're all creative beings.
Create but let go of outcome—even if your lecture flops, ok. If your grant doesn’t get funded. Ok. You are still ok.
I share a bit about my infertility journey as it relates to vibrational energy, reflection, and compassion for self and others.
Jump to minute marker 9:55 if you want to get straight to the practice.

Samma Says: Help is just one ask away, and we might be the answer.

This 5 minute reminder and meditation to check in on the notions that:
- Most people are just trying to figure it all out
- "We're all divine having a human experience"
- We'll do things imperfectly
- Support is a healing modality
- A moment of rest and breathing might help you check in with what you need, ask for help where needed
- Someone on your team might need help, too. Does this fit within your capabilities? If not, can you share what is feasible
- Let's be a bridge from research to practice!