Meditation & Mindfulness for Physicians Weekend Retreats

As physicians, we all experience suffering, sometimes even moral injury. We may inherit a practice full of too many patients on narcotics for whom we are now responsible, have an unending “inbox”, or have to concern ourselves with being rated on productivity when we want to spend time caring for suffering people who need our attention and time. Even in the best of practices, patients are suffering, families are under stress, people die. It is meaningful, but not easy, work we do.

Our personal lives include suffering too, whether it is the death of a parent, a divorce, infertility, an empty nest, or feeling like you don’t have enough time and energy for your children, your spouse, or your friends.

We have a calling to be present for the people that come to us for help. But we need to fill our own cups up first so we can be present for those who are suffering.

We all learned to multi-task in medical school— looking up a lab result while doing charts and waiting on hold for a consultant. Yet what will help us most to get back in touch with the healer within, is mindfulness (which may be the opposite of multi-tasking.)

Come share a weekend with us:

beautiful private setting in Napa Valley

healthy cooking and eating

our signature mindful wine tasting

time for healing

resources for your patients

CME credit

a community of like minded physicians

WHO

This retreat is for you if:

You prefer a small gathering with a balance of time for quiet reflection and small group interaction.

You are a physician who recognizes (or wants to recognize) your value as a wounded healer.

You deserve some time and attention for your inner life.

You are willing to come with a beginner’s mind.

Facilitator: Sharon McCoy George MD MPS

Sharon has been practicing medicine for over 25 years. Because she has a heart for doctors that are overwhelmed and burnt-out, she holds space for you to breathe and reconnect with yourself. She is a gardener who is learning to work in the bigger space of this 5 acres, hillside retreat in Napa. She is creating a medicinal plant garden and making plans for a labyrinth and likes to grow herbs, greens, and tomatoes for healthy meals. She is a family doctor with an interest in integrative medicine. She has a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies and taught the Healer’s Art to medical students at UC Davis, where she also mentor and taught Family & Community Medicine resident physicians. Sharon completed the Living School for Action and Contemplation, based in Albuquerque. She has a small solo Integrative Family Medicine in Napa (and virtually for anyone in California), Renaissance Health.

UPCOMING RETREAT WEEKENDS

April 26-28, 2024

SCHEDULE

Friday evening through Sunday mid-day.

Friday arrive anytime between 3:00-7:00p Session will end at 9p

Sat. first session starts at 9:00 am, evening session will end between 8 and 9p

Sun. first session starts at 9:00 am. CME sessions end by noon.

This is a small group retreat (10-15 max).

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Mindfulness & Meditation Learn (or refresh) the latest research on benefits of mindfulness and meditation, and practice some ways to teach patients how they can use these practices in their own lives.

Share struggles and experiences as physicians in facilitated exercises with the intention to heal so you return to your practice with your cup a bit more full and with a plan for ways to keep refilling it.

Forest Bathing Spend some time with the old evergreen Coastal Oaks. Walk through the Bay Laurel forest. Sit in the tree swings and listen for the owls.

Healthy Meals, generally Mediterranean diet based (let us know any special requests when you register and we will do our best to accommodate). After recently completing the Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives course at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, I’m inspired to share simple, healthy cooking in community. Those who wish will share preparation of one simple, healthy meal and take recipes home to share with patients. Other meals prepared by Chef Steve and he will spoil us!

Mindful Wine Tasting Seeing, smelling, tasting, savoring different aromas, colors, and flavors found in wine as a mindful practice. Slowly smell herbs, licorice, leather, grass, and others and learn to recognize these sensations in sipping some of the fruit of Napa Valley.

Relax in the hot tub or sit by the fire under the stars. Enjoy the swings hanging up the hill in the Mother Oak.

CME Credit. Available for each hour you participate in educational and/or coaching time.

Accommodations. Some registrations include being a guest in a private room on site. If you register for retreat only, Napa has multiple hotels, B&B’s, and limited AirBnB’s. We are in the Brown’s Valley neighborhood, just over a mile from Brown’s Valley Market.

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Transportation. We are on the western hills of the city of Napa. Closest major airports are Sacramento (SMF), Oakland (OAK), and San Francisco (SFO). All can be just over an hour drive in good traffic; Sacramento tends to have less traffic. A rental car (or Lyft) offers the most flexibility.

Retreat + Room includes private room with private or semi-private bath and gourmet meals. 

Room Options:

Lavender Room: King memory foam bed, private bath.  Shared hot tub on deck off bedroom.  Great if you want to join in the hot-tub under the stars.

Casita:  Separate apartment.  Cat-free zone, kitchen, twin day bed with memory foam mattress, elevator access.  Most private.

Oak Tree Room: Antique hand carved bed frame, queen memory foam mattress; Shared bath with Citrus room.

Citrus Room: Double Bed lower to the ground. Small desk for those who prefer writing at a desk in the privacy of your room. Shared bath with Oak Tree room.

Library: Ground floor room, private, quiet, dark room for sleeping on a comfortable sofa sleeper surrounded by books. Desk. Private shower, bath used as powder room during the day.

Retreat Only: Includes meals. Stay off-site at hotel, B&B, or commute from home.

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Inclusive Prices include Retreat, Gourmet Meals, Mindful Wine Tasting, CME Credit, and on-site guest room.

“Retreat Only” option includes Retreat, Gourmet Meals, Mindful Wine Tasting, CME Credit.