The Mindful Physician and Pooh

Abstract

Resident physicians are particularly susceptible to burnout due to the stresses of residency training. They also experience the added pressures of multitasking because of the increased use of computers and mobile devices while delivering patient care. Our Family Medicine residency program addresses these problems by teaching residents about the mindful practice of medicine. We utilize A. A. Milne’s classic children’s books, Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, along with Benjamin Hoff’s The Tao of Pooh to explain Dr. Ron Epstein’s four habits of mindfulness: attentive observation, critical curiosity, beginner’s mind, and presence. We also use video clips from two Disney movies, The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and A Day for Eeyore as well as Kenny Loggins’ song, House at Pooh Corner. With Winnie-the-Pooh’s help, residents learn how to become more mindful physicians by incorporating Epstein’s four habits of mindfulness into their daily practice.