Ronald Epstein, MD: Bringing Mindfulness Into the Examination Room

Advances in Mind-Body Medicine (Advances): You have come out with a book recently, titled Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity. What was the motive for writing this book? Dr Epstein: I knew that it was time to expand beyond writing for medical audiences and peer-reviewed journals when 2 realizations struck me. One is that important change in medicine often comes from the outside in as opposed to from the inside out. The degree to which the public is educated and energized about an issue can produce a change in medicine. The second is that the issue of being present, attentive, and curious and having a beginner's mind goes well beyond medical practice. I think the message is relevant to anyone who does work that involves people.