Rocky Vista University: Letter from the Dean

ROCKY VISTA UNIVERSITY MESSAGE

The year 2020 has been unlike any other with all the challenges we have faced due to this global pandemic. Many of us have suffered physically, emotionally, and economically. Many of us have lost family members, friends, or patients to COVID-19. This particular holiday season, we are all being asked to help our nation contain the spread of this virus so that 2021 can be a better year for all of us. As an American citizen and a grateful member of our local community, I am trying my best while maintaining a positive mindset. It is not easy, but overcoming challenges never is.

The start of a new year is the time when we usually commit or recommit to personal goals and think about things that are important to us. While this is wonderful, what if we were this mindful more frequently throughout our lives rather than just once a year?

Our thoughts and actions can often define us as a person. Sometimes we are thoughtless in our words and actions, which may lead to feelings of regret. If we are deliberate and intentional in every word we say and every action we take, I’m sure our lives would look quite different. Personally, I think it is impossible to be deliberate and intentional with every single thought, word, and action. However, if we practice this several times a day, it would be a very mindful decision to increase our mindfulness!

Mindfulness is about being deliberately “in the moment.” Being mindful allows us to focus on intentional thoughts and actions. Implementing mindfulness a few times a day may help us reach our goals. It could also bring some peace, joy, and motivation in small amounts each day. In this issue, Emily Jensen, one of our fourth-year medical students, writes a wonderful article about mindfulness. Her article walks us through the importance of mindfulness and suggests easy ways to incorporate it into our daily lives. I invite you to read the article and learn with us!

We are honored to be a member of this amazing community and look forward to continuing our service to the residents of southern Utah. To learn more about our osteopathic medical school, please visit our website at www.rvu.edu.

To your health,

David J. Park, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP Vice President and Dean of the Southern Utah Campus