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» Mindfulness During Uncertain Times
“I think we will learn a lot about how COVID-19 is affecting our local community—whether certain geographies and/or population sub-groups have a greater infectivity rate—and most importantly, what to do about it now and in the future,” said Kobetz. “And, I think doing this work in South Florida, given our significant diversity, will offer critical lessons learned for the broader U.S. and Western Hemisphere. Our data can drive local and global solutions.”
Some of the test kits will also be used to assess infection among first responders in Miami-Dade County and the homeless population.
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“The rapid spread of COVID-19 throughout the world and our country has forced us to figure out new ways to collaborate,” said Gimenez. “In our community we are proud to often engage in public-private partnerships, and this testing program is an outstanding example of this. With our combined efforts, we look forward to applying what we can learn from this study and, hopefully, help bring an end to this public health crisis.”
Written by Amanda Torres Published on March 30, 2020 Category: Chair, Faculty, Service
The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to changes that have been stressful for individuals of all ages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend several ways to cope with stress during these challenging times. One of the four suggestions is to take care of your body by taking deep breaths, stretching, or meditating.
David J. Lee, Ph.D., interim chair and professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences, recently recorded two mindfulness practices drawn from a program called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) – an eight-week evidence-based program. This recording has been released to the University of Miami community, as well as to the general public.
“We are facing unprecedented challenges as we all confront the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. It goes without saying that stress levels are high,” said Dr. Lee during the guided meditation. “I can personally attest to the many benefits of these practices. I will provide you with a few tools that you may find helpful during these challenging times.”
