Awarded "One of the Most Courageous Books of 2014" Re-humanizing Medicine: A Holistic Framework for Transforming Your Self, Your Practice, and the Culture of Medicine by David R. Kopacz Physicians and professionals train extensively to relieve suffering. Yet the systems they train and practice in create suffering for both themselves and their clients through the neglect of basic human needs. True healthcare reform requires addressing dehumanization in medicine by caring for the whole person. Re-humanizing Medicine provides a holistic framework to support human connection and the expression of full human being of doctors, professionals and patients. ~ The Center for Courage & Renewal, The Center for Courage & Renewal website: http://www.couragerenewal.org/courageous-books-2014/

Holistic Decision-Making – It’s Not Just for Doctors Courage & Renewal October 14, 2014 “Decision-making is something that you can do with either your limited mind and ego, or by letting the choices percolate through your body, emotions, mind, heart, creative self-expression, intuition, spirituality, as well as through the dimensions of context and time – until a decision becomes clear with input from your total Self. Decisions made this way may ‘freak out’ your ego, but they can be truly transformative.” Rehumanizing Medicine. Pre-order at Amazon.That advice comes from a new book by Dr. David Kopacz, Re-humanizing Medicine: A Holistic Framework for Transforming Your Self, Your Practice, and the Culture of Medicine. This is a book for people who are willing to change at a personal level in order to be better doctors and clinicians. Download this PDF to read the Table of Contents, Foreword and Introduction. While Kopacz wrote this book mainly for medical professionals, we found it to be full of great insight and practices for anyone wishing to stay true to themselves in challenging times – in life and work. In that spirit, here is an excerpt – an exercise in “whole-self decision making.” Making Decisions with Your Whole Self Exercise We often think of decisions as something that we make with our logical, rational mind. Those of us who have gone through medical education have become decision-making machines, and have memorized and internalized algorithms and flow charts. However, most important decisions are made with more than just the mind. We can tap into nine different avenues of experience for greater self-awareness: body, emotions, mind, heart, creativity, intuition, spirit, context and time. Each dimension provides unique information that can be integrated for holistic decision-making. This exercise presents an integrated way to make decisions. You don’t have to be a medical professional to try out this approach: Focus on a question you have about a particular decision in your life. Write the question on a piece of paper, or simply hold the question in your awareness. You can now work through each dimension to explore it from different perspectives. Start with the spiritual dimension. Allow yourself to feel into the ‘big picture’ level of meaning and purpose regarding the decision. How do different aspects of the decision lead to different possibilities for who you are as a person in the world? How might the decision affect your personal mission, goal and values in life? Next, move to the level of intuition. Do not work or push your brain to think. Let different aspects of the decision come together and separate. Decision-making at this level is almost like watching a kaleidoscope make different patterns before your eyes, as you daydream about what the patterns look like. Now move to the level of creative self-expression. Do not worry about practicalities or limitations at this point; just focus on what you are drawn to create in your life and with your life. What are the projects you have always dreamed of? Does this decision move you closer to your dreams? At this level, you are more actively engaged, as if you are influencing the way that the kaleidoscope pieces are coming together. The next level is your heart. Take a deep breath and feel into the center of your chest. Notice the changes in your heart as you examine different aspects of the decision. It may be a great decision, but if your heart is not fully in it, it will be a chore rather than a joy. See if you can notice a feeling of your heart opening or closing when you work with the decision. Now you can move to your mind and intellect. Your intellect is great at focusing the information from the other dimensions into a concrete plan. Maybe you are dreaming about being an astronaut. That may be very unlikely to happen, but you can ask yourself if there are any alternatives that capture the essence of being an astronaut. Maybe you could learn scuba diving – a more realistic way to explore another realm. Once you have this attainable dream, you can use your mind to think, develop a plan, organize and reality-test your dreams. After your intellect has shaped the input from the other dimensions, how do you feel, emotionally, about all of your options? Are you excited about the intellect’s proposal, or has it taken all the fun and adventure out of it? Feel back and forth through different aspects of the decision. Finally, you arrive at the dimension of physical reality. There are a few more steps before implementing your decision. You can use body awareness as another tool in making decisions. As you explore different aspects of the decision, what do you notice in your body? Are there butterflies in your stomach from excitement or anxiety? Do you have a headache, or feel dizzy or tired? Are you having a feeling of panic? Do you feel more alive? Does your body feel more solid and connected? Take notice of how your body responds to your decisions. Using body sensations can be challenging. Your body might be panicking over a decision about which the rest of your Self is very excited, but which calls for a lot of change at the physical level. Not all anxiety is bad or to be avoided. Sometimes the best decision for you is the one you are most anxious about. If you are patient with your bodily feelings, you will notice that you will pass through different waves of sensation and it may take a while to get to how you really feel deep within your Self. From the physical dimension, expand your awareness to consider your context. How does the context of your physical environment and your social situation provide new information about your decision? If you are moving forward with a change, how can you mobilize resources and support? Now, consider the temporal dimension. Can you implement the decision right now? Will it take years of planning because it is a long-term goal, like becoming a doctor? Are there many steps that you will have to negotiate and organize over a period of time? How does the decision fit into the timeline of your life? Now that you have gathered information from these nine different dimensions, the work of integrating them begins. You could do this in different ways, maybe just by an overall gestalt feeling, or by a vote from each dimension. At one level, you may feel incredibly excited. In another dimension, you may be terrified. How do you work with both of these contradictory feelings? That is the work of integration. The process of integrating information from different dimensions into a holistic decision is a skill you develop over time. It is the same process that goes on at all levels, whether you are engaged in personal growth and the pursuit of self-knowledge, working with an individual client, developing your practice, or working for social change to transform the culture of medicine. This holistic work of examining, valuing and balancing different kinds of information is the work of transformation. DKopacz300Excerpted with permission. Re-humanizing Medicine: A Holistic Framework for Transforming Your Self, Your Practice, and the Culture of Medicine, by David R. Kopacz, MD. Chapter 10, Holistic Decision-Making (Ayni Books, Winchester, UK, 2014). This book launches November 28. This book launches on November 28. You can pre-order at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1CeRsFS ~ The Center for Courage & Renewal, The Center for Courage & Renewal website/blog: http://www.couragerenewal.org/holistic-decision-making/

We Need a New Holistic Paradigm – “Re-humanizing Medicine” Review Sandra Carter February 17, 2015 Rehumanizing Medicine. Pre-order at Amazon.Healthcare is at a crossroads, and no one has been more affected than the physician. Traditionally physicians, trained as technicians, view patients through a narrow reductionist lens that often excludes compassion, empathy, and authentic connection – resulting in a “dehumanizing process.” If medical science gets elevated as dogma and realized as truth, then physicians practice machine medicine, closing their minds to other possibilities. Based on this limited perspective from their training, physicians are not inclined to seek developmental opportunities when it comes to personal and leadership growth. Consequently, they find themselves in a bind – not knowing what they do not know. The research indicates physician burnout has reached epidemic numbers, leaving physicians disillusioned and struggling to navigate healthcare environments that are complex and devoid of vitality and meaning. Physician healing and renewal are paramount issues. When physicians lose a vital connection to their body, heart and soul, it is a loss for patients as well, as patient satisfaction is closely tied to physician well being. If ever a path was needed, the time is now! Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” In this case, a must read for physicians is Re-humanizing Medicine by David Kopacz, M.D., who shines a ray of light on a positive path forward. Dr. Kopacz cautions, the path will not be an easy one and can often feel counter-intuitive. He goes on to state, “if you truly want to re-humanize medicine, you cannot make decisions based on fear of change and avoidance of discomfort.” heart-doctor-health-wholeness Physicians are trained and accustomed to pushing their emotions underground while pushing through the work. Over time numbness and emotional disconnection occurs, leaving healers cut off from their humanity. Worse, this process evolves slowly over the course of medical school and training, often leaving physician’s unconscious regarding the hardening of their hearts. Dr. Kopacz’s central theme is one of inclusivity. He makes a strong evidence based case for change and healing through practicing holistic medicine – a paradigm large enough to incorporate the physician’s vitality, science, and humanity. The biomedical and economic models are the predominant frameworks that guide physician’s treatments. These models support financial, cognitive and technical processes that focus on parts often to the exclusion of wholes. Thus, making it congruent for physicians to compartmentalize their capacity for wholeness. Critical aspects for re-humanization involve physicians exploring their inner self and expanding their capacity to recognize earlier conditioning. Conditioning or programming creates automatic and fixed reactions, which often limit opportunities to look at situations through fresh eyes. Dr. Kopacz suggests this can promote over-confidence and over-reliance on using familiar assumptions and drawing quick conclusions. An inner personal journey evolves consciousness and enhances self-mastery. Achieving awareness at this level moves physicians beyond the expert stage and into a higher level of wisdom, where perspective expands and identity is inclusive of being both a technician and human being. Shifting emphasis from an outer striving for achievement and perfectionism to an inner journey embracing wholeness broadens ones perspective. From this point of view, physicians can hold multiple perspectives and positively influence and transform their practices and larger systems. Too often, change initiatives support one component of a variety of options, leaving people determined to defend their personal position, and adding to the fragmentation and overwhelm in healthcare environments. Parker Palmer has stated: “The capacity to hold tensions creatively is the key to much that matters.” Dr. Kopacz would agree; he offers a refreshing viewpoint, stressing the need for a holistic paradigm. From within a holistic framework parts are recognized and valued. Dr. Kopacz’s book builds awareness, knowledge, offering insights and tools based on authentic change. These are integrative strategies, and timely, due to the fragmentation, that is a by-product from an over-emphasis on parts, in our technologically advanced, fast moving, and modern world. Holding tensions and using a Both/And perspective is also congruent with polarity thinking. Barry Johnson, Ph.D. created a model to manage complexity and conflict using a polarity lens. Dr. Johnson indicates using problem-solving strategies that search for right and wrong answers (either/or thinking) can be successful when you have a problem to solve. However, this type of framework is not at all useful when you need to leverage a polarity. He goes on to say; polarities are altogether different in nature. Polarities are two opposing and related qualities, where both conflicting points of view are true. Because they are interdependent, they need each other, and neither is sufficient alone. For example, the qualities inherent in the biomedical model and holistic frameworks are both necessary, and over-focusing on one, to the exclusion of the other; leaves physicians and patients without access to vital healing potential. Re-humanizing Medicine by David Kopacz, M.D., is an astonishingly comprehensive, rich and inspiring book. The author makes an excellent case for practicing holistic-oriented medicine with physicians in the role of authentic change agents. Dr. Kopacz is very clear in his message to physicians saying they need to heal themselves first by attending to their hearts and spirits. Fortunately, for physicians this book is written from the perspective of a seasoned and wise guide who is familiar with the journey. Dr. Kopacz can provide critical insights related to challenges and barriers into the unfolding and often paradoxical process of deep change. Thus, offering his colleagues and others a much-needed transformational map into 21st century medicine. Sandra Carter is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and certified as a Physician Development Coach. With a background in coaching, psychotherapy, business, healthcare and leadership, she assists leaders to grow and integrate learning in new and changing environments. ~ Sandra Carter, The Center for Courage & Renewal, The Center for Courage & Renewal website: http://www.couragerenewal.org/holistic-paradigm-re-humanizing-medicine-review/

Review Re-humanizing Medicine: A Holistic Framework for Transforming Your Self, Your Practice, and the Culture of Medicine by David R. Kopacz Review by Sara Holmes, BS, RA LMT NCTMB I have had the pleasure to know and work with David Kopacz since 2008. We both taught Complementary Health Classes at Parkland College in Champaign, IL, and created the Whole Health Advisory Board. Dave is a true Renaissance man who just happens to also be an M.D. I can think of no one more qualified to write such an inspirational book on the current state of medicine and how physicians, practitioners and all health clinicians have an opportunity to change the status quo one practice and one person at a time. Dave’s new book, Re-humanizing Medicine, is primarily written for doctors, physicians, health educators, teachers and health practitioners, but I believe there is also a great deal of holistic health information for those in the fields of Aromatherapy, massage and energetic work. Aromatherapy is not addressed specifically in this book, but there are several chapters that support our shared holistic principles and validation of the importance of the mind, body, spirit paradigm in holistic health practices. For general audiences, the term “holistic medicine” is defined and described so all readers can take advantage of the vast amount of information shared. The book begins by addressing the dehumanizing of our current medical system. Historically, the field of medicine was a place for the idealistic and humanitarian to help their fellow man and provide treatment in a personal and compassionate manner. The book addresses the fact that the field of medicine has lost much of its soul over the years through focusing on biomedical and economical rationales. This loss of focus and compassion towards the patient/client receiving care has since rippled into a reduction of values, ethics, and care, and established a system that does not validate our holistic sensibilities. The holistic practitioner’s goal is to be fully present and “fully human” with their patients. The author challenges physicians, doctors and all health practitioners to “be the change” in their practice, their field and even their own life. All medical/health curriculums are encouraged to address and cultivate sensitivity and empathy, and establish human connections that are often lacking in many health education programs. One of my favorite sections in the book is where the author shares his own quest for knowledge and self-enlightenment. He guides us through his journey of personal growth, which includes Eastern concepts of healing through the chakra system, art, reading, exercise, nutrition, meditation, writing and other dimensions of whole health. He calls upon us to be more than a clinical practitioner who reduces our appointments to numbers and protocols and to attend to the hearts and spirits of our patients/clients. The book states that, “Holistic medicine is not just different healing modalities; it is a different perspective on healing. It is to be approached with full humanity and the transformation of ourselves into multidimensional beings whose health is more than the sum of our parts.” We must balance the science of healing with the science of art. Dr. Kopacz believes that the compassion revolution and quality revolution must combine to make all of health care more affordable, safe and effective. This book is a must read for anyone in the medical or allied health fields as well as health educators, practitioners and technicians looking for a more meaningful practice and a relationship-centered life. Publisher: Ayni Books (11/13/2014) ASIN: B00SCVRDJ0 IJPHA Vol. 3 Issue 4 Spring 2015 The International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy Volume 3 Issue 4 Spring 2015 ~ Sara Holmes, The International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy

Re-humanizing Medicine by David R. Kopacz is an incisive reflection on the existing medical practices of an increasingly corporatized world. At the same time, it seeks to teach the medical and health care community how to correct that dehumanized outlook by being more compassionate and holistic. The book is structured into 5 major sections. The first section outlines the paradigms of contemporary medical practice, citing various examples of dehumanization creeping into the business-oriented model of medical practice. The second section introduces the principles of holistic medicine—healing that integrates the well-being of body, mind, and spirit of an individual. The third part is a comprehensive guide for how to transform oneself into a compassionate and well-rounded individual embodying a deep sense of humanity. The fourth part is an extension of the third, teaching physicians (and others) how to incorporate holistic principles into their own practices. The fifth part is directed towards rehumanizing the entire culture of medicine. New concepts in holistic medicine are explained vividly with the help of anecdotal references wherever applicable. The self-help sections, dealing with the hows of practicing holistic medicine, have been kept succinct, sometimes listed under bullet points. Throughout the book, the author has given an honest, simple, yet engaging voice to an otherwise complex subject. Considering the absurdly frenetic pace of modern medical practice, this book does an excellent job of nourishing the soul of practicing physicians first, thereby helping them to regain their humanity. This, in turn, may translate into a more humanized treatment of patients and, ultimately, establish a pathway to a whole new paradigm of medical practice. I particularly liked the many personal reflections and insights that the author shared in this compelling and well-researched treatise on transforming the traditional technology-driven practice of medicine into a more holistic practice. This book definitely suits the needs of the medical community (physicians, clinicians, nurses, medical students, and other health care providers) with its thoughtful guidance and realistic approach, offering solutions to the existing problems of the frustration-laden, modern-day practice of medicine. It is also an informative and readable book for anyone interested in the evolution of medical practice throughout the ages. This book helps us to understand, appreciate, and correct the wrongs of modern-day medicine by inspiring us to be more connected—to be more human. Reviewer: Debamita Chatterjee Debamita is a graduate of the University of Rochester in biomedical sciences. She has written for the University of Rochester Medical Center and journals including eLife and The Scientist. ~ Debamita Chatterjee, Journal of the American Medical Writers Association, Vol 32(1) 2017

Review of “Re-Humanizing Medicine” by David R. Kopacz DECEMBER 14, 2015 by Melissa Notis4100Hx9tQML._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_ In his book Re-humanizing Medicine: A Holistic Framework for Transforming Your Self, Your Practice, and the Culture of Medicine, David Kopacz, MD explains how US healthcare has gotten to the point where humanism in medicine has been depleted and pushed aside, while technology has seen an explosion in both importance and innovation. This book proposes a very real set of instructions on how to reinstate humanism– personally, in practice, and in the greater healthcare community. Kopacz presents numerous examples in which the technical, financial, and scientific aspects of medicine have led to detached and de-humanized practice. For example, recent focus on costs and other economic aspects of medicine have lead to a pay structure where spending extra time with a patient fiscally irresponsible. And the trend of subspecialization requires highly coordinated care that is not currently being provided. Kopacz addresses the difficulty in improving the quality of healthcare without simultaneously making economic and biomedical sacrifices. His answer to today’s system is a composite framework he labels “holistic medicine” which considers health in broader terms. Kopacz posits that we can piece the human patient back together from the current dismembered, subspecialized, detached state. Along with the ten founding principles of humanistic medicine, Kopacz presents an original nine-dimensional framework on what makes up a human being, all of which must be acknowledged and understood to practice real holistic medicine. In the instructional portion of his work, Kopacz offers three levels on which we must reinstate humanism: Personal setting: Before one can set off trying to fix the world with holistic medicine, one must start with himself. Kopacz shares specific exercises corresponding with each of the ten principles of holistic medicine. Exercises range in intensity from simple thinking exercises to cognitive behavioral therapy. Medical setting: Kopacz affirms a potential for holistic and humanistic advocacy and action in all roles within the medical field. He gives specific instructions on how and where physician autonomy can be utilized to work in holism into the medical field. Leadership setting: Compassionate leadership must begin with internal leadership, and transcend all levels of medicine. It is through advocacy, mindfulness and active compassion, that holistic leadership can shape and eventually revolutionize medicine. Re-Humanizing Medicine thoroughly addresses a rather intimidating issue, breaking it down into practical, doable steps. His frequent use of personal experience adds interesting narrative and his language is simple (making instructions easy to follow). Overall, Kopacz succeeds in convincing his audience to follow his lead, to lift medicine out of the trend of dehumanization and reclaim its purpose. Melissa Notis is a 2014 graduate of Emory University where she majored in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. In addition to her work at the Gold Foundation, Melissa works as a Medical Tech at an ophthalmology practice in Springfield, NJ. Melissa hopes to attend medical school in the future, and wants to continue her connection with the Gold Foundation throughout her medical career. ~ Melissa Notis, Gold Foundation

Treating all of the patient By Rhonwyn Newson There's more to treating patient than simply attempting to repair an injury. Beliefs, circumstances and even the clinician's wellbeing all need to be taken into account. Rhonwyn Newson looks at what it means to provide holistic healthcare. A holistic approach to healthcare means taking into account all human dimensions that influence health and illness, David Kopacz, author of the book, Re-humanizing Medicine: A Holistic Framework for Transforming Your Self, Your Practice, and the Culture of Medicine, says. These include not just the physical, but also the emotional, relational, mental, creative and spiritual dimensions of the person. "To be holistic is the opposite of being reductionist. In addition to focussing on the physical body, we also are heart-centered, bringing caring and compassion to our work" Dr Kopacz says. How can physiotherapists provide a more holistic approach to treating patients? Dr Kopacz believes clinicians can only provide holistic healthcare by first developing one's own "wholeness." "We cannot give to someone else what we have not first developed in ourselves. Healthcare is both an art and a science, although we often forget the art and only focus on the science. "If we want to give more compassionate care, we must cultivate our own compassion," he says. "Counter-curriculum of self-care" Dr Kopacz says healthcare workers are not trained to take care of themselves. "Yet if we do not care for and replenish ourselves, we end up with professional burn-out, which leads to a loss of caring in healthcare, and ultimately a loss of health for both the healthcare worker and the client." The concept of "staying well" The basics are a great place to start - stretching, exercise, regular movement and engagement in life. Proper nutrition and relaxation techniques are helpful, too. From there, the concept of mind-body-spirit should be looked at, and this applies to both the clinician and the patient. There are nine dimensions that need to be looked at, Dr Kopacz says. • How can a person engage their body for health? • How can a person engage their emotions for health? • How can a person engage their mind for health? • How can a person engage their heart for health? • How can a person engage their creativity for health? • How can a person engage their intuition for health? • How can a person engage their spirit for health? • How can a person engage their context and surroundings for health? • How can a person engage their time for health? Looking at these nine dimensions gives a holistic view of a person, and each dimension has health benefits. Physiotherapists can individualise a treatment plan by finding out how to support a person to engage all of the dimensions of their health. "We don't have to be an expert at working with each of these different dimensions, but as healthcare workers, we need to have basic fluency in each dimension." Treating more than just an injury When people are injured or have a movement disorder, it doesn't just affect the physical body as a machine - the body also "thinks", Dr Sandra Bassett, senior lecturer in Physiotherapy at AUT University says. Dr Bassett believes a biopsychosocial healthcare approach means taking into account the beliefs people have about their treatment and their injury. "It means taking the time to talk to a patient about any limitations to adhering to treatments - what their time and social commitments are." Dr Bassett says biopsychosocial healthcare is different to providing "holistic" healthcare. "It's about finding out and respecting what a patient thinks. What their commitments are, and how they think their bodies work." Patient education is so important, she says. Knowing how the body works and how treatment will help gives means patients are more likely to adhere to their treatment and manage their disability. "I often hear physios saying, 'But I'm not a counsellor,' and that's true," Dr Bassett says. However, physiotherapists are well-placed to connect with people and get them to think about their day and when they might be able to fit in their treatment exercise regime, for example. Physios can also place responsibility on a patient to encourage self-efficacy. "Our research shows that when patients take responsibility for, and ownership of, their treatment they cope much better. Patients feel better about themselves and think more positively." In this sense, the physiotherapist may act as more of a coach - setting goals and providing encouragement and support, as well as educating the patient. Dr Kopacz says an injured person may also suffer from grief over lost physical functionality, anxiety over being re-injured, and even depression around an injury. "These emotional and mental elements need to be addressed in order for a person to even have the motivation and commitment to doing the exercises that we know would help them." A key question is asking a patient, "What do you want your health for?" This helps to motivate a person, and individualise their care. "It's not enough to provide information or appeal to a person's intellect. We need to focus on engendering hope as much as providing an evidence-based physical treatment." Dr Kopacz says although this may seem like a lot to take on in a busy clinical setting, it is a vital component of providing care. "...really, it comes down to making sure that we are good human beings to each other as well as being a good technician or clinician. "Kindness and caring only take a moment and we need to make sure that we make space for that moment to occur," he adds. * David Kopacz is a Psychiatrist working in Primary Care Mental Health Integration at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Washington in the United States. He is also board certified in Integrative & Holistic Medicine. David has long sought to bring creativity and spirituality into his work with clients for a whole person approach. Prior to this job, he served as Clinical Director of Buchanan Rehabilitation Centre with Auckland District Health Board, which is a residential psychiatric rehabilitation facility. He is the author of the book, Re-humanizing Medicine: A Holistic Framework for Transforming Your Self, Your Practice, and the Culture of Medicine. His second book, co-authored with Native American visionary Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow), is called Walking the Medicine Wheel: Healing Trauma and PTSD, and is due out later this year. Blog: beingfullyhuman.com Website: davidkopacz.com *Dr Sandra Bassett's area of research encompasses psychological and behavioural aspects of physiotherapy rehabilitation and mostly uses quantitative research methods. The specific areas include: treatment adherence issues in physiotherapy rehabilitation; use of patient education to improve patient understanding of their treatment: use of behaviour change strategies to improve patient adherence to their physiotherapy; role of mental imagery in patients' rehabilitation and treatment outcomes; the interaction between patients' physiotherapy rehabilitation programmes and their motivation, self-efficacy, quality of life, and health, illness and treatment beliefs; and the effect of patient-physiotherapist interaction and communication on treatment outcomes. - See more at: http://www.aut.ac.nz/study-at-aut/study-areas/health-sciences/physiotherapy/physiotherapy-staff/senior-lecturers/sandra-bassett#sthash.j3HMHJzU.dpuf ~ Rhonwyn Newson, Physio Matters, (member magazine of Physiotherapy New Zealand) August 2016.

RE-HUMANIZING MEDICINE DAVID R KOPACZ, MD, AYNI BOOKS I don’t work in medicine. However, the wonderful people who do have their work cut out when it comes to balancing the needs of real people with economic imperatives and the reductionist approach of biomedicine. Medical doctor David R Kopacz has practised in the US and NZ and argues there’s an urgent need to establish a holistic framework for medicine, one in which physicians approach patients as whole people not just the sum of their complaints. Written for doctors and doctors-in-training, the book assesses the current system, describes the holistic medicine paradigm and its benefits, outlines how clinicians can develop a deeper sense of their own humanity and gives advice on how to create a holistic clinic and re-humanise your practice. DK ~ Danielle Kirk, Well-Being Magazine (Australia)

Modern medicine is engaged in a struggle to find its heart, soul, and spirit. This task must begin with physicians themselves. Dr. David Kopacz’s Re-Humanizing Medicine is an excellent guide in how this urgent undertaking can unfold. ~ Larry Dossey, MD, Author: "Reinventing Medicine" and "Healing Words".

Re-humanizing Medicine is a marvelous book about one person’s journey to find meaning and quality of life in the practice of medicine. Dr. David Kopacz presents a very human account of his frustrations within the conventional health care system and inspires us with his search for solutions. His analysis of the underlying philosophies of the kind of care we provide was illuminating for me and helped me understand why conditions only worsen despite our collective (as physicians and patients) complaints. His proposals for how to move forward into a sustainable health care future are solid, well supported by science, and promise to integrate the poetic, mystical, compassionate side of medicine with its science. In a world of no time, this book is well worth the time to read it. ~ Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD, Author of "Healing the Mind through the Power of Story: The Promise of Narrative Psychiatry".

Dr. David Kopacz bears exquisite witness to medical dehumanization and puts his heart and soul into a thoughtful, reflective, yet practical guide for countering its contemporary ills. This book can change lives, careers, and systems. ~ Stevan M. Weine, MD

Brilliant, well-written, practical and inspiring, Re-humanizing Medicine provides clarity and understanding of the most pressing issues facing doctors (and patients) today. All doctors, including future doctors, should read this book and empower themselves to be the change that is so needed in our current systems of health care. As we physicians transform ourselves, we will transform the practice of medicine and be better able to serve those who seek our help. ~ Rama Thiruvengadam, MD, Founder, Physician Heal Thyself Retreats TM.

In Re-humanizing Medicine, David Kopacz offers an informed and committed corrective to the loss of soul that has occurred in the practice of Western medicine over the past century. Central to his understanding is the notion that the broader transformation of medicine turns on the personal awakening and transformation of the physician. Until such time as the biomedical curriculum gives as much attention to the cultivation of sensitivity, empathy and holistic consciousness as it does to the transmission of the reductionist principles on which it is based, Rehumanizing Medicine will remain a welcome source of nourishment for all within the profession of medicine who are searching for ways to deepen their connection to the historic mission of medicine which is to heal not only the ills of the body, but those of the entire nexus of relationships within which we find ourselves. ~ Vincent Di Stefano D.O., N.D., M. H. Sc. Author,

If this informative, readable and practical book encourages doctors to put in to practice even half of what is being put forward here, the world will be a better place. ~ Dr Patte Randal, Co-editor and co-author of "Experiencing Psychosis: Personal and Professional Perspectives".

Simple yet complex, idealistic and realistic, this book turns a spotlight onto human connection, a fundamental factor that is too readily neglected in today’s technology driven medical practice. Thoughtfully bringing his personal experience and a rich collection of literature, Dr. David Kopacz offers an excellent 'portable' holistic framework that can be applied ecologically to cultivate an authentic wholeness in both practitioners and patients. Notably, the book differentiates itself from the crowd through the 'organic' incorporation of autobiographical narrative which demonstrates abundant universal qualities through the most individualized perspective. I heartily endorse this book as a must read particularly for people like myself who are considering creating a private practice in holistic medicine. ~ Qi Liu, Postgraduate Diploma in Chinese Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.

I am grateful this book has been written, and a voice has been given to this vital message, reminding us of the ‘care’ aspect of healthcare, for Practitioner and Patient alike. Confronting, honest and transparent....written with a wisdom rarely seen. ~ Chrissy Diamond (BHS NMT, Dip CST, DIP CTM), Neuromuscular Therapist, Holistic Alignment, New Zealand College Massage.

Our world currently faces great challenges that require each individual to commit to a process of growth and renewal. Kopacz’s book provides a thoughtful and practical account of how to inspire greater well-being by transforming managerial medicine into a place of personal and social healing. Guiding the reader through a wealth of insight into the history of scientific and alternative approaches, he convincingly argues for holistically-oriented medicine that encompasses objective knowledge, compassion, and intuitive guidance. His call for reintroducing attention to the human condition in an increasingly corporatized world has far reaching impulses, not only for medicine, but also for education, the business world and society. Leading by example, Kopacz enriches any reader’s understanding of their own responsibility to change themselves and the world. ~ Anke Pinkert, Ph.D., Author of "Film and Memory in East Germany".

This book is essential for establishing a refreshed approach inside medicine and brings new insights about the practice of psychiatry. Dr. Kopacz addresses different modes of involvement in patient care, all of which facilitate a therapeutic alliance and optimal treatment outcome through empathy, intuition, and spiritual awareness. ~ Dr. Georgiana Antoce , Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

Re-humanizing Medicine has reinforced my own commitment to the importance of holistic leadership. I am confident that practitioners trained in biomedical and holistic health practices will feel this same kinship. This book brings both topics dynamically to the table for discussion. I was deeply moved by Kopacz’s inspiring words and reflections on his own personal experiences. There is a major cultural shift on the horizon in the fields of medicine and business to cultivate connection with the whole person and a holistic way of being. Kopacz’s research on Gandhi, Youngson, Palmer and other enlightened leaders further supports the concept of a compassion revolution. I hope that Re-humanizing Medicine will be required reading for all future generations of physicians and health care providers. Dr. Kopacz’s open mind and open heart will inspire many to ‘re-humanize and re-connect.’ ~ Sara Holmes, BS RA LMT NCTMB, Complementary Therapies, Massage and Aromatherapy Instructor Parkland College, Champaign, Illinois.

As a physician in private practice, I know first-hand the effect of long-term stress and never-ending demands on the practicing doctor—a guarantee for poor health and burnout. In Re-humanizing Medicine, Dr. Kopacz makes a well-argued case that doctors need to begin healing patients by healing themselves first. Preventive care is the recommended prescription for doctors who want to remain as energized and caring as they were when they entered medical school. This book illuminates a path to enjoying a long and fulfilling career as a physician who practices what he should be preaching. ~ Rich Berning, MD, Creator of PrivatePractice.MD Website, Pediatric Cardiologist, Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

It gives me great pleasure to review this informative text that will hopefully become essential reading to all medical practitioners and related clinicians working in the healing arts. David sets out a coherent and well-articulated background to the current issues that face medical practice in a global environment which has witnessed a significant loss of essential human interactions in the healing process. David's review of the outcomes of physician burnout are a startling reminder to us all of the risk that this leads to – not only for ourselves as doctors but also for our patients. Modern medical practice has developed a profound arrogance over the recent past choosing to ignore the time old lessons from our traditional healer colleagues who have been trained in the art of healing from a different perspective that engages overall health and well-being through a fundamental understanding of human systems, culture and social environments. David's book challenges us to re-examine these issues, sets out coherent and articulate arguments for the benefits of changing and places patients at the centre of engaging in an integrated and holistic new paradigm of healing based on a compassionate understanding of the frailty of the human predicament. I would whole heartedly recommend this book to both existing practitioners and those embarking on a medical career. ~ Dr Gary Orr, Consultant Psychiatrist in New Zealand.