The Healing Power of Being Seen: Understanding How Genuine Care Strengthens Human Connection

by Hannah Panidis^1,2

¹Speaker and trainer at Communico, 56412 Ruppach-Goldhausen, Germany

²Podcast Host „DENKRAUM“, 77933 Lahr, Germany

The Coordinate System of Connectedness: Theoretical Framework

by Tobias Esch¹ and Maren M. Michaelsen¹ 

¹Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke, University, 58455 Witten, Germany

The Pursuit of Happiness at the End of Life: Research on Connection, Care, and Meaning in Hospice Settings

by Hilke Brockmann¹

¹School of Business, Social & Decision Sciences, Constructor University Bremen, 28759 Bremen, Germany

AI-supported Digital OpenNotes in Primary Care Setting

by Magdalena Wallkamm¹ , Jule Uhl¹, Cosima Hötger¹ and Tobias Esch¹

¹Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke, University, 58455 Witten, Germany

AlphaFold 2: Insights and Future Directions in Psychiatry

by Pascal Büttiker¹, Simon Weissenberger^1,2, Martin Anders¹, Jiri Raboch¹, George B. Stefano¹ and Amira Boukherissa^3,4

¹Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic

²Department of Psychology, University of New York in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

³Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), UMR91918, CNRS, CEA, Paris-Saclay University, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

⁴Ecology Systematics Evolution (ESE), CNRS, AgroParisTech, Paris-Saclay University, 91400 Orsay, France

Mind-Body Exercise Corner

Coordination System of Connectedness - Practice

by Tobias Esch¹

¹Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany

 In this exercise, I want to engage your imagination, or more specifically, your ability to visualize your body and its connection to other people and places. You decide whether you want to sit or lie down, and keep your eyes open or closed.

• First, imagine the back of your body: What does your back look like right now? And how does it feel? Can you imagine who is supporting you right now? Remember who has done this in the past? Think, for example, of your parents, grandparents, or even people who may no longer be here; friends, teachers, mentors, supporters, and role models. To whom do you owe the fact that you are here today and, in a positive sense, that you have become what you are now? Who do you look up to, whom do you admire, who have you learned from? Who is or was behind you? Who can or could you rely on?

• Now let's move to the front of your body: Who is walking in front of you? Who are you supporting and protecting? For whom are you organizing or opening paths? Who do you give concrete support to? Who do you back? To whom are you a mentor or role model, for whom are you perhaps even a hero? Think also of your own children or grandchildren, younger colleagues, etc. – who seeks advice from you, looks up to you?

• Now it's the turn of the sides of your body, your flanks: Who walks to your right and left? Who are your immediate companions? With whom are you at eye level? With whom are you possibly holding hands? Think of your partner, siblings, colleagues, and your circle of friends.

• Now imagine your feet or specifically feel the contact of your soles with the ground: What are you standing on? On what kind of ground, what country are you walking? In which homeland and culture do you move? What gives you firm support? What grounds you, what can you build on? Perhaps: What is familiar to you, what specifically defines your home? Where do you feel embedded, cozy, protected?

• Finally: Feel the crown of your head, the end of your body, in the expanse above your head. To whom or what do you feel connected "upwards"? Who or what is above you? What might connect you to the greater whole? Also: Who or what gives your life meaning? What inspires, energizes, or excites you? Is there something absolute or transcendent in your life—from your own personal perspective?

Announcement

Next MBMRC Guest Lecture on August 27^st 15:00h – 16:15h (CET)

Join us for the second edition of this digital event series:

Happily, we welcome Michelle Dossett from the University of California as speaker for the MBMRC Guest Lecture, hosted by the Institute of Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion (IGVF).

Title: Mind-Body Skills Training to Improve Clinician Well-Being: Results from the Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program

Time: 15:00h – 16:15h (CET)

Room: TBA

Zoom-Link: TBA

The participation will be free of charge. 

Additional dates of the guest lectures are

19^th November 2025

The lecture will be followed by an open Q&A.

The Mind-Body Medicine Research Council (MBMRC)

At the present time, the Council consists of the following members:

Tobias Esch, M.D. (Co-Chair)
George B. Stefano, Ph.D. (Co-Chair)

Maren M. Michaelsen, Dr. rer. oec. Dr. rer. medic. (Project Lead)

Christoph Stückle, M.D.

Pascal Büttiker, M.Sc.

How to become a member of MBMRC

As the MBMRC has been founded in 2022, and due to its dedication to rigorous contributions on the basic research foundations of Mind-Body Medicine, the number of members is yet small. In the future, the council aims to invite outstanding researchers in the field to become MBMRC members. Membership implies no fee.