Having experienced the impact of mindfulness, Dr Umakant Dave MBE inspired a conference for medics being hosted by the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. A consultant gastroenterologist in Swansea and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Swansea University, Umakant shares his story here.
A patient inspired me to try mindfulness
In 2012, I experienced significant stress and burnout—a challenge all too common among doctors. I found myself becoming upset and angry over small matters and struggling with poor sleep. A positive story from a patient with IBS prompted me to take a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course in 2013. I found the course valuable and, with sustained practice, genuinely transformative.
After a few months, I noticed reduced work stress, improved relationships, and an overall sense of wellbeing. One striking change was finding moments of patience and peace during busy endoscopy lists and clinics and even smiling more.
Research demonstrates positive impacts for doctors
This experience motivated me to pursue mindfulness teacher training at the Bangor Mindfulness Centre in 2016, eventually leading me to teach mindfulness principles to medical students in Swansea. Conducting research and publishing papers on mindfulness for doctors deepened my understanding of how essential this training is for clinicians. Our research on Enhanced Stress Resilience Training (ESRT)—a concise mindfulness-based programme—demonstrated sustained benefits among Swansea medical students. The study, now published, showed that ESRT may enhance psychological flexibility and resilience while reducing stress reactivity, particularly among more vulnerable students. These benefits persisted at six‑month follow‑up without any additional support or training.
Keen to help other doctors learn about mindfulness
The overwhelming success of two mindfulness conferences held in Wales in 2024 and 2025—one for doctors and one for wider healthcare staff—encouraged me to extend this work across the UK. Interactive talks, opportunities to connect with colleagues from different hospitals, specialties, and roles, and engaging experiential workshops made these events especially meaningful. After attending the Sussex Mindfulness Centre conference in May 2025, I was deeply impressed by the Centre’s work. I subsequently proposed and collaborated with the Centre to develop a conference aimed at supporting doctors across the UK.
Can we heal healthcare?
The one-day conference called “Can we heal healthcare? Caring for doctors with evidence-based practice?” is planned for 6 November 2026. It will explore how evidence‑based mindfulness and compassion can support doctors working under increasing pressure in healthcare systems. Hosted by the Sussex Mindfulness Centre, which is part of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the programme brings together doctors, medical leaders, and educators to reflect on individual and systemic approaches to wellbeing.
Significant effort has gone into planning this event and securing high‑quality speakers. I am looking forward to expert talks on a range of topics and excellent workshop options. The conference will offer a balance of science, personal stories, and opportunities to connect with others. I am confident it will be a highly valuable event and warmly encourage colleagues to attend. Prioritising our mental health and resilience is essential—not only for our work, but for our personal lives as well.
Find out more about the conference here. Early Bird tickets are available now.