2018 Women in Medicine and Science Forum Tuesday, November 27, 2018 - 8:00am - Wednesday, November 28, 2018 - 6:00pm University Club

In her book Happier Now, nationally recognized happiness expert Nataly Kogan teaches readers how to stop searching for some elusive “big happy” in the future and start finding more joy in everyday moments. Drawing from science, Eastern traditions, her experience as a refugee, and her own failing search to find lasting happiness through career success, Nataly will share simple practices to help participants live happier and have greater resilience when times get tough.

Research shows that happier employees are more productive, work more effectively in teams, and are better problem solvers. Learn the Five Core Happier Skills that will provide you and your team with the tools needed to handle stress, challenges, and change with resilience and compassion.

We are often told to reduce stress in order to be healthier or happier, or more productive. But how many of us have reliable tools for navigating stress? This workshop will include research findings on mindfulness and meditation, time for reflection and discussion, and practice of simple mindfulness methods for anchoring to the present moment.

Learn the most effective breathing technique for relaxation, focus and sleep - the ocean breath. Also, learn to accompany this breathing technique with some gentle movements that anyone can perform regardless of age or mobility.

This interactive skill-building session integrates diverse frameworks from the psychological sciences to provide participants with opportunities to discover new resources for finding purpose and meaning in challenge. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in self-assessments and growth planning aimed towards developing the mental strength needed to experience success and well-being in hyper-competitive intellectual environments. 

Individual Career Consultations: Ask a Guide for Direction
Sign up for a personal 15-minute career consultation with faculty members from across the campus: have your CV reviewed, ask for a referral, or just talk to someone knowledgeable about your career aspirations. This session is open to current Pitt faculty members and trainees and has limited slots available. Session registration is now closed. View the 2018 WIMS Career Consultants

According to the book The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth, the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.” In this session, a panel of trainees and faculty members will discuss the concepts of grit and perseverance in an academic culture and share their experiences in this regard.

In this session, Karina Schumann describes work examining whether and why women apologize more than men. Across multiple studies, she demonstrates that women have lower thresholds than men have for offensive behavior and therefore judge offenses as more deserving of an apology. She focuses on the implications these gender differences can have in the workplace, and offers strategies for apologizing (or not apologizing) more effectively.

This workshop will include information and practical skills to become more mindfully aware of yourself and your mental and physical needs while at work, and the breaks that you can take in order to fulfill those needs. The presenters will highlight some of the most recent evidence regarding both the use of mindful awareness and physical activity breaks as a way to improve health and overall quality of life. In addition, participants will learn skills they can begin to use right away for optimal wellness at work.

Let’s face it: sometimes doing good for others, stops being good for us. In the act of exercising our super hero powers – the unique way that each of us heals, teaches or leads others – we may need to work long hours, eat poorly and/or skip sleep, workouts, and/or other forms of self-care. In our passionate effort to serve the world and the greater good, we may build the bad habit of putting our self-care needs last – which ironically threatens our ability to perform our super hero duties well and even our longevity. This interactive session will give you a practical solution for these and other work/life imbalance challenges (like burnout and compassion fatigue), by walking you through a step-by-step strategic planning process. Author and Scholar/Strategist Dr. Suzie Carmack will guide you through the same evidence-informed framework she uses to transform the well-being of her coaching clients internationally, and teaches to health coaches in her Center for Well-Being Education ICHWC-approved Yoga and Well-being Coach training program. You’ll leave the session with your own do-able action plan for optimizing your unique super hero powers – by making a Well-Being Ultimatum once and for all!