Kelee Medicine Timeline
Below are highlights associated with advancing our core values and mission. To continue to provide education, teaching, and training during the COVID pandemic, the Kelee Foundation quickly pivoted to virtual training and education. Our staff are well versed in a variety of virtual platforms, including Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
2024
Spring Quarter 2024
UC San Diego Medical School Elective Class: MED 249 – Understanding the Application of Meditation to Medicine
Eighth year of teaching Kelee meditation to medical and pharmacy students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. MED 249 is taught every quarter of the academic year. Co-Course Directors and Principal Instructors: Daniel Lee, MD and Amy Sitapati, MD. Additional Instructors: Ankita Kadakia, MD, Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD, Frank Silva, MPH, Nikki Walsh, MPH, Adrianne Padilla, NP.
January 14th, 2024
Urology for Social Responsibility Panel and Kelee Meditation Talk
Dr. Daniel Lee participated in a panel, provided a Kelee meditation lecture and training session for healthcare workers at the Urology Conference for Social Responsibility at UC San Diego. More information.
2023
October 2023
UC San Diego Physician Professionalism Awardee
Dr. Daniel Lee was the October Physician Professionalism Awardee for fostering a strong wellness culture at UC San Diego. Dr. Lee volunteered his lunch time to teach an ongoing Kelee Meditation class to staff at Owen Clinic. More information.
September 6th, 2023
UC San Diego Faculty Writers Retreat
Ron W Rathbun, Kelee Foundation Founder, led his first Guest Honorarium Speaking event for 35 UC San Diego Faculty members. It was another milestone along the way to bringing enlightenment to our Education system. Ron said, “It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”
Fall Quarter 2023
UC San Diego Medical School Elective Class: MED 249 – Understanding the Application of Meditation to Medicine
Eighth year of teaching Kelee meditation to medical and pharmacy students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. MED 249 is taught every quarter of the academic year. Teachers include Daniel Lee, MD; Amy Sitapati, MD and Ankita Kadakia, MD. Guest teachers include Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD; Frank Silva, MPH; Nikki Walsh, MBA; Paul Vracar, firefighter and Taylor Knox, pro surfer.
February 25th and May 20th
Kelee Medicine Workshop – The Importance of Being Centered for Self-Care and Reducing Burnout
Second and third of three, Continuing Medical Education (CME) webinars approved by the UC San Diego School of Medicine for a maximum of 5.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
January 15th, 2023
Urology for Social Responsibility Panel and Kelee Meditation Talk
Dr. Daniel Lee participated in a panel, provided a Kelee meditation lecture and training session for healthcare workers at the Urology Conference for Social Responsibility at UC San Diego. More information.
2022
October 22nd, 2022
Kelee Medicine Workshop – The Importance of Being Centered for Self-Care and Reducing Burnout
First, of three, continuing medical education (CME) webinars approved by the UC San Diego School of Medicine for a maximum of 5.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
September 15th, 2022
Association of VA Hematology/Oncololgy (AVAHO) Kelee Meditation Workshop
Keynote speaker Dr. Daniel Lee with panel members Amy Sitapati, MD, Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD, Ankita Kadakia, MD, and Ron W. Rathbun, provided a KM Workshop at the annual AVAHO conference in San Diego.
Fall Quarter 2022
UC San Diego Medical School Elective Class: MED 249 – Understanding the Application of Meditation to Medicine
Eighth year of teaching Kelee meditation to medical and pharmacy students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. MED 249 is taught every quarter of the academic year and is currently offered virtually, using both synchronous and asynchronous pedagogy. Teachers include Daniel Lee, MD; Amy Sitapati, MD, Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD; Ankita Kadakia, MD; and Frank Silva, MPH. Guest teachers include paramedic firefighter, Paul Vracar, and pro surfer, Taylor Knox.
April 2022
Amy M. Sitapati Named 2022 Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award Recipient
This award demonstrates the highest standard of compassion and humanism in the care of patients. Dr. Amy Sitapati, MD, chief medical information officer for Population Health at UC San Diego Health and clinical professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine, credits this award with her practice of Kelee Meditation, which she states has provided her with mental strength and stillness that has enabled her to be centered in order to provide compassionate care, a strength she relied upon heavily during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Daniel Lee, Clinical Professor of Medicine said, “Dr. Sitapati is sensitive to her patients’ psychological well-being, and is centered and present during patient care interactions. She recognizes the emotional state of her patients and is able to help calm them, which is vital in relaying new medical diagnoses and information.”
https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases
https://www.gold-foundation.org/programs/leonard-tow-humanism-in-medicine-award/
Winter and Spring Quarter 2022
UC San Diego Medical School Elective Class: MED 249 – Understanding the Application of Meditation to Medicine
Seventh year of teaching Kelee meditation to medical and pharmacy students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. MED 249 is taught every quarter of the academic year and is currently offered virtually, using both synchronous and asynchronous pedagogy. Teachers include Daniel Lee, MD; Amy Sitapati, MD, Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD; Ankita Kadakia, MD; and Frank Silva, MPH. Guest teachers include paramedic firefighter, Paul Vracar, and pro surfer, Taylor Knox.
2021
October 7th-9th, 2021
Poster Presentation at the 2021 American Conference on Physician Health (ACPH)
A poster titled “Effective web-based training of Kelee® Meditation to healthcare providers during a pandemic to improve understanding of empathy and compassion in the practice of medicine” was presented by Dr. Amy Sitapati and Dr. Daniel Lee at the 2021 ACPH conference. The poster discusses their ongoing scholarly work to mitigate healthcare provider burnout and promote well-being through Kelee Meditation.
Fall Quarter 2021
UC San Diego Medical School Elective Class: MED 249 – Understanding the Application of Meditation to Medicine
Seventh year of teaching Kelee meditation to medical and pharmacy students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. MED 249 is taught every quarter of the academic year and is currently offered virtually, using both synchronous and asynchronous pedagogy. Teachers include Daniel Lee, MD; Amy Sitapati, MD, Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD; Ankita Kadakia, MD; and Frank Silva, MPH. Guest teachers include paramedic firefighter, Paul Vracar, and pro surfer, Taylor Knox.
May 3rd, 2021
Bickerstaff Pediatric Family Center Kelee Meditation Training
Dr. Daniel Lee provided a virtual Kelee meditation training session for healthcare workers at the Bickerstaff Family Center, part of MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach.
April 17th, 2021
Kelee Medicine Webinar – How to Find Your “Off” Switch in a Perpetually “On” World”
Third, of three, continuing medical education (CME) webinars approved by the UC San Diego School of Medicine for a maximum of 4.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Funding provided in part by UC San Diego Academy of Clinician Scholars (AoCS) Faculty Development Grant.
March 15th, 2021
Kelee Meditation Training
Dr. Daniel Lee provided a virtual Kelee meditation training session for a team of medical science liaisons (MSLs) from Gilead Sciences.
January 9th, 2021
Kelee Medicine Webinar – How to Find Your “Off” Switch in a Perpetually “On” World”
Second, of three, continuing medical education (CME) webinars approved by the UC San Diego School of Medicine for a maximum of 4.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Funding provided in part by UC San Diego Academy of Clinician Scholars (AoCS) Faculty Development Grant.
Winter and Spring Quarter 2021
UC San Diego Medical School Elective Class: MED 249 – Understanding the Application of Meditation to Medicine
Sixth year of teaching Kelee meditation to medical and pharmacy students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. MED 249 is taught every quarter of the academic year and is currently offered virtually, using both synchronous and asynchronous pedagogy. Teachers include Daniel Lee, MD; Amy Sitapati, MD, Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD; Ankita Kadakia, MD; and Frank Silva, MPH. Guest teachers include paramedic firefighter, Paul Vracar, and pro surfer, Taylor Knox.
2020
November to December 2020
Kaiser Permanente Kelee Meditation Classes
Dr. Daniel Lee provided 3 virtual classes for Kaiser Permanente physicians who previously attended an initial training in 2019.
September 26th, 2020
Kelee Medicine Webinar – How to Find Your “Off” Switch in a Perpetually “On” World”
First, of three, CME webinars approved by the UC San Diego School of Medicine for a maximum of 4.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Funding provided in part by UC San Diego Academy of Clinician Scholars (AoCS) Faculty Development Grant. Attended by 40 participants, including international attendees.
Comments from Webinar:
- “Amazing Webinar…[it] served as a reminder [of] how practicing this on a daily basis has profound long-term effects…in patient care.. [and] in dealing with life’s relentless challenges.”
- “I found the event to be very well put together, the format was great and the pacing of the program easy to follow. I believe it was perfect.”
- “Historical course. So happy to be a part of it.”
- “Excellent program. Thank you!!”
Fall Quarter 2020
UC San Diego Medical School Elective Class: MED 249 – Understanding the Application of Meditation to Medicine
Sixth year of teaching Kelee meditation to medical and pharmacy students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. MED 249 is taught every quarter of the academic year. This was the first class taught virtually, using both synchronous and asynchronous pedagogy. Teachers included Daniel Lee, MD; Amy Sitapati, MD, Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD; Ankita Kadakia, MD; and Frank Silva, MPH. Guest teachers included paramedic firefighter, Paul Vracar, and pro surfer, Taylor Knox.
June 10th, 2020
Kelee Meditation Training
Dr. Amy Sitapati and Dr. Daniel Lee provided a virtual “lunch and learn” training to 30+ UC San Diego General Internal Medicine (GIM) physicians via virtual format on Zoom.
May 1st, 2020
UC San Diego HIV & Global Health (HIGH) Rounds
Dr. Daniel Lee presented a virtual lecture titled “The Difference Between Using Coping Strategies Versus Being Unaffected (“Detachment”) During the COVID-19 Pandemic” to over 80 participants.
March 12th, 2020
UC San Diego Sanford Empathy and Compassion Institute Seed Grant Submission
Dr. Amy Sitapati and Dr. Daniel Lee led a multi-specialty group of researchers in submitting a grant application with the UC San Diego Sanford Empathy and Compassion Institute titled “Feasibility Study to Evaluate Improvements in Self-Compassion as Measured by Changes in Behavior, Physiology, and Brain Function in Medical Students Practicing Kelee Meditation for 12-Weeks.”
March 4th, 2020
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Accreditation for Kelee Medicine Webinars
The Kelee Foundation/Kelee Institute submitted an accreditation application for CME credit on July 8, 2020 and was awarded approval on August 6, 2020 for upcoming Kelee Medicine webinars. A special thanks goes to Moira Mar-Tang, MPH who spearheaded this effort.
Winter and Spring Quarter, 2020
UC San Diego Medical School Elective Class: MED 249 – Understanding the Application of Meditation to Medicine
Fifth year of teaching Kelee meditation to medical and pharmacy students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. MED 249 is taught every quarter of the academic year. Teachers included Daniel Lee, MD; Amy Sitapati, MD, Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD; Ankita Kadakia, MD; and Frank Silva, MPH. Guest teachers included paramedic firefighter, Paul Vracar, and pro surfer, Taylor Knox.
2019
December 2019
Kelee Foundation Published A Physician’s Guide to the Study of the Non-Linear Mind, Kelee Medicine: Learning to Heal with Compassion
Written by Dr. Amy Sitapati, with a forward by Ron W. Rathbun, this text helps physicians and other health care providers develop a deep understanding of self-compassion through the practice of Kelee meditation. It serves as a field guide for physicians seeking balance and healing for themselves and their patients.
December 4th, 2019
Kaiser Wellness Symposium
As part of the Kaiser Wellness Symposium held at the Prado in Balboa Park, the Kelee Institute provided Kelee meditation training to 100+ San Diego Kaiser Permanente physicians. The training was a combination of didactic and experiential learning. Small group experiential learning focused on Kelee meditation and provided more personalized review of the Anatomy of the Kelee and the Basic Principles of the Kelee. Dr. Daniel Lee provided the Symposium Keynote, “How Kelee Meditation Helps Medical Providers Detach from Internal Stressors and Other Distractions.”
Fall Quarter, 2019
UC San Diego Medical School Elective Class: MED 249 – Understanding the Application of Meditation to Medicine
Fifth year of teaching Kelee meditation to medical and pharmacy students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. MED 249 is taught every quarter of the academic year. Teachers included Daniel Lee, MD; Amy Sitapati, MD, Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD; Ankita Kadakia, MD; and Frank Silva, MPH. Guest teachers included paramedic firefighter, Paul Vracar, and pro surfer, Taylor Knox.