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Teaching & Professional Education
Preventative psychology in professional and academic training

Professional education often prioritizes clinical knowledge and performance, while giving little attention to the inner capacities required to sustain a demanding career over time.

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My teaching focuses on preventative psychology: equipping students and professional trainees with the self-awareness and stress regulation skills they need to navigate the psychological demands of their professions, before burnout becomes normalized.

 

I have designed and teach two original semester-long university courses built on this model, integrating psychological science, the Tamarkoz method, and the self-knowledge framework of Sufi Psychology. Both courses have been the subject of peer-reviewed research demonstrating measurable outcomes in stress reduction, self-awareness, and biological markers of stress regulation.

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→ Discuss Academic Partnership

Where I Currently Teach

Shenandoah University Semester-long course in preventative psychology for pharmacy graduate students,  integrating stress physiology, self-awareness practices, and the Tamarkoz method of meditation into professional training.

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Semester-long honors course for undergraduate students, introducing the science of stress, self-knowledge, and psychological sustainability through the framework of Sufi Psychology.

 

I also offer guest lectures, faculty development seminars, curriculum consultation, and residency program workshops at other institutions. See Academic & Professional Offerings below.

Evidence of Impact

Research examining these courses has demonstrated measurable psychological and biological outcomes among healthcare trainees.

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Peer-reviewed studies published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy and the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education have shown:

  • Decreased perceived stress among participating students

  • Increased self-awareness and reflective capacity

  • Improved understanding of stress physiology and regulation

  • Continued use of learned skills at six-month follow-up

 

In addition, epigenetic analysis identified measurable biological shifts in stress-related gene pathways associated with anxiety and panic, suggesting that participation in this curriculum produces changes not just in how students feel, but in how their bodies respond to stress.

 

While research continues to evolve, these findings support the integration of contemplative, self-awareness–based training as a foundational component of professional healthcare education.

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Bixler, K., et al. (2025). Epigenetic effect of Tamarkoz meditation on three stress-related genes: The impact of a meditation elective course. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 82. Oxford University Press.

  • Azim, S., et al. (2025). Effects of an elective course of the Tamarkoz® method of meditation on self-awareness and stress in Doctorate of Pharmacy students. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 82. Oxford University Press.

  • Movafagh, S., et al. (2024). Self-knowledge and meditation: An elective course in pharmacy school curriculum. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 88(9), 101114.

A Preventative Model for Healthcare Education

Burnout interventions typically begin after distress has already taken hold. These courses are structured differently - designed to build internal competencies early in professional formation, including:

  • Self-awareness and reflective capacity

  • Stress physiology literacy

  • Nervous system regulation under performance pressure

  • Emotional regulation in demanding academic and clinical environments

  • Sustainable coping before crisis emerges

 

Students don't simply learn about stress, they learn to observe, regulate, and understand it in real time. The aim is not short-term stress relief, but the cultivation of psychological sustainability across the lifespan of a professional career.

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The Framework Behind the Courses

Both courses draw from:

  • Clinical psychology and burnout prevention research

  • Trauma-informed care

  • Stress neurobiology and physiology

  • Experiential and embodied learning

  • The self-knowledge framework of Sufi Psychology and the Tamarkoz method

 

This integration allows students to engage with material that is both scientifically grounded and experientially meaningful, moving beyond theory into practical, lasting skill.

Academic & Professional Offerings

In addition to my two semester-long university courses, I offer:

  • Guest lectures for medical, pharmacy, nursing, and graduate programs

  • Residency and training program workshops

  • Faculty development seminars on preventative clinician wellbeing

  • Curriculum consultation for institutions integrating stress prevention into professional education

  • Research-informed continuing education for licensed professionals

Interested in bringing this curriculum to your institution?

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→ Explore Collaboration

I welcome conversations about guest lectures, semester-long courses, curriculum consultation, and faculty development partnerships.

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