CME/CE Available
The Contemplative Medicine Fellowship is an evidence-based twelve-month training for physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants who want to integrate and apply a contemplative approach to their practice of medicine.
Designed to support the existing responsibilities of those practicing as clinicians, medical educators, researchers, administrators, or leaders, this innovative and transformative program cultivates and supports practitioners committed to addressing the real and significant challenges in caring for the suffering world.
Earn 25.75 CME/CE credits for the retreat components of the Fellowship (see Program Details for more information)!
Fellows are led through the year-long curriculum by Fellowship guiding teachers Koshin Paley Ellison Sensei, MFA, LMSW, DMIN and Chodo Robert Campbell Sensei, GC-C—co-founders of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care—and Fellowship Medical Director, Tieraona Low Dog, MD, an internationally recognized physician, author, educator and thought leader in integrative medicine.
*The Contemplative Medicine Fellowship is supported by the Dr. Robert Ira Lewy Contemplative Care Initiative
Join us for this free, online information session about the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship — a twelve-month training for physicians, advanced practice registered nurses (NP & CNM), and physician assistants who want to lead change in the culture of care.
“Maybe this isn’t the extra-curricular activity you would expect from an orthopedic trauma specialist… Since I entered medical school almost 30 years ago, this has been the most rewarding experience by far.”
Dr. Andrew Grose, Orthopedic Surgeon
Contemplative Medicine Fellow ’22–’23
Highlights of the report:
Over fifteen years of engagement in healthcare environments, we have heard again and again from clinicians that they need training and support in order to sustainably practice compassionate medicine. Building on our experience and expertise in addressing the crisis in healthcare through contemplative education, the Zen Center created the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship in 2021.
As the research on our inaugural Fellowship cohort demonstrated, the contemplative approach is critical in addressing the gaps in medical education and is life changing for the medical practitioners in the program.
Unlike most traditional fellowships, the Fellowship site is the practitioner’s own place of practice, and the fellowship is designed to support existing responsibilities.
Fellows learn to put into practice the contemplative approach to care which:
WHO IS THE FELLOWSHIP FOR?
Physicians (MD and DO), advanced practice registered nurses (nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives), and physician assistants who aspire to transform the culture of care for themselves, their patients, and the health systems within which they practice get the most out of the Fellowship.
PROFESSIONAL
The program is currently accepting applications from licensed physicians (MD and DO), advanced practice registered nurses (nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives), and physician assistants who are practicing as clinicians, medical educators, researchers, administrators, or leaders. Clinicians of other professions who are interested in a contemplative approach to care may wish to apply for our nine-month Foundations in Contemplative Care training.
CONTEMPLATIVE
The program welcomes applicants from any background who are inspired to cultivate a personal contemplative practice (or already have an ongoing practice) and share a commitment to exploring the intersection of contemplative practice and the practice of medicine. Prior participation in a silent retreat is suggested but not required. For those who don’t enter the Fellowship with this experience, you are encouraged to attend a silent retreat during the Fellowship. NYZC’s Winter Sesshin (silent retreats) qualifies for this requirement.
The curriculum centers the integration of contemplative practice into daily life as an ongoing foundation for compassionate care, an integrated personal and professional life, resilience, and continual transformation. It is rooted in the Zen Center’s tradition of socially engaged Buddhism with a 1500-year experience-based pedagogical model that is accessible to anyone of any or no tradition.
The core curriculum consists of:
Download an overview of the monthly curriculum here.
The 2025-2026 cohort begins July 26, 2025 and concludes June 28, 2026.
Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis. Our early application deadline is March 31st and our final application deadline for this year is June 23rd, 2025.
The First Residential Retreat is scheduled for October 22–26, 2025.
The Graduation Residential Retreat is scheduled for June 24–28, 2026.
Monthly zoom-based learning occurs on the following Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET:
Visiting Faculty Sessions occur on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, 7:30–8:45 p.m. ET via Zoom with exceptions for holidays.
Fellows are strongly encouraged to attend an optional silent retreat (Sesshin). A cornerstone of Zen practice, the Japanese word sesshin refers to an intensive period of meditation and literally translates to “touching the heart-mind.” Our Winter Sesshin is scheduled for January 14-18, 2026.
Fellows attend two four-day residential retreats during the Fellowship.
The first retreat is typically in October, emphasizing community building, contemplative practice, and guided group learning and discussion.
The fellowship culminates with a graduation retreat, generally held in June, that focuses on integration of the twelve-month training, celebrating capstone projects, and exploring how the cohort will continue to collaborate and support one another post-fellowship.
Retreats are held at The Garrison Institute in Garrison, NY. Onsite participation is required.
Fellows are also encouraged to attend an optional silent retreat (Sesshin). A cornerstone of Zen practice, the Japanese word sesshin refers to an intensive period of meditation and literally translates to “touching the heart-mind.” This retreat is held each January at The Garrison Institute.
Please note that required and optional retreats and travel costs are not included in the Fellowship tuition.
Dates can be found in the Program Schedule section.
CME/CE
Physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants may earn CME/CE for the required in-person retreat components of the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship as described below.
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physician Continuing Medical Education
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 13.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Nursing Education
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 13.5 contact hours.
Continuing Physician Assistant Education
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 13.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits.
Physician Continuing Medical Education
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 12.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Nursing Education
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 12.25 contact hours.
Continuing Physician Assistant Education
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 12.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits.
CME/CE
Physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants may earn CME/CE for the required in-person retreat components of the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship as described below.
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physician Continuing Medical Education
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 13.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Nursing Education
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 13.5 contact hours.
Continuing Physician Assistant Education
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 13.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits.
Physician Continuing Medical Education
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 12.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Nursing Education
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 12.25 contact hours.
Continuing Physician Assistant Education
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 12.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits.
Tuition for the twelve-month program is $11,750 (payable by check or credit card). This does not include the cost of the two required in-person retreats.
The first non-refundable payment of $5,875 is due 2 weeks after fellows are accepted to the program. The non-refundable balance payment of $5,875 is due one month before the program begins.
Apply by March 31st and receive a $1,000 tuition credit. Alternate payment plans are also available for those in need of them.
SCHOLARSHIPS
We are pleased to offer a limited number of partial tuition scholarships based on financial need with a focus on supporting candidates who are:
Scholarship funds are limited and are first come, first awarded. International candidates are encouraged to apply. We encourage applicants to seek tuition assistance from their place of practice before applying for our limited scholarship funds.
Scholarship applications are reviewed on a rolling basis in conjunction with the full application for the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship.
Please note that we often have more scholarship requests than resources available in a given year, and we make every effort to accommodate requests accordingly.
For further information, please contact us at info@zencare.org.
At the center of the Fellowship methodology is a relationship-centered, cohort-based model that builds genuine, enduring fellowship based upon the values of intimacy, curiosity, and courage. Each fellow’s commitment to their own and their peer’s journey simultaneously challenges and supports deep transformation.
Unlike traditional fellowships, the fellowship site is the practitioner’s own place of practice—in the midst of their full lives—and the fellowship is designed to provide ongoing training and support to incorporate contemplative practice into the whole of one’s daily life.
The fellowship has adopted a low-residency model that immerses participants in contemplative practice and engaged, experiential learning while supporting existing professional responsibilities.
Designed for practitioners in multiple professions, roles, and care models, the fellowship also promotes interprofessional collaborative practice leading to improved cooperation, communication, and integration among healthcare in teams.
Fellows learn how to transform the way they care for others, their loved ones, and themselves by drawing on the tradition of Zen—the experience of disciplined practice in a shared community.
While medical education and practice has most recently been focused on the understanding of pathophysiology and treatment of disease, it is also a tradition that has long valued caregiving as a priority of clinical intervention (Kleinman 2020). Medicine has also traditionally been considered a healing profession, “but it has neither an operational definition of healing nor explanation of its mechanisms beyond the physiological processes related to curing.” (Egnew 2005)
Reclaiming both compassionate care and the alleviation of suffering as priorities in medicine is the Zen Center’s mission and is the goal of the Fellowship. The twelve-month training seeks to bring together the two streams of the participant’s previous medical training and their contemplative practice, finding their shared roots and creating a contemplative medicine. This rigorous training engenders radical compassion in both the practitioner and the patient, acting as the healing agent of suffering and empowering practitioners to lead change in the culture of care.
To read more about the defining principles guiding the fellowship, click here.
Space is limited. Once the Fellowship is fully enrolled, applications will be held for the following academic year.
Apply by March 31st and receive a $1,000 tuition credit.
No, we welcome individuals from any or no religious/spiritual tradition and there is no expectation of being or becoming a Buddhist.
No, applicants need not be part of a formal spiritual community.
The program welcomes applicants from any background who are inspired to cultivate a personal contemplative practice* (or already have an ongoing practice) and share a commitment to exploring the intersection of contemplative practice and the practice of medicine.
Prior participation in a silent retreat is suggested but not required. For those who don’t enter the Fellowship with this experience, you are encouraged to attend a silent retreat during the Fellowship. NYZC’s Sesshins (silent retreats) qualify for this requirement.
At NYZC, we practice the contemplative practice of zazen, or Zen meditation, as a foundational practice in our Contemplative Care training. However, contemplative practices are broad-ranging and unique to individuals and communities—inclusive of meditation, prayer, and deep listening. Please see The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society’s The Tree of Contemplative Practices, for a more comprehensive exploration of diverse contemplative practices.
Physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants may earn CME/CE for the required in-person retreat components of the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship as described below. See CME/CE section in Program Details above.
Monthly Saturday training days are held virtually via Zoom.
Please see Residential Retreats for information about the opening and graduation retreats.
Click here to learn more about the application process.
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