Wellness & Bias

Since 2015, UNR Med has partnered with the Performance Systems & Technologies lab from the UNR Behavior Analysis Program and the Center for Advanced Media Students from the UNR Reynolds School of Journalism to provide students with evidence-based trainings for managing symptoms of burnout and to promote healthy, values-based living.

The IBRG currently provides customized Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) and modified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) trainings. Students are exposed to online training modules, as well as, in-person training workshops facilitated by senior medical students and trained MBSR facilitators.

Acceptance and Commitment Training Process of Change

Mindfulness Techniques vs Gehavioral Change Techniques Hexagon Diagram. At the Center is Psychological Flexibility connected by a hexigon with the terms around it counterclockwise starting with Present moment contact then Valuse Clarification then commited action Perspective Taking Accepance Defusion.

Relevant Presentations:    

  • Houmanfar, R.A., Esquierdo-Leal, J., Szarko, A.J., Smith, G.S., Jacobs, N.N., Froehlich, M., Baker, T., & Piasecki, M. (2018). ACT in Organizations: The UNR Med Model for Managing Burnout. Invited presentation at the ACT for Behavior Analysts Bootcamp. Reno, NV. March 2018.       
  • Szarko, A.J. & Houmanfar, R.A. ACT Therapy vs ACT Training: A Behavioral Systemic Approach Towards Developing a Balanced View of Wellness in Higher Education. Symposium conducted at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention. Denver, CO. May 2017.       
  • Piasecki, M., Brayko, C., Houmanfar, R.A., Szarko, A.J., Smith, G.S., Jacobs, N.N., & Baker, T. Integrating a Behavior Analytic Frameworks to Meet the Needs of a Medical School and the Medical Profession. Symposium conducted at the Association for Behavior Analysis Ninth International Conference, Paris, France. November 2017.        
  • Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Jacobs, N.N., Smith, G.S., Brayko, C., Froehlich, M. A Behavioral Systems Approach Toward Assessing and Alleviating Burnout Among Medical Students. Symposium conducted at the Association for Behavior Analysis Ninth International Conference, Paris, France. November 2017.