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Dear AME Community,
Fall is arriving, marking a season of reflection, change, and fresh inspiration! In this edition, discover how daily micro-acts of joy can boost well-being, meet our featured postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Shaimaa Elrefaay, RN, PhD, and tune in to the new season of The Stress Puzzle podcast. We’re also excited to share highlights from our UCSF Summit Raregivers event, Elissa's upcoming retreats, and new wisdom on cultivating resilience and vitality. Wishing you a season of grounding and growth!
Warmly,
Drs. Elissa Epel and Aric Prather
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Featured AME Researcher: Dr. Shaimaa Elrefaay, PhD
We spoke with AME researcher Dr. Shaimaa Elrefaay on her work in biopsychosocial models of stress & health, mental health risk factors & interventions for Arab-American communities, and her future career aspirations. Read more about Dr. Elrefaay.
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Listen to the newly released season of The Stress Puzzle podcast, hosted by AME Alumnus Dr. Ryan Brown, a highly skilled science communicator!
The Stress Puzzle promotes high-quality stress science through engaging conversations with experts who don't shy away from discussing the nuances of the research. You can hear a trailer for The Stress Puzzle and subscribe now on our website or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Raregivers Event at UCSF AME Center!
The UCSF Sustainable Caregivers Summit, co-hosted by AME and Raregivers Inc., brought together 35 leaders, clinicians, researchers, and advocates to share insights to support the emotional well-being of caregiving families and healthcare professionals and discuss a pilot intervention program that could be evaluated. CEO Cristol Barrett O’Loughlin, who lost 3 brothers early to a rare genetic disease, is the passionate founder of Raregivers.
| | | Upcoming Retreats and Workshops | | |
Esalen Retreat: Deep Rest, Recovery, and Renewal
Oct 24-27, 2025
Join Elissa and contemplative musician and movement teacher Nichol Chase for a weekend of learning and practicing new ways to restore ourselves. Develop your own toolbox of short practices that support your daily rejuvenation and sustained vitality!
Details here.
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Esalen Retreat: Mindfulness, Metabolism, and Mitochondria
Jan 9-11, 2026
Join Elissa and international expert and author of “Metabolical” Robert Lustig, MD, and explore the connections between mind, body, and lifestyle of optimal vitality and metabolic health. Take part in experiential practices and cutting edge science throughout the weekend
Details here.
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Blue Spirit: Cultivating Presence, Purpose, and Potential
January 24-31, 2026
Take part in wisdom and well-being practices in the natural beauty of Costa Rica's Pacific coast with Elissa, and expert teachers Trudy Goodman, Jon Kabat Zinn and others.
Details here.
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October 24, 2025
Join us on Zoom for the 3rd Annual Nancy Adler Lecture, featuring Dr. Michael V. Drake, President Emeritus of the University of California giving a lecture titled "Higher Education and Public Health Symbiotic Mutualism." Register here.
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September 18-20, 2025
Join Aric in NYC at The Atlantic Festival 2025. Aric will be speaking on ways to improve sleep as part of “Being Human: The Stories and Science Behind Our Health”. More here!
| | New Media in Sleep Research | | |
Why Can’t Americans Sleep? – The Atlantic
Aric Prather, director of UCSF’s behavioral-sleep-medicine program, is quoted in The Atlantic’s long-form feature “American Insomnia,” where he discusses how awareness of sleep’s importance has grown — yet many Americans still struggle night after night. He points out that inconsistent work schedules, caregiving, and social pressures all erode “sleep opportunity,” contributing to serious health disparities.
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I Can’t Sleep — NYT Interactive
In The New York Times interactive feature “I Can’t Sleep,” Dr. Prather is called upon to illuminate what’s going on biologically and psychologically when sleep slips away. He helps unpack the science behind sleeplessness, showing not just how common these struggles are — but how critical it is to address both mindset and habits in reclaiming restful nights.
| | | Flash Update from Our UC Eco-Resilience Class! | | |
This month, Spirit Rock Meditation Center hosted a climate leadership conference and generously welcomed 15 of our UC Eco-Resilience graduates. Hearing our students share their experiences and ideas was a true highlight of the gathering. Another standout moment: Greg Dalton of Climate One interviewed Jane Fonda about her lifelong activism and courage.
Our program continues to make an impact—our new publication shows that the climate class significantly improved mental health. As we launch Year 3, we’re excited to see student leaders stepping into mentor roles to guide the next cohort!
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Wise Effort from Dr. Diana Hill
Diana Hill is an author, therapist, and teacher for our UC Eco-Resilience Class. Her new book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, is a beautiful, science-based guide to Focusing Your Energy Where It Matters Most. Drawing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), neuroscience, and contemplative wisdom, she shows how we can use our precious energy in ways that foster resilience—whether we’re facing personal stress, collective crises, or the long-haul work of climate action. Buy here!
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