Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP
WMJ. 2026;125(2):233-234. Published June 2, 2026.
To the Editor:
An insightful editorial by Dr Fahad Aziz in WMJ eloquently emphasized that mindfulness is not new to our profession, yet its impact remains underestimated and must be deliberately cultivated and practiced consistently.1 In today’s environment of continuous email, cell phones, and social media notifications, mindfulness offers an essential counterbalance by reinforcing present-moment awareness and directing attention in a nonjudgmental manner that supports clear thinking and open-heartedness.2,3 Intentionally setting aside time for pause and reflection is a core expression of mindfulness. Emerging evidence shows that brief pauses create the cognitive space essential for strategic problem-solving, which enhances adaptability and responsiveness to complex environments.2 Mindful self-reflection deepens self-awareness, clarifies our values, mission, and goals, and cultivates the growth mindset required to navigate challenges with clarity and intention.
For physicians, mindfulness is integral to professional competence, promoting effective clinical decision-making and reducing medical errors.3 Mindfulness is vital for empathy and cultural awareness, as a distracted physician cannot fully hear the patient’s story or appreciate the emotions and values that shape decision-making.4 A study demonstrated that premedical and medical students who were randomly assigned to mindfulness training experienced decreased psychological distress and increased empathy.3 Without mindfulness and empathy, clinicians may complete required tasks yet fail to connect meaningfully with patients, overlooking the nonverbal cues essential for trust, adherence, and shared decision-making.4
However, modern clinical practice increasingly strains this capacity for mindful presence. Secure electronic messaging – now integral to care coordination – creates constant digital interruptions.5 Each alert demands cognitive switching, disrupting attention and interrupting the reflective thought necessary for accurate diagnosis. Ultimately, mindfulness is critical to patient-centered care as it strengthens the trust that lies at the heart of the patient–physician therapeutic relationship and supports healing. The next generation of physicians learns mindfulness from the attending physicians they observe, placing a profound responsibility on us as medical educators to uphold mindfulness as both a personal discipline and a professional legacy.
REFERENCES
- Aziz F. The power of mindfulness in medicine. WMJ. 2025;124(4):319-320.
- Hoque F. Leadership and professional development: the power of pause. J Hosp Med. 2024;19(3):204-205. doi:10.1002/jhm.13284
- Ludwig DS, Kabat-Zinn J. Mindfulness in medicine. JAMA. 2008;300(11):1350–1352. doi:10.1001/jama.300.11.1350
- Hoque F. Empathy in healthcare: Harmonizing curing and caring in healthcare. J Hosp Med. 2025;20(5):517-520. doi:10.1002/jhm.13540
- Brickson C, Keniston A, Knees M, Burden M. Characterizing electronic messaging use among hospitalists and its association with patient volumes. J Hosp Med. 2024;19(12):1131-1137. doi:10.1002/jhm.13462