Sunday Pre-Conference Workshop: The Power of Connection: Strengthening Bonds with Self, Community, and Environment

Connection is at the heart of human health and well-being, yet modern life often fragments the essential bonds we need to thrive. This 3-hour workshop, designed for lifestyle medicine providers, delves into the multidimensional nature of connection—self, community, and environment—offering evidence-based strategies and practical tools to integrate into personal and professional practice. The first segment focuses on connection with oneself, exploring concepts from lifestyle psychiatry to build emotional resilience and inner harmony. Participants will learn the neuroscience and psychology behind empathy, self-compassion, happiness, meaning, purpose, and spirituality. Through guided self-reflection and interactive exercises, attendees will identify ways to foster these traits in their lives and support others in cultivating well-being. The second segment emphasizes the restorative power of connecting with nature. This session highlights research on the physiological and psychological benefits of nature exposure, including reduced stress, improved cognition, and enhanced cardiovascular health. Through experiential activities such as mindful observation, participants will explore accessible ways to integrate nature-based interventions, such as green exercise and forest bathing, into their routines and patient care strategies, regardless of geographic or clinical settings. The final segment focuses on community connection, highlighting the role of social bonds in health. This includes the impact of relationships with pets, families, and broader communities. Participants will review the science of social connection, including its influence on longevity, mental health, and chronic disease outcomes. Hands-on group exercises will demonstrate practical methods for fostering connection, from implementing support groups to promoting shared experiences among patients and communities. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a comprehensive framework and actionable tools to harness the power of connection. This integrative approach will empower providers to elevate their well-being, optimize patient care, and strengthen the social fabric of their communities. There will also be tools defined to prevent provider burnout.

Learning Objectives

  1. Equip lifestyle medicine providers with tools to cultivate self-connection and emotional resilience through evidence-based insights from lifestyle psychiatry.
  2. Empower participants to integrate nature-based interventions into personal and professional practices, leveraging the physiological and psychological benefits of nature exposure.
  3. Enhance social connection by providing practical strategies to foster meaningful relationships and strengthen community bonds for improved health and well-being.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 3.00 AAFP Prescribed

    The AAFP has reviewed Sunday Pre-Conference Workshop: The Power of Connection: Strengthening Bonds with Self, Community, and Environment and deemed it acceptable for up to 3.00 Enduring Materials, Self-Study AAFP Prescribed credit(s). Term of Approval is from 11/15/2025 to 1/15/2026. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 3.00 ABLM MOC

    The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine has approved 3.00 maintenance of certification credits (MOC) for this learning activity.

  • 3.00 ABS Accredited CME

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

  • 3.00 ACPE Pharmacy

    Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacists.

  • 3.00 ACPE Technician

    Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacy technicians.

  • 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    Rush Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 3.00 ANCC

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 nursing contact hour(s).

  • 3.00 APA

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 3.00 CE credits in psychology. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship in the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

  • 3.00 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Rush University Medical Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved continuing education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 3.00 general continuing education credits.

  • 3.00 Attendance

    Successful completion of this course activity, including active participation in the evaluation component, entitles the learner to receive a participation certificate from ACLM. Please note that this certificate is offered solely in recognition of engagement, and no academic or professional credit is awarded.

  • 3.00 CPEU

    This Enduring material has been approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Completion of this activity awards 3.00 CPEUs.

  • 3.00 Occupational Therapy CE

    Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 3.00 continuing education credits.

  • 3.00 Participation (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for non-MDs)

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 3.00 Physical Therapy CE

    Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 3.00 continuing education credits.

Course opens: 
11/16/2025
Course expires: 
01/16/2026
Cost:
$0.00
  • Melissa Sundermann, DO, FACOI, DipABLM, FACLM
  • Cliff Morris, MD
  • Gia Merlo, MD, MBA, MEd

Available Credit

  • 3.00 AAFP Prescribed

    The AAFP has reviewed Sunday Pre-Conference Workshop: The Power of Connection: Strengthening Bonds with Self, Community, and Environment and deemed it acceptable for up to 3.00 Enduring Materials, Self-Study AAFP Prescribed credit(s). Term of Approval is from 11/15/2025 to 1/15/2026. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 3.00 ABLM MOC

    The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine has approved 3.00 maintenance of certification credits (MOC) for this learning activity.

  • 3.00 ABS Accredited CME

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

  • 3.00 ACPE Pharmacy

    Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacists.

  • 3.00 ACPE Technician

    Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 contact hour(s) for pharmacy technicians.

  • 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    Rush Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 3.00 ANCC

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 nursing contact hour(s).

  • 3.00 APA

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 3.00 CE credits in psychology. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship in the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

  • 3.00 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Rush University Medical Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved continuing education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 3.00 general continuing education credits.

  • 3.00 Attendance

    Successful completion of this course activity, including active participation in the evaluation component, entitles the learner to receive a participation certificate from ACLM. Please note that this certificate is offered solely in recognition of engagement, and no academic or professional credit is awarded.

  • 3.00 CPEU

    This Enduring material has been approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Completion of this activity awards 3.00 CPEUs.

  • 3.00 Occupational Therapy CE

    Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 3.00 continuing education credits.

  • 3.00 Participation (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for non-MDs)

    Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 3.00 Physical Therapy CE

    Rush University Medical Center is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000378) and occupational therapy (224.000220) by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University Medical Center designates this Enduring material for 3.00 continuing education credits.

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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