KabatZinn

Kabat-Zinn, commonly known as Jon Kabat-Zinn, is an American physician and mindfulness teacher. Born in 1944 in New York City, he is a professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a program developed in 1979 to help patients cope with stress, pain, and illness.

Education and training: He earned a BA in molecular biology from Tufts University (1966). He trained in meditation and Zen Buddhism, integrating contemplative practices with medical research.

Career and influence: In 1979 he established the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at UMass Medical School. MBSR combines mindfulness meditation, body awareness, and gentle yoga, and has been widely adopted in medical and mental health settings. His work has contributed to a substantial body of research on mindfulness-based interventions and their effects on stress, chronic illness, and well-being.

Publications: Notable books include Full Catastrophe Living (1990), Wherever You Go, There You Are (1994), and Coming to Our Senses (2005). His writings present practical guidance on training attention and cultivating nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment.

Legacy: Kabat-Zinn is regarded as a central figure in bringing mindfulness into mainstream medicine and psychology. His programs and scholarship have influenced healthcare practices, teacher training, and the global mindfulness movement.