Pediatric Mind-Body Medicine Symposium: Advancing Integrative Whole-Person Care in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults
- Continuing Education
Empower health care providers by convening leading experts across diverse disciplines to explore and illuminate the vital connections between mental, emotional, and physical health in young people with chronic, complex health conditions.
- Live Online or In Person
Participants may attend either virtually or in person.
Coolidge Corner Theater – 290 Harvard Street Brookline, MA 02446
$795
This is the standard price, for a full list of profession pricing see below.
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Early Registration Deadline:
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Overview
The Pediatric Mind-Body Medicine Symposium brings together leading experts in mind-body medicine, psychology, psychiatry, trauma studies, gastroenterology, neurology, and complementary medicine, including music, art, and body-based therapies, to educate health care professionals about the vital connections between mental, emotional, and physical health in young people.
This first-of-its-kind course is designed to empower healthcare providers with practical, evidence-based mind-body approaches to help manage chronic, often complex health conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, disorders of gut-brain interaction, and functional neurologic disorders.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the physiological and neurobiological responses to stress in children, including the concepts of allostasis and allostatic load, and their impact on health.
- Demonstrate proficiency in pediatric-appropriate meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques that support stress recovery by eliciting the relaxation response.
- Apply strategies to motivate young patients and caregivers toward sustainable lifestyle and behavior changes that foster resilience and self-efficacy.
- Develop and implement healthcare strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence and impact of chronic, non-communicable diseases beginning in childhood.
- Identify cognitive, emotional, or behavioral difficulties in youth and utilize preventive and therapeutic mind-body strategies to address them.
- Recognize mind-body mechanisms underlying pediatric mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
- Describe the therapeutic benefits and clinical applications of expressive therapies such as music and art therapy in pediatric settings, including their roles in emotional expression, stress reduction, and nervous system regulation.
- Describe the therapeutic benefits and clinical applications of body-based therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and Reiki, and movement-based therapies such as yoga and weightlifting in various pediatric health care settings.
- Apply mind-body interventions to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, disorders of gut-brain interaction and functional neurologic disorders in children and adolescents.
- Implement integrative, interdisciplinary models of care that combine conventional medicine, mental health services, and complementary therapies across various pediatric health conditions, including functional neurologic disorders and disorders of gut-brain interaction.
- Develop reflective practice skills through first-person narratives of young people with chronic illness, to foster empathy and improve patient-centered clinical interactions.
Developed and Offered By:
Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Massachusetts General Hospital.
Participant Types
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Welcome to the Pediatric Mind-Body Medicine Symposium
Mark Salvatore; Aude Henin; Darshan Mehta
8:00-8:15 am
The Neurobiology of the Mind-Body Connection
John Denninger
8:15-9:15 am
Anxiety: The Mind-Body Connection
Darshan Mehta; Ellen O'Donnell; Dina Hirschfield-Becker
9:15-10:15 am
Morning Break
10:15-10:30 am
Music as Mind-Body Therapy
Lorrie Kubicek; Andrew Marshall
10:30-11:15 am
Music and Mind-Body Health (Keynote Address)
kei slaughter
11:15 am-12:15 pm
Lunch Break
12:15-1:15 pm
Resilient Youth: Skills to Manage & Master Stress
Aude Henin; Rana Chudnofsky; Linda Wells
1:15-2:15 pm
Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction: The Most Common Disorder of the Mind & Body
Aarya Rajalakshmi; Mark Salvatore; Sarah Shea
2:15-3:15 pm
Afternoon Break
3:15-3:30 pm
The Body Keeps the Score: What Bodywork and Movement Therapy Have Taught Us About the Mind-Body Connection
Darshan Mehta; Peter Wayne; Kristen Guilmette
3:30-4:30 pm
Friday, May 8, 2026
Overview of The Pediatric Mind-Body Medicine Symposium, Day 2
Mark Salvatore; Aude Henin; Darshan Mehta
8:00-8:15 am
Depression: The Mind-Body Connection
Aude Henin; Mai Uchida; Daphne Holt
8:15-9:15 am
Art as Mind-Body Therapy
Megan Carleton
9:15-10:15 am
Morning Break
10:15-10:30 am
Functional Neurologic Disorders: An Interdisciplinary Approach to a Complex Disorder of the Mind & Body
Matthew Goldfinger; Jessica Ranford; Julie Maggio
10:30-11:30 am
Lunch Break
11:30 am-12:30 pm
First Person Narratives from Resilient Youth: What Chronic Illness Taught Us About the Mind-Body Connection
Mark Salvatore; Gabby Richard
12:30-1:30 pm
Mind Body Approaches to Treating Trauma in Young People
Dave Emerson; Makiko Watanabe
1:30-2:30 pm
What We've Learned: A Synopsis & Participant Feedback
Mark Salvatore; Aude Henin; Darshan Mehta
2:30-3:00 pm
Faculty
Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.
Mark Salvatore, MD, MS
Course Director
- Founding Clinical Director, Pediatric Mind-Body Medicine Program, Mass General Brigham for Children
- Assistant Professor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Aude Henin, PhD
Course Co-Director
- Co-Director, Child Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program and Child Resiliency Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Darshan Mehta, MD, PhD
Course Co-Director
- Medical Director, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine
- Director of Education, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine
- Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Musician, to be announced
Margaret Baim, NP
Director, Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine
Megan Carleton, ATR-BC, LMHC
Program Manager, Expressive Therapy and Mindful Practices, The Zakim Center at Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Rana Chudnofsky, MEd
Director, Positivity and Relaxation Training Program, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine and Co-Director, Resilient Youth Program at Massachusetts General Hospital
John Denninger, MD, PhD
Director of Genomic Research and Clinical Training, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Dave Emerson, YACEP
Founder, The Center for Trauma and Embodiment
Matthew Goldfinger, DO
Clinician Investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital
Instructor in Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Kristen Guilmette, MSN, RN, CPHON®, BMTCN®, RYT-200, RCY-50, CCAP
Nurse Coordinator of Patient & Family Integrative Therapies and Staff Wellness, Heme/Onc/HSCT Units at Boston Children's Hospital
Dina Hirschfield-Becker, PhD
Co-Director, Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Daphne Holt, MD, PhD
Co-Director, Mass General Psychosis Clinical and Research Program
Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Lorrie Kubicek, MT-BC
Music Therapist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Julie Maggio, PT, DPT, NCS
Neuro-Physical Therapist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Laura Malloy, LICSW
Director of Mind-Body Program for Successful Aging, Benson-Henry Institute
Director of Yoga Programs, BHI
Andrew Marshall
Survivor, Smiler, Songwriter
Jocelyn Meek, BA
Program Director, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine and Child Resiliency Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
Ellen O'Donnell, PhD
Co-Director, Massachusetts General Hospital Pediatric Behavioral Medicine Service
Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Aarya Rajalakshmi, MD
Staff Psychiatrist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Jessica Ranford, BS, MS
Occupational Therapist, Clinical Specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital
Gabby Richard
Patient, Patient Advocate
Sarah Shea, PhD
Assistant Clinical Director and Director of Psychological Services, Pediatric Mind Body Medicine Program at MGB for Children
Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
kei slaughter, MA, MFA, MT-BC
Associate Professor, Music Therapy Dept., Berklee College of Music
Mai Uchida, MD
Director, Child Depression Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Makiko Watanabe, PhD
Staff Psychologist, Massachusetts General Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Instructor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School
Peter Wayne, PhD
Director, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Linda Wells, MEd
Co-Director, Resilient Youth Programming, Child Resiliency Program at Massachusetts General Hospital
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Course Fees
Fee Disclaimer
You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Prices include CME credit, electronic syllabus, refreshments, and continental breakfast. This is a hybrid course that includes videos that are available for 60 days after the course ends.
At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.
Early Registration Deadline:
| Role | Course Fee | Early Registration Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $795.00 | $695.00 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $695.00 | $595.00 |
| PA | $695.00 | $595.00 |
| Psychologist | $695.00 | $595.00 |
| Resident/Fellow | $695.00 | $595.00 |
| Social Worker | $695.00 | $595.00 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $695.00 | $595.00 |
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 12.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Harvard Medical School designates this live online or in person for a maximum of 12.25 ANCC contact hours.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.
This program has been approved for a total of 12.25 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approval Program Authorization Number D-10316-1. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 12.25 contact hours.