Session on the Role of Meditation in Mental Health and Well-being

Published on: January 10, 2025

The Department of Clinical Research at Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, organized an insightful session on “The Role of Meditation in Mental Health and Well-being” on January 10, 2024. Conducted at the Training and Development Cell, the session was led by Dr. Somlata Jha and attended by 22 MSc Clinical Research students.

The session aimed to familiarize students with the significant mental health benefits of meditation. Dr. Jha emphasized how meditation serves as a powerful tool for stress reduction, emotional regulation, and cognitive enhancement. Various types of meditation—such as mindfulness and transcendental meditation—were introduced, each offering unique benefits for improving concentration, managing anxiety, and cultivating emotional balance.

Students were guided through simple yet effective practical techniques, including breathing exercises and mindfulness meditation. These hands-on activities helped them experience firsthand the calming effects of focused attention and present-moment awareness.

The session concluded with Dr. Jha encouraging students to integrate meditation into their daily routines. Participants left with a heightened awareness of how meditation can not only support mental clarity and emotional resilience but also contribute to a healthier and more fulfilling life. The event successfully underscored meditation as a valuable practice for personal well-being and professional growth in clinical and research settings.

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International Endowed Chair Professor

Prof Rakesh Kumar

Prof Rakesh Kumar is the Founder and President of the Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation (USA), dedicated to vaddressing the distinct issues affecting young women with breast cancer. He also serves as the International Endowed Chair Professor at the Cancer Research Institute of the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences. Additionally, he holds adjunct professorships at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr Kumar earned his Ph.D. from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1984 and began his research career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in January 1986. From 1988 to 2017, he held various academic and leadership positions —including faculty member, tenured professor, distinguished professor, endowed chair, department chair, and research leader—at esteemed institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. From 2017 to 2022, he served as the National Chair for Cancer Research for the Government of India and as a distinguished professor, continuing his innovative work in breast cancer research.

With nearly 40 years of research and professional experience, Dr. Kumar has made conceptual contributions to the field of cancer research (h-index 108, citations >50,000). He has authored over 325 peer-reviewed publications, edited or co-edited nine books, and delivered 290 invited lectures worldwide. His work has been featured on the covers of 18 major cancer journals and has been highlighted in institutional research reports of the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

A passionate educator and mentor, Dr. Kumar has guided 67 trainees throughout his career. He serves on the editorial boards of multiple leading cancer journals and has served on the editorial boards of 21 top cancer journals. His global reputation is further demonstrated by his participation in about 100 peer-review panels for cancer research funding in the US and internationally over the past 28 years.

Dr. Kumar's innovative research has earned him numerous prestigious honors, including the Hinkle Society Faculty Award at Penn State University (1994), the Dalla/Fort Worth Living Legend Faculty Achievement Award in Basic Sciences (2004), the Ranbaxy Research Award (2006), and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Indian Scientists in Cancer Research (2013), among others. Dr. Kumar's pioneering research continues to have a profound influence on the fields of oncology and breast cancer, opening up new opportunities for biomedical scientists and trainees worldwide.