About Werner Absenger

Mindfulness, Contemplative Practice, and Culinary Medicine Capture Werner Absenger’s Expertise and Passions.

Through my career, I matured into what the field of interdisciplinary research calls a depth and breadth (T-shaped) scientist. I aim to build depth by making scientific contributions in my field. The vertical part of the “T.” I embrace breadth (the horizontal part of the “T”) by having the stamina, patience, and self-awareness that constructive, interdisciplinary dialogue towards shared goals and co-creation requires.

Mindfulness Scientist: I hold a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition and a Ph. D. in Mind-Body Medicine. I aim to overcome obstacles and bring people with different skills and expertise together to support dynamic learning with informal rules, plain-speaking, open-mindedness, empathy, and respect. From those efforts sprung the Mindfulness Skill Training in Medicine (MSTM) program.

Culinary Medicine: As classically trained chef and Program Director of the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at GRCC, I play an active role in combining medical science with the art of cooking by teaming up with Spectrum Health. The result? A culinary medicine program for physicians, medical residents, and the community.

Contemplative Practice: In the West, we direct our education process toward developing and refining linear, discursive thought, seemingly centered in the left hemisphere of the brain. Yes, linear thinking plays a vital role in understanding the universe and our functioning in the world. Realize, however, that this does not represent the entirety of human consciousness. Understanding mindfulness intellectually or haphazardly practicing mindfulness doesn’t do anything. It is just another idea. Believing it gives you another belief system. However, realizing mindfulness in your own life is transformative. You can never live your life in the old way.

The Mindfulness Skill Training in Medicine (MSTM) Program for Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals

Werner’s Curriculum Vitae

* ORCID ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0960-0817(more info about ORCID)

Business Address: MindbodyMed | PO Box 221 | Spring Lake MI 49456

Business Phone Number: (616) 296-0772

Foreign Language: German (native)

Education

2006 – 2008 | Pre-med Biology and Chemistry, Muskegon Community College, Muskegon, MI

2008 | B.S., Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Everglades University,Boca Raton, FL

2010 | M.S., Human Nutrition, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT

2015 | Ph.D., Mind-Body Medicine, Saybrook University, Thesis Advisor – Eric Willmarth, Ph.D. “Medical hypnosis and interleukin-1 beta in breast cancer survivors“

Research Training 

06/2013 | 100-Hour Practicum, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

02/2014 | Fundamentals of Neuroscience (Part I), Harvard University, Cambridge, MA | Verify the authenticity of this certificate at https://verify.edx.org/cert/1d6dcba40e444409892b01c148f2f102

Clinical & Professional Training

10/2010 | Professional Training Program in Mind-Body Medicine, The Center for Mind Body Medicine, Washington, DC

02/2011 | Advanced Training Program in Mind-Body Medicine, The Center for Mind Body Medicine, Washington, DC

10/2012 | Cancer Care Fundamentals: A Cancer Guides Seminar, The Center for Mind Body Medicine, Washington, DC

10/2017 | ME-CL Mindful Eating-Conscious Living: A Foundational Professional Training, the University of California San Diego School of Medicine Center for Mindfulness, San Diego, CA

06/2018 | The National Intergroup Dialogue Institute. The Program on Intergroup Relations, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

08/2018 | Zazen (formal Zen sitting meditation) Training Retreat. Zen Mountain Monastery, Mount Tremper, NY

06/2019 |Mind & Life 2019 Summer Research Institute, Exploring Mental Habits: Contemplative Practices and Interventions for Individual and Social Flourishing, Mind & Life Institute, Garrison, NY

06/2019 | 3-day Sesshin characterized by silence and deep introspection. Each retreat day included 7 to 10 hours of zazen, formal silent meals in the zendo (oryoki), silent work practice, and talks by the teacher and senior students. Zen Mountain Monastery, Mount Tremper, NY

08/2019 | 3-day Peaceful Dwelling: Meditation Intensive. Zen Mountain Monastery, Mount Tremper, NY

07/2020| 5-day Sesshin: Meditation Intensive characterized by silence and deep introspection. Each retreat day included 10 hours of formal zazen and Dokusan three times a day. Rochester Zen Center, Rochester, NY

Employment History

07/2014-present | Absenger Cancer Education Foundation (ACEF), Spring Lake, MI

08/2016 – present | Program Director, Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), Secchia Institute of Culinary Education(SICE), Grand Rapids, MI

Academic Appointments

Undergraduate Teaching Employment

2015-2016 | Adjunct Instructor, CSS 100A College Success Seminar, Muskegon Community College, up to 9 contact hours/year

2015-2016 | Adjunct Instructor, Nutrition (CUL 141), The Culinary Institute of Michigan, Baker College, up to 8-quarter hours/year

2015-2016 | Adjunct Instructor, Restaurant Techniques (CUL 201L), The Culinary Institute of Michigan, Baker College, up to 32 quarter hours/year

2016-present | Assistant Professor, Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), Secchia Institute of Culinary Education, Grand Rapids, MI

Graduate Teaching Employment

2015-present | Adjunct Professor, General Biochemistry (MBM 5703), Saybrook University, up to 6 credit hours/year

2016-present | Adjunct Professor, Advanced Biochemistry (MBM 5671), Saybrook University, up to 6 credit hours/year

2016-present | Adjunct Professor, Quantitative Research (MBM 5553), Saybrook University, up to 6 credit hours/year

Professional Society Membership

2013-present | General Member, AAAS: American Association for the Advancement of Science

2015-present | General Member, MCC: The Michigan Cancer Consortium

2016-present | Professional Member, TCME: The Center for Mindful Eating

2017-present | Professional Member, ACBS: The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science

Honors & Awards

2012 | Dr. Herbert Spiegel Award, Saybrook University, awarded for the best poster “Hypnosis as a Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention to Keep the Tumorigenic Switch in the OFF Position?”

2013 | The Crasilneck Award, Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, awarded for best first paper presented by a graduate student or young scientist at a Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH) annual meeting.

2020 | 2nd Place the NASA Hunch Culinary Challenge. Coached Secchia Institute for Culinary Education Students Victoria Uy and Thomas Brown for the 2020 NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge. Victoria and Tom created sous-vide Indian butternut squash, mango chicken, and brown rice. The recipe had to consider food processing procedures and nutritional requirements for microgravity and to meet the standards of the NASA Johnson Space Center Food Lab. The NASA Hunch competition’s 1st place recipe is prepared for space by Johnson Space Center Food Lab and flown to astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Clinical Activities

2016-2017 | The Living Well In Breast Cancer Survivorship Program

For the Absenger Cancer Education Foundation, I developed an evidence-based survivorship program that incorporates mindful eating classes, yoga classes, and meditation classes to assist people in cancer survivorship and chronic disease. This program received grant funding from Susan G. Komen for the 2016-2017 grant cycle.

2017-present | Culinary Medicine Program

Culinary Medicine Elective for Spectrum Health’s Medical Residency Program Curriculum | In collaboration with Leanne Mauriello, PhD, Kristi Artz, MD, Krista Gast, RD, and Timothy Harlan, MD, The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine at Tulane University

As Program Director of the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), I play a vital role in combining the science of medicine with the art of cooking by teaming up with Kristi Artz, MD, CCMS, dipABLM.

Dr. Artz is board certified in emergency medicine and lifestyle medicine. She serves as Medical Director of MedNow, Spectrum Health’s telehealth platform, and is the lead physician of the Culinary Medicine program.

Together, we have created and implemented the Spectrum Health Culinary Medicine program. We engage health care professionals and community members in the importance of food as a tool for achieving optimal health.

With the support from Spectrum Health and GRCC, we implemented Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine for faculty and residents of internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, and the cardiology fellowship programs at Spectrum Health.

2018-present | The Mindfulness Skill Training in Medicine: A 4-Session Skill Training Program for Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals (https://mindbodymed.net).

Dr. Artz and I created the Mindfulness Skill Training in Medicine (MSTM) program, a 4-Session Mindfulness Skill Training program for clinicians and healthcare professionals. The 4-session Mindfulness Skill Training in Medicine program is rooted in evidence derived from the field of contemplative neuroscience. Healthcare professionals might benefit from interventions that increase their self-care, awareness, compassion, and other focused concern and reduce the chances of distress and burnout. The Mindfulness Skill Training in Medicine program based on Tania Singer’s “ReSource Model of Compassion” research at the Department for Human Cognitive and Brain Science at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany, and other research labs in the field of contemplative neuroscience.

Research Interests

As a research scientist, I am interested in using imaging techniques and immunological assays, qualitative and mixed methods research to investigate contemplative practice and mindfulness modalities.

Research Expertise

1. Absenger, W.(2012). Quality of life outcomes following mind-body skills instructions for cancer patients that are facilitated either face-to-face or online. (Summary Report) (pp. 1–19). Oakland, CA: Saybrook University
2. Absenger, W.(2012). Chronicles of Four: A case study to better understand the experiences of graduate students conducting a 16-week original research project.(Summary Report) (pp. 1– 39). Oakland, CA: Saybrook University
3. Absenger, W.(2013). What are the effects of clinical hypnosis on the modulation of cytokines: A systematic review. (Summary Report) (pp. 1-51). Oakland, CA: Saybrook University
4. Absenger, W.(2013). A comparison of salivary interleukin 1-beta expression in control, face-to-face, and online hypnosis groups.(Summary Report) (pp. 1-20). Oakland, CA: Saybrook University
5. Helgason, C., Absenger, W., Sarris, J. (2015). Telemedicine for mind-body medicine group therapy: A small-scale demonstration project.Oakland, CA: Saybrook University
6. Absenger, W.(2015). Medical hypnosis and interleukin-1 beta in breast cancer survivors. Oakland, CA: Saybrook University

National Service

2012-2016 | Editor, Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH), Newsletter (4x/yr)

Local Service

2004-2010 | Board Member, Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council, Grand Rapids, MI

2014-2016 | Board Member, The Revive & Thrive Project, Grand Rapids, MI

Teaching Service

2014-2016 | Instructor, Access Health provides classes, programs, resources, and healthcare coverage to lead Muskegon County, MI, on a path toward a healthier lifestyle.

Grant Support

Grants:

04/01/2016-03/31/2017 | (PI: 50%): “Living Well In Breast Cancer Survivorship.” Susan G. Komen® Michigan (CGA-2016-MI101-00002). Annual Direct Costs: $23,971 | Total Direct Costs: $23,971

07/01/2019-06/30/2020 | (PI: 10% with Dr. Kristi Artz). “Mindfulness Skill Training in Medicine: A 4-Session Skill Training Program for Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals.”  Spectrum Health Provider Engagement Grant. Annual Direct Costs: $5,000

07/01/2020-06/30/2021 | (PI: 10% with Dr. Kristi Artz). “Mindfulness Skill Training in Medicine: A 4-Session Skill Training Program for Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals.”  Spectrum Health Provider Engagement Grant. Annual Direct Costs: $5,000

Publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles

1. Baker, A. C., & Absenger, W. (2013). Sexual Wellness Enhancement and Enrichment Training (SWEET): A hypothetical group model for addressing sexual health and wellbeing. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 28(1-2), 48-62. doi:10.1080/14681994.2013.770142
2. Absenger, W. (2015). [Review of the book Hypnotic Approaches in Cancer and Palliative Care, by S. Néron and D. Handel]. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2015.1011515
3. Heermann, C., Absenger, W., & Sarris, J. (2017). Videoconference mind-body group therapy in a public mental health setting: A pilot study. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-016-0001-3
4. Anderson, K., Rubik, B., & Absenger, W. (2019). Does combining emotional freedom techniques and hypnosis have an effect on sexual assault–specific posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms? Energy Psychology, 11(2), 31–49. https://energypsychologyjournal.org

Non-peer reviewed publications

Web-based articles

1. Absenger, W. (2014, January). How to increase employee stress resilience in 11 hours or less? Hotel Business Review. Retrieved from http://hotelexecutive.com
2. Absenger, W. (2014, April). Effective communication reduces stress. Hotel Business Review.Retrieved from http://hotelexecutive.com
3. Absenger, W. (2014, May). Stress Management 101: Teach employees how to breathe.Hotel Business Review. Retrieved from http://hotelexecutive.com
4. Absenger, W. (2014, June). Avoiding burnout with heart rate variability training.Hotel Business Review. Retrieved from http://hotelexecutive.com

Abstracts and/or Proceedings

1. Absenger, W. (2012, April). Spukhafte Fernwirkung: Can distant healing intentionality (DHI) be explained through imagery induced ultraweak biophoton emission, qubits, and quantum entanglement?Poster session presented at the Center for Consciousness Studies’ 10th Biennial Toward a Science of Consciousness Conference, Tucson, AZ

Published Multimedia

1. Absenger, W. (2019). The mindfulness unfiltered podcast [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindfulness-unfiltered-podcast/id1447781743?mt=2&app=podcast

Clinicians and patients might find the Mindfulness Unfiltered Podcast helpful. Dr. Werner aims to inform about the potential and limitations of mindfulness meditation in the healthcare setting. Especially if you have to deal with complex health care decisions due to chronic disease and/or cancer.

Major Invited Speeches & Presentations

Local

1. Absenger, W. (2014, March 28). Stress management for hospitality employees. Breakout session presented at the Grand Valley State University Hospitality Summit 2014: Waves of Opportunity, Oceans of Success, Grand Rapids, MI
2. Absenger, W. (2015, September). Empowering pain & palliative care patients and their health care providers with hypnosis. Presented at Mercy Health’s 6th Annual Pain & Palliative Care Conference, Grand Rapids, MI
3. Absenger, W. (2017, May). Mindful eating and mindfulness session. Presented at the 2017 Michigan Breast and Cervical Cancer Control & Navigation Program, Colorectal Cancer Screening and System Change Programs and WISEWOMAN Program Annual Meeting, Lansing, MI
4. Absenger, W. (2018, April-May). Mindfulness: A four-part, evidence-based series to less stress, better sleep, more energy, and less job burnout. Presented to nurses, social workers, caseworkers at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI
5. Artz, K., Gast, K., & Absenger, W. (2018, May). What is culinary medicine? Presented to Dietitians of West Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI,
6. Absenger, W. (2018, October). Mindfulness. Presented to Spectrum Health’s Internal Medicine Wellness Program for Residents, Meijer Heart Center, Grand Rapids, MI
7. Absenger, W. (2019, March 25). Lovingkindness meditation: A model to increase clinician wellbeing, build resilience, and avoid empathic distress fatigue in the face of suffering? Presented at the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Medical (Inter-Professional) Grand Rounds. Grand Rapids, MI
8. Absenger, W., & Artz, K. (2019, April 17). Culinary medicine: A healthcare model to provide simple, inexpensive, nutrient-dense, home-cooked meals for persons with ID and DD? Presented at the 35th Annual Developmental Disabilities Conference, co-sponsored by MDHHS, the Michigan Chapter of AAIDD, and WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Lansing, MI
9. Absenger, W. (2019, August 1). Compassion & lovingkindness meditation: A model to increase clinician wellbeing, build resilience, and avoid empathic distress fatigue in the face of suffering? Presented at the Butterworth East Auditorium, Spectrum Health Grand Rounds. Grand Rapids, MI
10. Artz, K., & Absenger, W. (2019, September 28). Adapting the graduate medical education curriculum to advance culinary literacy for physicians. Presented at the Farms, Food & Health conference Traverse City, MI
11. Absenger, W. (2019, October 25). Mindfulness Practice: A Natural Fit with Occupation?Presented at the TRENDS in Occupational Studies Conference at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI

National

1. Willmarth, E. K., Absenger, W., Stanton, E., & DeBlaay, B. (2013, March 18). Integrating hypnosis and biofeedback: Evidence and trends. Presented at the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) 55th Annual Scientific Meeting & Workshops, Louisville, KY
2. Absenger, W. (2013, October 4). Is there a difference in the expression of salivary interleukin-1 beta between hypnotherapy administered on-line, face-to-face and a wait-listed control group? Poster session at the 64th Annual SCEH Scientific Session: The Future of Professional Hypnosis: Practice, Process & Outcomes, Berkeley, CA
3. Absenger, W. (2013, October 5). What are the effects of clinical hypnosis on the modulation of cytokines: A systematic review. Paper presented at the 64th Annual SCEH Scientific Session: The Future of Professional Hypnosis: Practice, Process & Outcomes, Berkeley, CA
4. Artz, K., Dotson, K., & Absenger, W. (2018, June). Module 4: Food Allergy and Intolerance. A facilitated culinary medicine class presented at Health Meets Food: The Culinary Medicine Conference, Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
5. Artz, K., Suvedi, E., & Absenger, W. (2018, June). Module 15: Food and Neurocognition. A facilitated culinary medicine class presented at Health Meets Food: The Culinary Medicine Conference, Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
6. Artz, K., Schlag, E., & Absenger, W. (2018, June). Module 6: Sodium, Potassium, and Hypertension. A facilitated culinary medicine class presented at Health Meets Food: The Culinary Medicine Conference, Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA

International

1. Absenger, W. (2019, October 5). The art and craft of cooking + the science of medicine = culinary medicine. Presented at the 2019 Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) 8th International Chefs Conference, Pullman Hotel, Aero City, New Delhi, India
2. Absenger, W. (2020, July 25). Cancer, chronic disease, and the COVID-19 pandemic: Does culinary medicine have answers? Nutrition as an important mitigation strategy to support immune function. [Webinar]. Faraja Cancer Support Trust, Nairobi, KE.

Proffered Communications

Local

1. Absenger, W., Healthy Food = Healthy People = Healthy Communities, Rooted In Community IV, Grand Rapids, MI, talk, 2006
2. Absenger, W., Is This the Future of Food? Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan, talk, 2006
3. Absenger, W., Antioxidants & Diet, Michigan Licensed Practical Nurses Association, Muskegon, MI, workshop, 2008
4. Absenger, W., Low Carbohydrate Cooking, Secchia Institute For Culinary Education, Grand Rapids, MI, workshop, 2008
5. Absenger, W., Water-Essential Nutrient For Life, Michigan Licensed Practical Nurses Association, Muskegon, MI, workshop, 2010
6. Absenger, W., The New Medicine and the Central Role of Self-Care, Michigan Licensed Practical Nurses Association, Muskegon, MI, workshop, 2011
7. Absenger, W., Soul Series Talk: Mapping the Cancer Journey, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI, presentation, 2015
8. Absenger, W., Grief as Spiritual Teacher: The Big Questions on Death and Dying, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI, presentation, 2015
9. Baker, A., & Absenger, W., Living and Loving after Prostate Cancer, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI, presentation, 2015
10. Absenger, W., Mapping the Cancer Journey, Johnson Family Cancer Center, Muskegon, MI, presentation, 2016
11. Baker, A., & Absenger, W., Living and Loving after Prostate Cancer, Johnson Family Cancer Center, Muskegon, MI, presentation, 2016
12. Absenger, W., Reflexology, Susan G. Komen Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI, lunch & learn, 2016
13. Absenger, W., Mindful Eating, Susan G. Komen Michigan, Muskegon, MI, lunch & learn, 2016
14. Absenger, W., Living and Dying: Confronting Your Mortality, Johnson Family Cancer Center, Muskegon, MI, presentation, 2016
15. Absenger, W., Confronting our Mortality: What Happens When We Die? C3 West Michigan’s Inclusive Spiritual Connection, Grand Haven, MI, presentation, 2016 (audio recording)
16. Absenger, W., This is Your Brain on Mindfulness, Str!ve by Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI, presentation, 2017
17. Absenger, K., & Absenger, W., Dukkha Unplugged: Change is inevitable; Suffering is not! C3 West Michigan’s Inclusive Spiritual Connection, Grand Haven, MI, presentation, 2018 (video recording)

National

1. Absenger, W., Fighting Breast Cancer One Bite at a Time, Culinary Vegetable Institute, Milan, OH, workshop, 2005
2. Absenger, W., Principles of Phytotherapy, New York Chiropractic College, Seneca Falls, NY, workshop, 2005
3. Absenger, W., Healing Properties of Foods, Culinary Vegetable Institute, Milan, OH, workshop, 2005

This page last updated on September 19, 2020, at 20:39.