The University of Vermont’s Burack Distinguished Lecture Series featured Mary Jo Kreitzer, Ph.D., R.N., of the Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota, who presented on “Cultivating Wellbeing in Our Lives and Communities” on October 7, 2013, in the Billings Library North Lounge on the UVM campus.

In her lecture, Kreitzer discussed the determinants of wellbeing and highlight strategies that lead to human flourishing. She also discussed why empowering people and communities to assume more personal responsibility for their health and wellbeing is becoming an economic imperative for the nation.

Kreitzer is the founder and director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing, where she teaches and conducts research on optimal healing environments and mindfulness meditation. She serves on numerous editorial boards, has authored or co-authored more than 90 scholarly papers and book chapters, and lectures and consults both nationally and internationally. She is the past vice-chair of the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. In addition, Kreitzer is a professor in the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Augustana College and the University of Iowa respectively, and her Ph.D. in health services research, policy, and administration from the University of Minnesota.

Kreitzer’s presentation was hosted by the Laura Mann Center for Integrative Health, the Program in Integrative Health at the UVM College of Medicine, Fletcher Allen Healthcare, and the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences.