A Larger Lens

Katlyn Sullivan, MD

When Katelyn Sullivan began Loyola’s 5-year MD/MPH dual-degree program, she was suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. Even though therapy and medicine relieved these conditions, she was terrified that her mental health symptoms “would resurface.” She also felt that something was missing.  Fellow students encouraged her to join the TM elective. With TM, her confidence grew; she excelled, and graduated five years later at the top of her class. “No matter how challenging and tough the days were, I made it through. I felt in many ways that I thrived. And I feel like TM was a big part of that for me.” She is interviewed here by Dr. Carla Brown, who directs MDED 400 Physician Wellness through the TM technique at Loyola.

Cullen Lilley MD

Cullen Lilley MD started medical school classes in 2020 worried that his earlier inability to finish his thesis in microbiology was a predictor of his academic future. He was taking on a different type of schooling in a completely new area. He felt a lot of uncertainty: how medical school would change as the pandemic threw everyone into quarantine? It was very stressful.

He was interested in meditation, but didn’t know what to expect when he opted for the 2-credit elective teaching him the Transcendental Meditation technique and about the science behind it at Loyola Stritch.  He found it eye-opening to be presented with data that demonstrated that the Transcendental Meditation technique improved virtually every aspect of the physiology and psychology.

In that pandemic year, he not only mastered his studies, but also became an internet and medical textbook author, winner awards in his field.

He stabilized more focus, balance and resilience as the result of the twice daily experience of expanded consciousness.

Danielle Terrell MD

Danielle Terrell MD matched in neurosurgery, one of the most competitive residences in the U.S. Danielle expressed that the Transcendental Technique allowed her to develop calm when facing exams and in dealing with fatigue in clinical rotations. “Transcendental Meditation fits with the Jesuit, Catholic tradition…. Whoever decided to bring TM to Loyola was spot on. One can’t overstate how it helps to abate the fatigue and the pace of life. It is one of the ways that Loyola can build physicians that have different armamentaria than the typical fourth year medical student graduating every year.”