In today’s fast-paced clinical environments, reducing patient and staff anxiety isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential to delivering high-quality care. In my first article introducing the concept of Meditation Sedation, I shared how mindfulness techniques can benefit both patients and staff in Ophthalmology and surgical practices. "Meditation Sedation" is a term I created to raise awareness of the power of mindfulness meditation in clinical spaces—offering a practical, evidence-based approach to transforming the surgical and work experience.
In this article, I will share an interview I conducted with Sondra Hoffman, chief operating officer, at Treasure Coast Eye Specialists, to learn how she is integrating meditation into her practice.
Q: Sondra, as a chief operating officer in an Ophthalmology practice and having such an amazing career in the Ophthalmology space, as well as being a certified Life Coach, how have you seen daily meditation personally impact your ability to lead and support both patients and staff?
A: Thank you for the compliment on an amazing career. After spending nearly 4 decades in ophthalmology I can share that I have always been a mostly calm leader and mentor to our teams. However, the demands on leaders in our practices have become far more burdensome in recent years for a multitude of reasons, far too many to mention for purposes of this article. We are tested almost every minute and must learn to bounce from project to project, putting out this fire or that, all the while remaining the calming presence in our practices. I have been a life coach for 20 years, and through that practice we learn to listen intently. A great example of combining coaching with meditation in the workplace is diffusing that irate patient. We have all had one.
I have practiced meditation for several years. I am also a certified mindfulness meditation instructor. Before engaging with a patient, staff member or doctor, I like to practice the pause. It takes but a second. I take a breath and slowly let it out. Then I am ready for engagement. People won’t notice this once you’ve practiced—it just becomes a natural part of your breathing. Sometimes we don’t have time to remember to practice the pause, but you can perform this at any point in a conversation or distraction. Just breathe.
I also believe in taking a “me” break in the day for 2 minutes—walk outside, get some fresh air, a brief meta walk which allows me to recenter for the balance of the day.
Q: In your experience, what role can meditation play in reducing pre-surgical anxiety for patients, and have you seen examples of this in your own practices or past experiences?
A: I personally feel meditation can be very useful for pre-surgical anxiety. I have personal experience walking my mother and friends through meditation prior to surgical procedures or hospitalizations and have found it to be remarkably useful—even post-operatively, following anesthesia. Again, meditation is not having to sit in silence for an hour, it can be as brief as 3 minutes. Other than discussing pre-surgical meditation with you Christine, I don’t know of practices utilizing the tool. But it’s just that—another tool. Having someone guide you through a calm breathing exercise has been scientifically proven to invite a state of relaxation and calm.
Q: Health care professionals are often under high stress, especially in surgical settings. How do you believe meditation can contribute to a more grounded, emotionally resilient team?
A: I offer meditation in my practice and have led meditation moments with practices around the country via Zoom for their teams. Health care workers suffer some of the highest levels of anxiety and stress—right up there with emergency dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, social workers, and military personnel. In Ophthalmology, we are working in a high-stress environment from the medical team to the operational support team. Without stress-reducing support, we can lose some excellent workers, and this will contribute to an increase in patient anxiety as well.
These sessions I offer are very helpful to reduce stress and invite mindful moments in the day. A 15-minute daily meditation offering for team members is wonderful. It could be shorter. In my practice, I offer 15 minutes at the tail end of lunch for anyone who wants to join me in the dilating room before ramping up for the afternoon, and I lead a guided meditation. Many practices hold morning huddles—that could also be a good time to offer 3 minutes of meditation to set the day. So many options to build emotionally resilient teams. Teach breathing, centering, refocusing. Your teams can lean into those tools during the day.
Daily meditation can help staff:
- Lower stress and anxiety
- Regulate emotions and sharpen focus
- Improve communication and teamwork
- Reduce burnout and increase job satisfaction
Staff benefits:
- Decreased emotional fatigue
- Improved focus and empathy
- Strengthened team culture
- Increased clarity and a greater sense of purpose
Q: Can you share a moment when meditation helped you navigate a difficult leadership or clinical situation—either with a staff member or a patient?
A: There are many examples I could share, but one in particular stands out. As the CEO of a large group practice, I was once tasked with terminating the employment of a partner; in another instance, I had to place a partner on a leave of absence pending review. You can imagine the emotional weight and energy required to navigate conversations like these. I remember clearly how I felt before, during, and after each situation. While I supported the leadership decisions that led to those actions, I was still faced with the reality of impacting someone's livelihood. Before both meetings, I made it a point to center myself—taking a few deep breaths, engaging in a brief meditation, and focusing solely on delivering the message with clarity and compassion. That moment of grounding helped me stay calm, focused, and able to move through the process with integrity.
The Power of "The Pause"
“Before engaging with a patient, staff member, or doctor, I like to practice the pause. It takes but a second.” – Sondra Hoffman
The Pause is a micro-moment of mindfulness—a brief breath or conscious stillness taken before reacting. It's a powerful practice that helps leaders, clinicians, and support staff regulate their responses in high-stress situations.
How to Use It:
- Take 1 deep breath before walking into a room.
- Exhale slowly before starting a difficult conversation.
- Center yourself silently before responding to an emotional patient.
These tiny moments of self-awareness ripple outward—creating calmer interactions and more compassionate care.
Q: Sondra, thank you for sharing your personal experiences and insights. I can imagine the pressure of navigating the balance between the overseeing the operational part of your job and the culture of the workplace. If a practice wanted to start integrating mindfulness or meditation into their patient care or team culture, what would be your top suggestion to get started?
Incorporating Meditations Into the Workday
Recommendations From Sondra Hoffman:- 5-10 minute breaks during shift transitions or lunch
- Quiet rooms or apps with guided meditation
- Short group meditations during morning huddles or after challenging cases
A: My suggestion for getting started is simple: just begin. Reach out to a professional—like Christine or myself—and invite your staff to explore meditation or mindfulness practices. This could be as straightforward as incorporating a short mindfulness moment into your morning huddle, or offering 2 Zoom sessions per week, 15-20 minutes each during the lunch hour, for staff to join a guided meditation. Mindfulness is defined as “a state of active, open attention to the present, observing one’s thoughts and feelings without judgment.” It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and even physical pain—and it's a powerful practice we can all begin integrating into our daily lives. OP
Do You Have Any Wellness Tips To Share?
Let's hear them! Tell us how you stay balanced in a busy day at your practice.
Send your responses to Julie Greenbaum, Managing Editor, Ophthalmic Professional, at Julie.Greenbaum@conexiant.com
