Mindfulness Institute

Director, Mindfulness Institute
Diane Reibel, PhD, cofounded the Stress Reduction Program at the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine in 1996. She has taught mindfulness-based stress reduction programs for more than 16 years. Dr. Reibel has participated in professional training under the direction of Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, and is certified as an MBSR teacher through UMass Center for Mindfulness. In addition, she is a research associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Jefferson, and studies the effects of mindfulness on physical and psychological health. Her research is published and widely cited in both scientific journals and the popular press. She is coauthor with Don McCown of Teaching Mindfulness: A Practical Guide for Clinicians and Educators. Dr. Reibel brings both a scientific foundation and wholeheartedness to her work.

Executive and Medical Director, Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine
Daniel A. Monti, MD, has expertise in several areas of integrative medicine, particularly mind-body medicine and integrative oncology, and has dozens of scholarly publications and presentations in these areas. Dr. Monti is the recipient of a research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI) to study the effects of mindfulness-based art therapy for cancer patients. In addition to his leadership role in the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine, he is an associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior and associate professor of emergency medicine at Jefferson Medical College and Thomas Jefferson University.

Kathy Corbett, MS, CT, is an MBSR instructor and a mind-body-spirit wellness educator and counselor. She earned a master's degree in applied meditation from Won Buddhist Institute and received professional training under the direction of Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of MBSR. She is interested in the practical application of mindfulness for life transitions. Her work includes teaching meditation to hospice patients and caregivers, seniors in later life and persons living with cancer.

Aleezé Moss, PhD, is a research associate at the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine. She works on research projects that are examining mindfulness interventions for cancer patients. She also has extensive MBSR teacher training from Jefferson's Program. In addition, she is a certified yoga teacher and teaches mindful/therapeutic yoga in local studios and privately.

Catherine Polan Orzech, MA, LMFT, has taught Mindfulness and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for the last nine years. Catherine received her initial training at the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and her professional training under the direction of Jon Kabat-Zinn. She has taught and lectured on the subject of mindfulness internationally and was founder and co-director of the Montreal Center for Mindfulness. In addition to teaching MBSR, Catherine is a marriage and family therapist specializing in mindfulness-based psychotherapy focusing on individuals, children and families experiencing interpersonal and relational stress. She also received certification as a doula in 1999, and is in the process of becoming a certified childbirth educator through Childbirth International.

Jerry Santini came to MBSR as a participant in 1997 and it changed his life. He wanted to learn more and give back to the program, so he volunteered for the Stress Reduction Program performing administrative tasks while he continued to study with various meditation teachers, including Tara Brach, Pema Chodren, Sharon Salzman and Larry Rosenberg. He also participated in MBSR Professional Training with Jon Kabat-Zinn in 2000 and 2001. Since 2001, Jerry has been an MBSR teaching assistant with our Program. His special interests include bringing mindfulness to the homeless in shelters. Participants in our MBSR Programs often remark that Jerry brings a great presence, humor and big heart to our classes.

Wendy Weingarten, MSW, a licensed social worker, directed support programs that promote health and resiliency for individuals and families for more than a quarter of a century. Wendy's expertise is in helping parents integrate mindful self-awareness in building emotionally healthy families. She has extensive experience facilitating parenting and stress- and anger-management classes. Wendy has participated in comprehensive MBSR teacher training at Jefferson and in MBSR professional training with Jon Kabat-Zinn.