BRA Banter - January 2024

Join our upcoming session on Journaling and Mindfulness, where we'll explore the art of introspection and cultivate mindfulness practices. We have two speakers joining us:

Melanie Morris - will be with us to discuss journaling as a form of self-care.

Bio: Melanie Morris is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN). Melanie earned a Ph.D in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2018. As a nurse scientist, her research focus includes promoting the health of women and their newborns during the early postpartum period thorough nurse-navigated, interactive texting. For more than 30 years, she has worked to facilitate the well-being of women in various primary and acute care settings primarily focusing on support for families during the childbearing cycle. Additionally, Melanie passionately promotes well-being in nurses and students by advocating for intentional self-care as one way to foster compassionate caring for oneself and others.

Melanie currently serves as the Tennessee Section Chair for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and is an Oversight Board member for the Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care (TIPQC). Melanie has been married to her high school sweetheart for 40+ years, and they are blessed with 2 incredible children who added 2 amazing mates to the family. Melanie loves to learn and is especially intrigued by the science of neuroplasticity. She enjoys all things writing, the VANDY Boys baseball, and cuddling with her furbabies. She currently finds herself ecstatically awaiting the arrival of her first grandbaby in February.

Deb Markland - will be with us to discuss mindfulness.

Bio: Deb Markland is a Certified Professional Life Coach (CPC) and Mindfulness Teacher. She uses a holistic coaching approach, rooted in Positive Psychology. Through powerful questioning, deep listening, and compassionate reflections, she helps clients move from where they are to where they want to be. 

She’s a native Texan and career marketing professional who believes there’s nothing more meaningful than helping people align with their highest selves. Her experience as a breast cancer survivor led her to deepen her mindfulness practice. Deb completed the Professional Development Mindfulness Facilitation (PDMF) training at the Vanderbilt Osher Center for Integrative Medicine in 2018. Her work in the recovery community inspired her to become a coach – she is currently completing additional certification as a Certified Professional Recovery Coach.

Date: January 17, 2024

Time: 12pm CST

Location: Zoom (signup below to receive more information)

Fill out the form below to register for the event. (It's free!)