LCSW, Director of Programming and Outreach at the UAMS Student Wellness Program and Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry
Trained in Koru Mindfulness
Matt Boone can be reached at MBoone2@uams.edu

Matt Boone, LCSW is Director of Programming and Outreach at the UAMS Student Wellness Program and Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry. His professional interests include evidence-based treatments for anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating disorders; training professionals in cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT); and supporting students of color, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, first-generation students, and others who might face challenges in medical training. He specializes in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a mindfulness- and acceptance-based behavior therapy for a broad spectrum of problems, and has published various books, articles, book chapters, and blogs on ACT-related topics. In his life outside of work, he enjoys writing and recording music, eating amazing food, and hanging out with friends. He and his wife spend way too much time talking about their cat, Elliot, and he loves working with people who think therapy is for wimps.

Licensed Therapist, Student Wellness Program
Trained in Koru Mindfulness – on Pathway to Teacher Certification
Angie Moore can be reached at ADMoore2@uams.edu

In the ’90s, Angie was introduced to meditation through extensive yoga practice and workshops. Finding that slowing down and paying attention are positives! She discovered an incredible richness in her experiences when she was able to stay present and in-the-moment. As a recovering perfectionist and constant “doer,” mindfulness provided her with calmness, balance, and a place for compassion and acceptance. As a clinical therapist, Mindfulness is integrated into her practice as a valuable tool. Her training includes meditation workshops from yoga masters, Koru Mindfulness Teacher Training Level 1, Mindfulness workshop with Ronald Siegel, Psy.D. She also teaches drop-in noon sessions and Koru Mindfulness classes for students and faculty on the UAMS campus.

Licensed Therapist, Student Wellness Program
Trained in Koru Mindfulness – on Pathway to Teacher Certification
Jim Holland can be reached at JAHolland@uams.edu

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Trained in Koru Mindfulness – on Pathway to Certification
Dr. Vicki Flynn can be reached at VFLYNN@uams.edu

Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Geriatrics
Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging
Trained in Koru Mindfulness – on Pathway to Teacher Certification
Dr. Denise Compton can be reached at MDCompton@uams.edu

Denise Compton, Ph.D. psychologist, was first introduced to Mindfulness Meditation and the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn while leading a pain management group in a Rehabilitation Center during the 1990s.  In the intervening years, she has studied and practiced a variety of meditation techniques, but always returns to Mindfulness Meditation.   “It has certainly helped me through the most difficult periods of my life.  It provides a powerful relaxation and stress management tool.  However, I believe it is most powerful in increasing self-awareness and insight and generalizing to bring mindfulness to all everyday life activities.”  She recently completed training to become a Koru facilitator and is excited to be part of bringing Koru Mindfulness to the UAMS community.  “This program is very thoughtfully designed to give busy students lots of tools to help them navigate the stresses of their training – and do so in a very time-efficient and effective manner.”

Professor of Pediatrics, Biomedical Informatics and Public Health, UAMS
Chief Medical Information Officer, Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Associate Director of UAMS Mindfulness Program, Certified Koru Mindfulness Teacher
Dr. Pele Yu can be reached at FBYu@uams.edu

Dr. Yu became interested in meditation through the positive personal experience of mindful practices and the reliability of the stress management techniques used during meditation when applied in real life. The depth and transformative power of this practice became an essential part of his daily life, and it inspired him to share his experience with physician colleagues, medical students, house staff and family members. Dr. Yu is a Qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher and has completed the MBSR Teacher Training Intensive through the University of California (San Diego) Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute. He is the instructor for the UAMS MBSR Program. He is also a Certified Koru Mindfulness Instructor and he regularly facilitates Koru Mindfulness Classes at the UAMS academic medical center and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Director of UAMS Student and Resident Wellness Program
Professor of Psychiatry, UAMS
Director of UAMS Mindfulness Program, Certified Koru Mindfulness Teacher
Formal training in MBSR

Dr. Puru Thapa can be reached at ThapaPurushottamB@uams.edu

Dr. Thapa, a Professor of Psychiatry and the Director of the UAMS Student and Resident Wellness Program, was first introduced to Mindfulness seven years ago in a workshop on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, an evidence-based program to help individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder.  He was impressed with the scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of Mindfulness as not only as an adjunct treatment for numerous medical and psychiatric conditions but also for the management of stress and burnout in non-clinical populations.  Recognizing how this practice has profoundly affected his personal life and growth, he has been a strong advocate for promoting Mindfulness to the students at UAMS since he took over the Student Wellness Program. He has given lectures on the science and practice Mindfulness in various forums, taught Mindfulness-based courses to students, supported training for his staff with whom he offers regular drop-in guided Mindfulness sessions.  With a grant he received from the UAMS Chancellor’s Circle of Excellence Fund, he has established a UAMS Mindfulness program through which he has supported Koru Mindfulness Teacher Certificate training for seven faculty/staff from UAMS who have been offering classes to students with plans to expand to residents, and eventually faculty.  Dr. Thapa is a certified Koru Mindfulness Teacher and has also received training in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR).