I am a holistic physician, mindfulness coach, scientist, wife, mother, devoted student of transformation, long-time athlete, and occasional poet. My passion is supporting people of all ages in enhancing their well being, and discovering the Still Quiet Place within. I have been recognized by my peers as a visionary and pioneer in the fields of holistic medicine and mindfulness for youth.
I have offered mindfulness to young people from pre-K to college undergrads in socioeconomically diverse school, and community setting, and conducted two research studies evaluating the benefits of teaching mindfulness to child-parent pairs, and to children in low-income elementary schools; these research projects were conducted in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at Stanford University .
My ongoing research is designed to answer the following questions:
Do children and teens benefit when they learn the life skills of mindfulness and remain familiar with the “Still Quiet Place” within?
If young people learn to observe their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, are they less vulnerable to the unhealthy effects of stress?
If children and teens are able to access their natural sense of peace and to trust their own inner wisdom, are they less susceptible to harmful peer influences and less likely to look for relief in potentially risky behaviors?
When young people practice mindfulness does it enhance their natural emotional intelligence, increase respectful communication and compassionate action, support them in developing healthy relationships, and contributing their gifts to the world?
I am is trained in Internal Medicine, a founding diplomate of the American Board of Holistic Medicine, founder and director of the Association for Mindfulness in Education, and a founding member of the Northern California Advisory Committee on Mindfulness. I served on the Board of Trustees of the American Holistic Medical Association for eight years, and was the first medical director of the integrative Health and Healing Clinic, at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco . In 2002, Dr. Saltzman established a private practice in Menlo Park , CA , where she provides holistic medical care and individual mindfulness instruction to children, teens and adults. I also offer presentations and courses for young children, teens, parents, educators, and health care professionals.
