Inner Inmate Mindfulness, Wisdumb and such
Life consists of only moments, nothing more than that. And since this moment is the only moment that we ever have, nothing matters more than this moment. Therefore when we make this moment matter, Life is All that matters...if just for a moment ❤
Agustin (Gus) Castellanos, M.D.
UMass Certified MBSR Teacher, Retired Neurologist & Sleep Specialist
Gus Castellanos, M.D. attended the University of Miami undergraduate and Medical School, receiving his M.D. degree in 1980. He trained at Emory University School of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He received Board Certification in Neurology in 1987 and in Sleep Medicine in 1994. He was Assistant Professor in Neuro-Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center before relocating to practice Neurology & Sleep Medicine in Palm Beach County, Fl, in 1987. In 2006, he retired from the practice of Medicine. He trained and received certification to teach MBSR by the University of Massachusetts Medical School Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society in 2017. He trained with and contributed to the University of Miami (Amishi) Jha Lab's Mianduflness Based attention Training. In 2020 Dr. Castellanos was hired as an Adjunct Instructor by Nova Southeastern University to teach and research mindfulness-based programs.
During his medical career, Dr. Castellanos served as Medical Director of The Sleep Center at Jupiter Medical Center, President of the Florida Society of Neurology, Chief of Neurology at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, and Co-Director of Jupiter Medical Center’s Stroke Center. He founded and served as Medical Director of Carelink Clinic (volunteer clinic bringing medical care and humanitarian services to the underserved, uninsured people in northern Palm Beach County) and Founder and Medical Liaison of A.W.A.K.E. Sleep Apnea Support Group, Palm Beach County. Dr. Castellanos attended his first Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course in 1998. He has been practicing mindfulness ever since. In 2009 he began teaching mindfulness workshops and classes and in 2010 began teaching MBSR and related programs. He is also a personal mindfulness trainer. He is currently teaching at a variety of facilities throughout South Florida, including the Sari Center for Integrative Cancer Care, Mindful Kids Miami, Nova South Eastern University, Florida Dept of Health, Children's Council of Palm Beach, and Connected Warriors, a non-profit empowering Servicemembers, Veterans, and their Families. Gus is the mindfulness teacher for GEN2050, a program for under-resourced teens inspiring Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Environmental Stewardship, STEAM, and Social Responsibility. Sicne 2009, Gus has facilitated programs for University of Miami's Osher Center For Integrative Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, UMindfulness, FIU College of Medicine, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, Miami Dade Fire Rescue, Town of Jupiter, US Army, United Way of Broward, Trustbridge Hospice of Palm Beach County, Jupiter Medical Center, College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Akerman, LLP, Searcy, Denny, Scarola, Barnhart Law Firm, Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, Hanley Treatment Center, A New Day Treatment Center, The Wellness Center at Ultima Fitness Center, American Express, SocialCode (Code3), Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants, Tiger 21, Junior League of the Palm Beaches, NCH Healthcare in Naples (a Mayo Clinic affiliate), Harbour's Edge - A Lifespace Community, Department of Children and Families, St Andrew's School in Boca Raton, Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida Atlantic University School of Social Work, eClerx LLC, Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Monroe County, Florida Dept of Health nurses, LeBeau Excel, Albizu University, Sierra Tucson, and The Mindful Path.
Responding to the challenges of the 2020 pandemic, Gus designed and delivered a 6-week mindfulness program, Stress Reduction thru Attention Training (SRAT) to approximately 140 NSU students, faculty, and staff. These classes underwent research showing improvement in COVID distress, perceived stress, mind wandering, cognitive failures, sustained attention, and mindfulness (publication pending).
Gus designed a Mindfulness-Based program for a local prison in 2011 and continues to provide twice-monthly mindfulness sessions there. He lectures widely and writes a bi-monthly South Florida Mindfulness newsletter. He founded a local mindfulness teacher sangha in 2011 and was one of the meditation teacher trainers at Innergy Meditation in South Beach in 2019. Gus co-organized and co-hosted the "A Mindful South Florida" event in December 2109. This event brought together nationally known leaders in the field of mindfulness and mental health, trauma, school violence, and criminal justice. Over 600 people registered for the main symposium and 7 workshops throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. Gus is involved in mindfulness research at Nova Southeastern University and in the past with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FIU College of Medicine, and Amishi Jha's Mindfulness Based Attention Training program at the University of Miami Neuroscience Lab.
Gus serves on Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc.’s "Train the Brain" campaign Advisory Board and planning committee.
Although it is my intention to stay in the Mystery and out of the MyStory, below are parts of my story in a variety of podcasts and interviews
My journey from Medicine to Mindfulness, from addiction to recovery, and from prison to prison volunteer discussed on Present Moment Mindfulness July 2019 - LISTEN HERE
My interview with Dr. Deb Lindh for her PTSD and Beyond Podcast. Discussing mindfulness and sleep and such. Aug 2020 LINK HERE
My July 2020 interview on Epic Love Show discussing my journey from Medicine to Mindfulness and my razor-wire retreat:
my interview on NPR's Maximum Health Radio Show, "Quality Living" with Dr. Ken Grey Jan 2017 - LISTEN HERE
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Razor Wire Retreat – my interview with Tom Gentry on The Path to Authenticity podcast
LINK HERE
My conversation with Sofia Puerta Webber, Bilingual Yoga Therapy & MBSR teacher and founder of Shiwido™ May 2021I shared my story, and we shared experiences with recovery, trauma, and mindfulness.
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Agustin (Tino) Castellanos, M.D., my father who helped develop the modern pacemaker, retires after nearly six decades as Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine Story LINK HERE and Dad's Curriculum Vitae
Agustin W. Castellanos, M.D., my grandfather Nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology & Medicine twice (Propuesta para el Premio Nobel de Fisiologia o Medicina) link here and LINK HEREGrandfather's story written by A. CASTELLANOS, M.D. and A.M. CASTELLANOS, M.D. in Profiles in Cardiology, Clinical Cardiology, 1985 (edited by J. Willis Hurst, M.D.) Link Here
Daniel Castellanos, MD, my brother is Founding Chair, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health and Pediatrics FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He has received several awards for outstanding teaching and has served as a mentor for numerous practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists. He has given numerous presentations on these topics and published a book and several articles related to children and adolescents. LINK HERE