Targeting the Health Care Provider (HCP) Burnout Crisis During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This single blind, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) evaluates, a nonpharmacological intervention, TM (Transcendental Meditation) for improving burnout (, as measured by self-reporting (survey), physiologic, and neuro-functional imaging studies in health care providers (HCPs) when practiced over 3 months\' time. The investigators define HCPs as any physician, physician trainee, nurse, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or respiratory therapist. HCPs will be screened by a single-item stress scale and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) to understand their stress level and exclusion criteria respectively. The Global Severity Index of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)-18 Global Severity score will be used as the primary outcome for pre- and post-TM training (baseline, 1 vs. 3 months). In addition, the investigators will evaluate physiological markers of stress and cardiovascular resiliency such as 1) changes (pre/post-treatment) in heart rate variability (HRV) through wearables, 2) Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) - changes in sweat gland activity that result from changes in an emotional state. fMRI will be performed by the Duke Brain Imaging and Analysis Center (BIAC) on a subset of participants to evaluate changes A specifically developed mobile app will aid data collection as well as reminders for providers to aid compliance for meditation