Research/Areas of Interest
Mind-Body practices in dental education
Education
- BA, Wheaton College, Norton, United States, 1988
- DMD, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, United States, 1991
Biography
Christina DiBona Pastan is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Endodontics and the Director of Mind-Body Wellness at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Pastan graduated from TUSDM in 1991 and earned her certificate in endodontics from the TUSDM PG Endodontics program in 1994. She has been a volunteer clinical instructor in the department of endodontics for the past 25 years. In July 2015, Dr. Pastan became the school's first Director of Mind-Body Wellness. A long time practitioner of yoga and meditation, Dr. Pastan began teaching self regulation breathing skills to her endodontic residents and through that experience saw a hole that she felt needed to be filled in the dental school curriculum. As a result, Dr. Pastan pursued a professional training in yoga and meditation from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and is a 300 hour certified yoga and meditation teacher.
Dr. Pastan teaches self-regulation skills to the TUSDM entering first year students in a mandatory wellness course that she runs during the first 3 weeks of their training. She continues to teach these skills throughout our dental students four years and in the post graduate programs in different clinical courses; seminars and workshops as well as guiding a weekly drop-in meditation and yoga class that is also open to faculty and staff. Dr. Pastan is the chair of the TUSDM Health and Wellness Committee and works closely with the administration and selected students and staff to develop a culture of wellness that supports the students, faculty and staff and ultimately affects patient care.
Dr. Pastan speaks internationally on the topics of meditation, yoga and self-regulation skills and their importance to the dental health care professional.
Dr. Pastan teaches self-regulation skills to the TUSDM entering first year students in a mandatory wellness course that she runs during the first 3 weeks of their training. She continues to teach these skills throughout our dental students four years and in the post graduate programs in different clinical courses; seminars and workshops as well as guiding a weekly drop-in meditation and yoga class that is also open to faculty and staff. Dr. Pastan is the chair of the TUSDM Health and Wellness Committee and works closely with the administration and selected students and staff to develop a culture of wellness that supports the students, faculty and staff and ultimately affects patient care.
Dr. Pastan speaks internationally on the topics of meditation, yoga and self-regulation skills and their importance to the dental health care professional.