Who We Are
The Swiss Centre for Flourishing in Medicine (CFM-F) is a network of dedicated educators, researchers, and clinicians who understand that the well-being of physicians is inseparable from the quality of care they provide.
Founded in 2025 and hosted within the Medical Education Unit at the University of Fribourg, CFM-F brings together Swiss and international partners to develop, teach, and research the foundations for flourishing in medicine.
Why 'Flourishing'?
The concept of flourishing goes beyond burnout prevention. Just as the WHO defines health not merely as the absence of illness but as a state of well-being, flourishing describes a physician's capacity to bring full presence, compassion, and meaning to their clinical work, even in the face of increasing systemic pressures.
CFM-F focuses on resilience as growth: the deepening of one's values, professional identity, and capacity for authentic connection with patients and colleagues.
Our Story
Prof. Raphaël Bonvin, Chair of Medical Education at the University of Fribourg, observed for years the rise of psychological distress and loss of motivation among medical students and young physicians. He began offering early responses: self-hypnosis courses from 2004, Mind-Body Medicine for students from 2016, and the Mindful Practice in Medicine workshop for physicians from 2023.
Over time, a network of like-minded professionals formed around this work. In 2025, this community became CFM-F, a formal centre anchored at the University of Fribourg with a Swiss-wide and international reach.
Recognition
CFM-F is one of only five institutions worldwide to hold the designation as an Official Center of Excellence from the University of Rochester (NY) alongside centres in Melbourne, Gothenburg, Kansas, and Calgary.
Our Approach
CFM-F integrates four evidence-based competencies drawn from the Mindful Practice in Medicine programme developed at the University of Rochester:
- Attentive, non-judgmental observation
- Critical curiosity and beginner's mind
- Deep listening and compassionate presence
- Reflective practice as part of professional identity
Accreditations
Our training programmes are recognized by: the University of Fribourg Continuing Education unit, the Swiss Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education (ISFM), and INAMI (Belgium).