Previous Fellowship Recipients
Celebrating the pioneering work of our fellowship recipients.
Nathan Fisher, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychiatry at McGill University. He completed his doctorate in religious studies with a concentration in cognitive science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. From 2012-2015 he managed the ‘Varieties of Contemplative Experience’ (VCE) project at the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at Brown University, which documented the range of meditation experiences reported in western Buddhist traditions.
Biography
He then replicated the study in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions at UCSB. His current research at McGill investigates changes in self-related processes in mindfulness-based interventions, the variety of experiences in Asian and Abrahamic contemplative traditions, ecosocial systems approaches to contemplative studies, and bridging social determinants of health research to psychedelic clinical science.
Natalie is also an energy medicine practitioner and teacher specializing in Reiki and shamanic healing practices. She lives in the woods on the east coast of Canada with her husband, visionary artist Louis Dyer, and their daughter Ivy.
Nathan Fisher, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychiatry at McGill University. He completed his doctorate in religious studies with a concentration in cognitive science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. From 2012-2015 he managed the ‘Varieties of Contemplative Experience’ (VCE) project at the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at Brown University, which documented the range of meditation experiences reported in western Buddhist traditions. He then replicated the study in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions at UCSB. His current research at McGill investigates changes in self-related processes in mindfulness-based interventions, the variety of experiences in Asian and Abrahamic contemplative traditions, ecosocial systems approaches to contemplative studies, and bridging social determinants of health research to psychedelic clinical science.
Dr. Nathan Fisher, PhD
2023 Fellow | Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychiatry at McGill University
Project Title: Project Title: “Holy Spirit or Holy Psyche? Energy-like Somatic Experiences in Contemporary Abrahamic Meditative Traditions”
Meditation practitioners, historically and today, report experiencing energy-like sensations in their bodies. While recent empirical studies have explored such experiences in the context of Buddhist and Yogic practice, no comparable research has yet examined energy-like sensations in Jewish, Christian, or Islamic traditions.
This study interviewed practitioners from Jewish, Christian, and Islamic contemplative traditions and identified frequent reports of energy sensations such as warmth, vibration, and internal movement. Across traditions, these experiences were linked to clarity, emotional release, and spiritual connection. The findings suggest that energy related sensations play a meaningful role in how individuals understand transformation and inner change across diverse contemplative paths.
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Project Abstract
Evaluation of a Reiki Volunteer Program within Two Cancer Infusion Centers
Context
Objectives
Reiki is a biofield therapy from Japan currently used in many US hospitals. Evidence supports Reiki's effectiveness for addressing cancer and treatment-related symptoms such as pain and anxiety. However, no study to date has assessed changes in nausea following Reiki received during infusion treatments or assessed patients from multiple healthcare locations.
To evaluate a Reiki program for outpatients with cancer and other chronic illnesses receiving infusion treatments (e.g., chemotherapy) at two University Hospitals infusion centers.
Methods
To evaluate a Reiki program for outpatients with cancer and other chronic illnesses receiving infusion treatments (e.g., chemotherapy) at two University Hospitals infusion centers.
Results
To evaluate a Reiki program for outpatients with cancer and other chronic illnesses receiving infusion treatments (e.g., chemotherapy) at two University Hospitals infusion centers.
Conclusions
To evaluate a Reiki program for outpatients with cancer and other chronic illnesses receiving infusion treatments (e.g., chemotherapy) at two University Hospitals infusion centers.