Susan Gaylord came to UNC-Chapel Hill in 1968 to study zoology and psychology. She never dreamt that nearly 60 years later, she’d be teaching and inspiring Carolina students in a completely different field.

“So much of my life has been based on auspicious coincidences,” Gaylord said. “A phone call or a random interaction that changed my trajectory and put me on the right path.”

These auspicious coincidences led Gaylord to become a renowned educator and researcher in the field of integrative medicine. Putting mindfulness and meditation at the forefront of her work, she has been described as a “pioneer” by her colleagues at the UNC School of Medicine. Gaylord is director of the program on integrative medicine, founder and director of the mindfulness-based stress and pain management program, and a research professor in the physical medicine and rehabilitation department.

In recognition of her work, she received a 2025 Massey Award, an honor for “unusual, meritorious or superior contributions” by University employees.

“I was really honored and surprised,” Gaylord said. “I’ve been here for quite some time and have always been impressed by the various Massey winners over the years.”

Growing up in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, near the Virginia border, Gaylord developed a deep interest in the intersection between spirituality and science.

“I was very interested in religion and served in countless youth groups for my church,” Gaylord said. “At the same time, my father was an optometrist. I would spend so much of my time as a kid assisting him in his office and speaking to his patients. Deep down, I had a desire to study both the mind and the body.”

This desire led to her studies in aging and human development as a research assistant and her doctorate in psychology, both at Duke University. She also became intrigued by mindfulness and took time off to explore this spiritual discipline. She soon saw its usefulness for developing insight and compassion.

Then an auspicious coincidence brought her back to Carolina. Public health professor Dr. Harry Phillips needed a research assistant to help him develop a curriculum in aging. “Somehow my name came across his desk,” Gaylord said.

Later, as an instructor at Carolina, Gaylord designed and taught courses on aging and collaborated on research on the topic. Balancing the responsibilities of being a mother with full-time work, she began to experience chronic fatigue. In looking for relief, Gaylord became fascinated with how mindfulness and alternative medicine could be combined with mainstream medicine. She was drawn to alternative forms of medicine such as acupuncture and herb-based remedies and wanted to incorporate meditation, a practice that she fell in love with after spending time in a Buddhist seminary.

Her exploration led to Principles and Practices of Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine, an introductory course at the medical school that Gaylord has taught for three decades. The class introduces students to a wider understanding of medicine and health care.  “If you practice mindfulness, you can learn to be in the present more often,” Gaylord said. “These ideas of being mindful and taking care of oneself were not really part of the conversation when I first started going to school here.”

Looking at the breadth of her work over the years, it’s clear that her Massey Award recognition is not merely another auspicious coincidence.

“I’m so grateful to my colleagues for the honor,” Gaylord said. “Finding like-minded people to work with is a challenge, but I’ve managed to do so. It’s what has made my work feel like play.”