Howard University Hospital and College of Medicine

What do we do?

We offer training to assist health care professionals in understanding the spiritual dimensions of their patients and to assist clergy in understanding their role as part of the health care team in achieving “total care” for all patients.

Spirituality & Medicine Course

Course Directors:
Dr. Glenda F. Hodges
Dr. Robert H. Williams

Faculty:
Therman Evans, M.D
Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington
Rev. Dr. Darrell Macklin
Nancy Cummings, M.D.
Jean Linzau, M.,D.
Elder Goodwin Douglas

Course Objectives:

To introduce the students to the historical relationship overlap of spirituality and medicine and its evolution,
To review the major religious traditions of the world,
To explore the impact of spirituality on medical outcomes,
To understand the role of spirituality, cultural competence and clinical ethics in patient care, and
To explore the role of the clergy in total patient care

Recommended Reading:

Comstock, G.W., Patridge, K.B. ?Church Attendance and Health.? J. Chron Dis. 1972;25:665-72.
Oxman, T.E., Freeman, D.H., Manheimer, E.D. ?Lack of social participation or religious strength or comfort as risk factors for death after cardiac surgery in the elderly.? Phychosom Med. 1995;57:5-15
Puchalski, Christina M.D., ?Spirituality and Medicine.? Natural Science. June 1998; 180-5.
Emanuel, LL, von Gunten CF, Ferris FD, eds, ?The Education for Physicians on End-of-life-Care? (EPEC) Curriculum. ? EPEC Project, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 1999.
Maugans, T.A., The SPIRITual history. Archives of Family Medicine 1996;5-11-16.
Maugans, T.A. Wadland, W.C. Religion and Family Medicine: A Survey of Physicians and Patients. Journal of Family Practice 1991;32:210-213.
Johnson, S.C., Spilka, B. Coping with Breast Cancer: The Role of Clergy and Faith. Journal of Religion and Health 1991; 30:21-33.
Koening, H.G., Dearon, L.B., Dayringer, R. Physician Perspectives on the Role of Religion in the Physician-Older Patient Relationship. J. Fam. Pract. 1989;28:441-8.
Mueller, Paul, Plevak, David, Rummans, Teresa. Religious Involvement, Spirituality, and Medicine: Mayo Clin Proc. 2001;76:1225-1235.
Barnard D. Dayringer R, Cassel CK. Toward a Person-Centered Medicine: Religious Studies in the Medical Curriculum. Acad. Med. 1995;70:806-13.
Strawbridge WJ, Shema SJ, Cohen RD, Kaplan GA. Religious Attendance Increases Survival by Improving and Maintaining Good Health Behaviors, Mental Health, and Social Relationships. Ann Behav Med 2001;23:68-74.

Student Comments

This was a great course. I?m glad that I am able to understand the spiritual side of medicine. I?m convinced we need to know both (science and spiritual) to take care of patients.
T.N. 2nd Year Medical Student

Great class. I?m really happy that we are going to be adding some of this to our seminary curriculum.
Y.T. 3rd Year Seminary Student

Dr. Hodges and Dr. Williams are breaking new ground. Wow! I?m relieved because I?ve always thought that prayer helped one heal.
D.J. 3rd Year Medical Student

I did not know what to expect when we first got started, but as we moved along I begin to see how it all came together. I really enjoyed the hospice site visit. This is really practical learning.
R.T. 2nd Year Medical Student

This is really a good course. I think it should be required for all medical students.
J.R.S. 2nd Year Medical Student

Why didn?t my physician have this course? He would have been much better at what he does.
P.S. 2nd Year Seminary Student

I enjoyed the class but I would like to see more site visits included in the future. It helped me understand how the concepts work together.
M.F. 2nd Year Seminary Student

I have told all my fellow classmates to take this class. It was a real great experience.
Y.N. 2nd Year Medical Student

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