Published on March 01, 2007

Washington Adventist Hospital Hosts Spirituality In Medicine Tuesday, March 6th, 8:00am-12:00pm

Internationally Recognized Professor of Medicine and Cardiology to Speak on Scientific Study of Mind-Body-Spirit Connection

What role does the human spirit play in healing? Can prayer literally heal the body?  For decades, the scientific and spiritual communities have been at odds over faith versus medicine.  But that is changing dramatically as the body of research grows-demonstrating real connections between body and soul.  Even medical schools are offering courses on spirituality and health because of the growing trend of acceptance.

"Spirituality in Medicine" is a half-day symposium focusing on the scientific studies supporting the interplay of spirituality and medicine with a panel of experts to discuss:

• A better understanding of music, imagery, touch and prayer as adjuncts to interventional cardiac care
• The role of spiritual practices in medicine and clinical care
• The Islamic, Hindu, Christian and Jewish tradition on spirituality in medicine
• The role of recent findings related to intercessory prayer and cardiac outcomes

Additionally, internationally renowned speaker, Mitchell W. Krucoff, M.D., FACC, professor of Medicine/Cardiology at Duke University Medical Center, will discuss his findings from the MANTRA Study Project-a study examining the impact of therapies pertaining to the mind, including intercessory prayer, music, imagery and touch therapy, on patients with heart disease. The MANTRA pilot study was published in American Heart Journal in 2001.  Dr. Krucoff's work in this area has received international academic and media attention-including articles in "O, The Oprah Magazine," and "Time" magazine, as well as segments on ABC-TV's "20/20" and A & E's "Special Report."

Course directors include experts in cardiovascular research and religion from Washington Adventist Hospital: Mark Turco, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, director of the Center for Cardiac & Vascular Research; Reverend Ismael Gama, director of Mission and Pastoral Care Services; and Harish Vaidya, CNMT-NCT, associate course director.

Panel experts include Reverend Randell Burr, former heart patient; Norton Elson, M.D., Ethics Committee chairman, Washington Adventist Hospital; Bogdan Scur, associate professor of religion at Columbia Union College; Khaled Ashai, M.D., Washington Adventist Hospital; Rajan Revankar, M.D., director of Cardiac Cath Lab, Randolph Hospital; and Jim Ronan, M.D., medical director, Mercy Health Clinic.

"Spirituality in Medicine" symposium will be held on Tuesday, March 6 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Sligo Church, located at 7600 Flower Ave., Takoma Park, Md., adjacent to Washington Adventist Hospital. Interviews with patients can be arranged upon request.  Invited guests include physicians, clergy, psychologists, nurses, chaplains, spiritual directors, allied health professionals and healthcare administrators.

Washington Adventist Hospital  is a 289-bed, state-of-the-art acute care facility located in Takoma Park, Maryland. Washington Adventist Hospital is Montgomery County's first cardiac center, performing over 600 open-heart surgeries and more than 8,000 heart catheterizations each year. Washington Adventist Hospital is part of Adventist HealthCare, an integrated health care delivery system based in Rockville, Maryland, that is one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland. Adventist HealthCare includes Washington Adventist Hospital, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health System, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland, Adventist Senior Living, Adventist Health Careers Training Center, Hackettstown Community Hospital and Adventist Home Health.