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Course directors, Drs. Neil B. Rosenshein and Kathy J. Helzlsouer

Mercy Medical Center Explores "The Impact Of Spirituality On Health & Healing" At Recent Conference Held At Downtown Hospital

Baltimore, MD — On October 13th, 2008, nationally renowned physicians Drs. Neil B. Rosenshein and Kathy J. Helzlsouer of Mercy Medical Center led a special symposium on the "Impact of Spirituality on Health & Healing." Speakers included Harold Koenig, M.D., who addressed "Religion, Spirituality and Health Care," and Joseph Ciarrocchi, Ph.D., who discussed the "Positive Psychology as a Pathway for Health Outcomes Linked to Spirituality and Religion: An Eyewitness and Academic Analysis."

Dr. Koenig's presentation served to define spirituality and religion, and explain the differences between them, clarifying uses for research and clinical purposes. Dr. Koenig also provided a review of the research on religion and mental health as well as religion and physical health, with direct implications for and application to clinical practice. Dr. Koenig's bibliography includes {Koenig et al (2001)} the Handbook of Religion and Health, Oxford University Press, and {Koenig (2007)}, Spirituality in Patient Care, Templeton Foundation Press.

Speaker Joseph Ciarrocchi., Ph.D., served to orient positive psychology domains within the multiple facets of spirituality and religion; explored the relationship between positive psychology and spirituality/religion in terms of overlapping efficacy domains for health; and examined trauma and loss as models for the efficacy of positive psychology and spirituality through the concept of posttraumatic growth.

Harold Koenig, M.D., Presentation (Powerpoint)
Joseph Ciarrocchi, Ph.D., Presentation (Powerpoint)