North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) will host a seminar on “Religious and Spiritual Struggle: Research Evidence and Clinical Implications,” on Thursday, June 18 at 8 and 11 a.m. during Medical Grand Rounds and Patient Care Grand Rounds in the hospital’s Rust Auditorium. The talk will feature guest speaker, George Fitchett, PhD, associate professor and director of research in the Department of Religion, Health, and Human Values at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL.

There is belief that religion and spirituality generally play an important and positive role in health and coping with illness. However, recent research documents the harmful effects, in a variety of patient populations, of religious or spiritual struggle, according to Rev. Jon Overvold, director of pastoral care and education at NSUH, and chair of Quality Commission for the Association of Professional Chaplains. Religious and spiritual struggle, he said, includes feeling abandoned by God or punished by God. The June 18 presentation and discussion will summarize findings from this research, including the prevalence and predictors of religious and spiritual struggle. Clinical implications, including a protocol for screening for religious and spiritual struggle, will also be described.

“Dr. Fitchett is recognized as a national leader in the subject area of spiritual struggle,” said Rev. Overvold, “We hope this discussion will be a great way to educate clinical staff of the role of the chaplain and how the chaplain contributes to a positive outcome.” Additionally, Rev. Overvold said he hopes to develop a system to start screening patients for spiritual struggle.

Dr. Fitchett also holds an appointment in Rush’s Department of Preventive Medicine. He has been a certified chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains and pastoral supervisor for Association for Clinical Pastoral Education for more than 25 years. His book, Assessing Spiritual Needs (Academic Renewal Press, 2002), is a widely-used text in clinical and academic training programs.

Since 1990, Dr. Fitchett has been involved in research examining the relationship between religion and health in a variety of community and clinical populations. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in pastoral, medical and psychological journals. Dr. Fitchett has received several academic and professional awards including the 2006 Anton Boisen Professional Service Award from the Association of Professional Chaplains.

For more information about professional chaplains, go to: www.professionalchaplains.org

Media Contact:
Terry Lynam
516-465-2640/2600
tlynam@nshs.edu