2023 - 2024 Lecture Schedule
The Healthcare and Religion Lecture Series (HRLS) was initiated to raise awareness of the intersection of spirituality, faith, and religion with the practice of medicine and healthcare more generally. It includes lectures and case discussions exploring that intersection, as well as examining both different religious perspectives on specific issues in healthcare and the role of religion and spirituality in health, wellness, and the experience of illness. One goal of the series is to help equip healthcare practitioners to communicate effectively with patients from a range of faith traditions, by developing both practitioners’ awareness of the spiritual dimensions of patients’ lives and their awareness of pastoral care services available within the healthcare system. At the same time, students and faculty with interest in faith traditions, mindfulness, and spirituality may benefit from learning about the role their focal interest plays in contemporary healthcare. The Center offers the HRLS in collaboration with the Palliative and Supportive Institute of UPMC, Department of Religious Studies, Jewish Studies Program, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Continuing Education Program.