Global Network for Spirituality and Health (GNSAH): Seeking More Compassionate Health Systems

Abstract

This paper describes the rationale for, and background to, the development of the Global Network for Spirituality and Health.¹ It outlines the aims, goals, objectives, activities and next steps of the organization and highlights the transformative potential of spirituality in healthcare systems that currently do not value the importance of service to others as a fundamental component of healthcare practice. It notes that the empowerment of clinicians to attend to their own spirituality, as part of their professional formation, can facilitate increased awareness of the significant or sacred in their lives, increased capacity to serve out of love, and greater resilience against burnout.

KEYWORDS:

• spirituality and health
• compassionate care
• inter-professional spiritual care
• clinician–patient relationship

Notes

1 For further details, including how to join the Network, see: https://smhs.gwu.edu/gwish/global-network.

2 From: the Fetzer Institute; the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation; the Archstone Foundation; The Foundation for Individual Health; and the John Templeton Foundation.

3 Sponsored by the Archstone Foundation.

4 Sponsored by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christina M. Puchalski

Christina M. Puchalski is the founder and director of the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish) and professor of medicine at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, USA. Her world-renowned work in the field of spirituality and medicine encompasses the clinical, the academic, and the pastoral application of her research and insights.

Robert J. Vitillo

Robert J. Vitillo is a Roman Catholic priest and serves as the Head of the Caritas Internationalis Delegation to the United Nations in Geneva, and as Special Advisor on Health and HIV/AIDS for the same organization. Msgr Vitillo is a trained social worker and psychotherapist. His expertise includes: child protection and social services, adoption, migration and refugee services, human rights, integral human development, management, HIV/AIDS and health.

Najmeh Jafari

Najmeh Jafari, MD is a Community and Preventive Medicine Specialist and a post-doctorate scientist, at the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health, The George Washington University, DC, USA.