Kia ora koutou,

As part of my sabbatical travels this year I’m attending (teaching and learning) at the Summer Institute below. Prof Puchalski is a world leader in this area. See you there!

cheers

Richard

ps. they also do this cool retreat in Assisi, Italy, see details below.

Our 9th Annual Spirituality and Health Summer Institute, which will be held on July 10-13, 2017 in Washington, DC.  The 2017 Spirituality and Health Summer Institute will address spirituality as a solution to the current challenges in our healthcare system. Speakers include international leaders in spirituality and health research, clinical care, public health, and professional development.

The 12th Annual Art of Presence Health Care Renewal Retreat will be held on August 17-23, 2017. This retreat is a wonderful opportunity for healthcare professionals to find renewal and self-care in an amazing location in Assisi, Italy.

Christina M. Puchalski, MD, OCDS, FACP, FAAHPM

Director, George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health

Professor, Dept of Medicine and Health Sciences

George Washington University School of Medicine
Professor, Health Leadership and Management
George Washington University School of Public Health
Co-DIrector MFA-GWU Supportive and Palliative Care Clinic

Sabbatical considerations

Kia ora koutou, I find myself in the truly fortunate position of having a time of sabbatical. I have all sorts of things I hope to do, write about, think about, and explore… . One of the things I’d like to do is post more often on this site.

We, the spirituality and wellbeing strategy group, are a loose group of academics/practitioners who have an interest in spirituality – and an interest in fostering the conversation about it in health, education and politics (maybe). Our engagement in this site is sporadic, but we’re all committed to the kaupapa generally, we’re just far too busy. BUT, this year I’m not going to be as busy, so hence the conversations that I hope to start here.

My formal commitments this year are:

• a Movember funded Kaupapa Maori men’s prostate cancer project;
• a Cancer Society/Uni of Otago funded euthanasia project that’s trying to better understand the issues to help inform the politicians and public before it’s voted on again in parliament; and,
• another Cancer Society funded project working with Sande Ramage et al at the MidCentral DHB working in a co-design way to explore better ways to provide spiritual care in the hospital and an elder care facility.

Then I have a range of papers and bits to write up from the last five years!  And over the year, I am going to explore the topic of spirituality and public health, considering the question of how we can help create an environment where spirituality can flourish.

Comments welcome!

Cheers

Richard

Department Preventive & Social Medicine, University of Otago
Spirituality is a public health issue; By Richard Egan
Thursday 20th October 12:10pm -1:00pmRoom 033, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Adams Building, 18 Frederick St, Dunedin

Public health, as opposed to the publicly funded health system, is a discipline that aims to prevent illness, and protect and promote population health and well-being. Public health efforts have largely centred on the understanding, tracking and prevention of diseases. However, there is growing support for a ‘new public health’ approach, which takes a holistic view, encompassing four key dimensions of health: physical, mental, social and spiritual. This holistic approach parallels the Māori model of health, Te Whare Tapa Whā, a model that highlights the interdependence of Te Taha Wairua (spirituality), Te Taha Hinengaro (emotional and psychological health), Te Taha Tinana (physical health) and Te Taha Whānau (social wellbeing). Nonetheless, public health engagement with the spiritual dimension remains largely theoretical and implicit. Despite a growing literature base at the healthcare level, spirituality remains relatively overlooked in public health peer-reviewed literature and practice. This omission is an obstacle to achieving the public health goal of ‘healthy populations’. This presentation aims to present these issues and ask questions about how to develop and map this new area of research.

For more information on our upcoming talks please visit: http://www.otago.ac.nz/dsm-psm

I recommend this blog post from Sande Ramage

http://www.sanderamage.com/spiritedcrone-blog/standing-for-spiritual-independence-alongside-gretta-the-heretic

TSF_5890_AgeingSpirit_Rego Form_2015_proof 2

Kia ora koutou,

see above link, The Selwyn Centre for Ageing and Spirituality is putting on another excellent conference. Selwyn are leading the way here with very few such events in NZ. Please pass on.

All the best

Richard

Seems to me growing inequalities are a spirituality issue.

Richard

Kia ora koutou,

Stefani Hockenhull is helping to bringing Wayne Dyer to NZ. See Stefani’s blurb below.

Cheers

Richard

NB. this does not reflect any interests of the Spirituality & Well-being group.

Quick Blurb:

What is your one true purpose for being here? Beyond the desires of ego? Beyond the expectations of others? Internationally renowned author and speaker, Dr. Wayne Dyer, shares his wisdom and guidance as we contemplate life’s biggest questions. You can free yourself, now and forever, from the chains of ego-dominated, self-sabotaging thinking. Change your perception of your being, and come to feel, know, and rely on your divinely-connected self.

His first visit to New Zealand in over 30 years, Dr. Wayne Dyer is affectionately called the “father of motivation” by his fans. Despite his childhood spent in orphanages and foster homes, Dr. Dyer has overcome many obstacles to make his dreams come true. Today he spends much of his time showing others how to do the same.

Ticketing Link:   http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/Wayne-Dyer-tickets/artist/1257150?tm_link=edp_Artist_Name