Institute for Spirituality and Health

02/18/2026

In honor of Heart Health Month, the Houston Health Department's Office of Chronic Disease has hosted two lunch & learn sessions a week to teach heart-healthy tips, education, and healthy habits.

It's not too late to attend the last two sessions! Use the QR codes below to register to attend.

02/13/2026

We are proud to announce that the 2026 Steve Thorney Spiritual Care Award will be presented to Enric Benito, MD, PhD.

Dr. Benito is more than an oncologist; he is a world-renowned reference for the "humanization" of the dying process. After decades in clinical oncology, Dr. Benito experienced a deep professional shift, dedicating his life to understanding the spiritual dimension of suffering. As the former Chairman of the Spanish Task Force on Spiritual Care (SECPAL), his work has redefined how we accompany patients at the end of life.

This award recognizes those who, like retired chaplain Steve Thorney, have dedicated their lives to providing a "healing environment" that transcends physical medicine.

Join us on April 10–11 as Dr. Benito also delivers the keynote lecture: "Cultivating Presence Is A Path We Can Take Every Day."

🔗 Register today: https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/collectivesoul

02/05/2026

Turn Your Passion into a Purpose-Driven Career!

Are you ready to deepen your practice and share the gift of yoga with others? Join us at the Institute for Spirituality and Health for our upcoming Yoga Teacher Training & National Certification Course starting February 28, 2026!

Led by the experienced Farida Meguid, Director of the Yoga Institute, this comprehensive program is perfect for:
✅ Students wanting to deepen their personal practice.
✅ Aspiring teachers looking for National Certification (200 & 300-hour).
✅ Current teachers wanting to refine their skills.

The Yoga Institute's 51-year-proven model covers everything from ancient yogic traditions to the "Business of Yoga," giving you the confidence to teach or even open your own studio.

📍 Where: In-person at the Institute (Houston, TX)
📅 When: Starts Feb 28th – March 7th
⚠️ Space is limited to 10 students!

Ready to start your journey? 👉 Register at www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events

02/02/2026

Integrating Spiritual Care into Clinical Practice: Join us for the 15th Annual Collective Soul Symposium, jointly presented by the Institute and MD Anderson Cancer Center and dedicated to the intersection of palliative care, spirituality, and medicine.

This year’s theme, "Living the Integration of Spiritual Care and Creating Healing Environments in our Daily Clinical Practice," invites healthcare professionals to explore how we can alleviate spiritual distress and enhance the human spirit amidst life-threatening illness.

We are honored to feature Enric Benito Oliver, MD, PhD, a renowned specialist in Medical Oncology and Palliative Care and the 2026 Steve Thorney Lecture Awardee.

🗓 Dates: April 10–11, 2026
💻 Format: Virtual Activity through the MD Anderson Professional Education Portal
🎓 Credits: Up to 13.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, Nursing Contact Hours, and Social Work CEUs available.

This symposium is designed for physicians, chaplains, ministers, clergy, spiritual care counselors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and all members of the interdisciplinary palliative care team.

Register today to advance your practice and earn continuing education credits: https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/css2026

01/27/2026

Are you called to be a spiritual care volunteer?

The Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition (ISCC) at the Institute trains Houston area volunteers to provide spiritual care where traditional chaplaincy is unavailable, such as nursing homes or hospice care facilities.

Our volunteers support those who may feel isolated or are near the end of their lives, offering compassionate conversations about purpose, meaning, and faith, or just a listening ear. Through our program, they develop skills to create meaningful connections in challenging times.

If you feel called to help, join us for our next in-person training on Saturday, February 21, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Learn more and register at www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/iscctraining22126 or click the Upcoming Events link in our bio!

us for our next in-person training on Saturday, February 21, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

11/20/2025

Registration is now open for the 2026 Conference on Medicine and Religion! Co-hosted by the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center and Ethics Initiative at Baylor University, this annual conference is being held in Houston this year to celebrate the Institute’s 70th anniversary in the Texas Medical Center.

The 2026 Conference on Medicine and Religion invites participants to explore how the expressions of religious traditions have the capacity to critique and to creatively reimagine medicine and the pursuit of healing. How do religious and medical voices speak prophetically to today's critical issues: institutional collapse, medical workforce shortages, scientific distrust, moral injury, and emerging technologies? How do cultural, musical, textual, and artistic expressions from religious traditions help communities hold grief, envision justice, and rekindle hope?

As always, we welcome scholarly engagement with theological and clinical questions. But this year, we also create space for experience: to hear sacred music, to share meals, to dwell in ritual, and to witness one another’s traditions.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and community!

When: March 22 - 24, 2026
Where: In-person at the Hilton Houston Post Oak
Register at: https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/cmr

Early bird pricing ends February 22! CME Available.

Karff Center

11/13/2025

Happy World Kindness Day 🌏💖 Today, share a smile, lend a helping hand, or surprise someone with a heartfelt note. Let’s light up the world with good deeds and warm wishes!

Together, we can create ripples of love!

11/12/2025

Congratulations on a successful graduation of the Diabetes Prevention and Control Class at St. Alban's Episcopal Church Houston! These classes are part of the Institute’s ongoing Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support program, facilitated through the Faith & Diabetes Initiative.

Nineteen participants, along with their guests, learned vital skills for managing and preventing diabetes. Special thanks to District H Councilman Mario Castillo, District 2 Commissioner Adrián García, and Reverend Greg Seme for their support and collaboration. Attendees received helpful resources, gifts, and free assistance with health insurance renewals from representatives of Medicare, Medicaid, and other providers. Overall, the event was a resounding success—empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources to lead healthier lives and support their families in doing the same.

Together, we’re equipping our communities to lead healthier, happier lives!

Learn how you can support your community with education and resources by visiting https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/faithanddiabetes

11/06/2025

The abstract submission window is now closed, but the student essay competition is still open! Go to https://www.medicineandreligion.com/ to submit your essay now. Submissions will be accepted until Monday, December 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST.

If you haven't already, save the date for the 2026 Conference on Medicine and Religion, which will be held at the Hilton Houston Post Oak from Sunday, March 22, 2026, to Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

11/05/2025

We are celebrating Compassion Week with Compassionate Houston!

Join us in person at the Institute on November 13 for an immersive sonic journey designed to deepen your sense of connection and foster healing through the power of sound.

Guided by the soothing tones of Farida Meguid’s alchemy bowls and the soulful melodies of Michael Sgarlata’s live music, explore how vibrations and melodies can evoke inner compassion and emotional balance.

Thursday, Nov 13 | 6:00 - 7:30 PM | In-person at the Institute
Please feel free to bring a yoga mat, pillow, and blanket for comfort.

Register today at https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/soundsofcompassion

10/21/2025

Today’s headlines—marked by conflict, disconnection, and disorientation—often echo in the therapy room, at the hospital bedside, and during spiritual conversations. To help address pervasive feelings of division, disappointment, and existential uncertainty, this year’s conference offers tools and perspectives that can help cultivate connection and resilience.

Join us this November for our 34th annual Psychotherapy & Faith Conference, hosted by the Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, and UTHealth Houston's McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics. Learn how spiritual and psychotherapeutic disciplines can collaborate to support hope and spiritual growth toward meaning and wholeness.

Friday, November 7, 2025 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

In-Person at Fondren Hall at St. Paul's United Methodist Church
5501 Main St, Houston, TX 77004

Register today at https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/pf2025

The 34th Annual Psychotherapy & Faith Conference will discuss some of the most pressing issues of our time, including strategies for moving through widespread feelings of tumult, suffering, and polarization.

10/08/2025

It was an honor for our President & CEO, Stuart Nelson, to be invited to attend the recent 2025 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York. Each year, CGI is an opportunity to connect with leaders from across sectors who are taking action on the world’s most pressing challenges, together.

This year, Stuart participated in roundtable discussions on stigma, mental health, and finding "funder fit." He also had the opportunity to network with international peers who, like the Institute, are weaving together evidence-based public health solutions and community-based health programs in the context of faith community partnerships. The chance to gather together in this way provides a real sense that, even across borders, there is a global community aligned with the Institute's unique mission.

Learn more about the Institute's mission and initiatives to discover how we continue to connect and strengthen our Houston-area communities: www.spiritualityandhealth.org