Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center

Please join us for a special evening celebrating the Institute's enduring presence in the Texas Medical Center! Join us on Thursday, May 1, at the Texas Medical Center’s spectacular TMC Helix Park innovation hub in the heart of the medical center. This historic milestone will feature an inspiring evening of music, remarks from New York Times bestselling author and our esteemed faculty member Dr. Lisa Miller. We will celebrate our decades of programs educating chaplains, medical professionals, lay spiritual volunteers, community health professionals, and others at the intersection of spirituality and health for seven decades. We will also honor two of the Institute's most enduring and significant supporters: The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation and Novo Nordisk Inc., which, like our Institute, work tirelessly each day to improve the human condition. Table sponsorships will close this week, and we also have single seats available. Click the link below to secure your table or seats today! We would love to have you join us! https://lnkd.in/gndbv_Dr #ISHTMC #PlatinumJubilee #70years #Celebrating70 #TexasMedicalCenter #AnniversaryCelebration #SpiritualityAndHealth #MilestoneEvent #InstituteCelebration #AnniversaryEvent

Our devoted trustees, Sonya M. Sloan, M.D., and Angela Nunnery, M.D., are joining Institute leaders at the Conference on Medicine and Religion, which is currently taking place in Orange County, CA. The Institute looks forward to hosting the Conference on Medicine and Religion in 2026 in the heart of the Texas Medical Center! #ISHTMC #CMR #ConferenceOnMedicineAndReligion #TexasMedicalCenter #MedicineAndReligion #HealthcareLeadership #HealthcareProfessionals #LomaLindaUniversity

For seven decades, the Institute for Spirituality and Health has stood for one simple truth: true healing happens when we care for the whole person. The Institute has nurtured well-being across generations through a diverse range of initiatives, including chaplaincy training, community health programs, national educational conferences, and research in medical humanities. We invite you to celebrate this legacy and what’s still to come on Thursday, May 1, at Helix Park in the Texas Medical Center. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gndbv_Dr #ISHTMC #ISHCelebrates70 #Celebrating70 #TexasMedicalCenter #Celebration #SpiritualHealth #CommunityWellness #HealthcareEducation #MedicalHumanities #ChaplainsInHealthcare #TexasHealthcare #WellBeingInitiatives

We're proud to share that two of the Institute’s thought leaders will take the stage at the 2025 Conference on Medicine and Religion, which will begin this Sunday, April 6, and continue through April 8. Sonya M. Sloan, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and our board’s first vice-chair, will present on health disparities and faith-based ministry in African-American communities. Dr. Marianne Florian, our postdoctoral fellow in Medical Humanities, will lead a panel on compassion and ethics in medical education. Their insights reflect The Institute’s 70-year mission of nurturing healing in body, mind, and spirit. Learn more about the Conference on Medicine and Religion at https://lnkd.in/gukYeugg #ISHTMC #CMR #ConferenceOnMedicineAndReligion #CMR2025

We are thrilled to announce that Leah Adams Pruitt, vice president of engagement at the Institute, has been named by Houston Woman Magazine as one of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2024! Leah joined the Institute in November 2019 and oversees internal and external communications initiatives while also establishing strategic partnerships to enhance awareness of the Institute’s mission and four centers of excellence. She is a dedicated community volunteer, serving many years with Bo's Place, and is currently serving as a director of Chester Street Foundation. “Leah Adams Pruitt’s recognition as one of Houston’s Top 50 Women is not just a personal win— it’s a powerful affirmation of the impact that spiritual leadership can have in our community. At the Institute for Spirituality and Health, we are honored to have her as one of our executive-level influencers. Her voice, vision, and values inspire us all to lead with purpose and compassion,” commented Sonya M. Sloan, M.D., vice president and board member of the Institute. #ISHTMC #HoustonWomanMagazine #50MostInfluentialWomen2024

You're invited! Join us on May 1 for a memorable evening as we celebrate our 70th Anniversary. The Institute, rooted within the Texas Medical Center, has dedicated seven decades to enhancing lives through integrating spirituality and health. The evening will feature an enchanting atmosphere filled with inspiring stories, heartfelt tributes, and a vision for the future. Let us honor our rich history and the profound impact we have made together in the community. We look forward to celebrating this significant milestone with you! Learn more and RSVP at https://lnkd.in/gndbv_Dr #ISHTMC #PlatinumJubilee #70years #Celebrating70 #TexasMedicalCenter #AnniversaryCelebration #SpiritualityAndHealth #MilestoneEvent #InstituteCelebration

We’re proud to join nine other organizations in Harris County Public Health's inaugural Capacity Strengthening Program (CSP) cohort! This program will provide us with the resources and guidance needed to expand our impact and create sustainable solutions for our community. This opportunity, in partnership with VESTEDin™ Consulting Group LLC, will help us improve operations, build sustainability, and collaborate with other Harris County CBOs. We’re excited to embark on this journey to create healthier, more resilient communities in Harris County! #ISHTMC #HCPH #CommunityResilience #HealthyCommunities #HarrisCountyPublicHealth #HCPHCSP #SustainableSolutions

Rabbi Samuel E. Karff, honored as the namesake of our Karff Center for Healthcare Professionals and a dedicated longtime board member, had a bridge dedicated in his memory. His daughter, Liz Seitz, a valued member of our Adjunct Faculty, along with her two sisters and several esteemed local leaders, delivered heartfelt speeches in tribute to Rabbi Karff. The Institute was represented by Jim and Nancy Lomax, Dr. John Graham, and, of course, Liz. Attendees reflected on Rabbi Karff's legacy, noting that while many may create divisions among people of varying faiths, cultures, and beliefs, Rabbi Karff devoted his life to "building bridges” that brought our community together. He often emphasized our shared humanity and the notion that we are all interconnected. Naming a bridge in honor of a man who symbolized unity and inclusivity is a fitting tribute to his lifelong commitment to fostering understanding among all individuals. Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Memorial Bridge dedication plaque: "Rabbi Samuel Karff, a towering figure in the fight for civil rights, social justice, and equality, served as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel from 1975 to 1999, inspiring generations with his dedication and moral courage. He devoted his life to building bridges - bridges that connect hearts and minds across the divides of race, religion, and ideology. Through his work with the Three Amigos, his social action partnership with the late Rev. William "Bill" Lawson, and the late Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, Rabbi Karff tirelessly worked toward fostering unity, nurturing compassion, and deepening understanding among all people. Rabbi Karff, an honors graduate of Harvard University, was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he earned a Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree in Rabbinic Theology. He was the author of Agada: The Language of Jewish Faith; The Soul of the Rav; Permission to Believe: Finding Faith in Troubled Times; and For This You Were Created: Memoir of an American Rabbi. Together with his beloved wife of over 57 years, Joan Karff, he proudly raised three daughters, Rachel, Amy, and Liz. He was also the proud grandfather to seven grandchildren."

Calling all nurses! 🌟 Join us for a rejuvenating day at the Institute for a Day of Self-Care for Nurses! This event, hosted by the Karff Center for Healthcare Professionals, is designed to refresh your body, mind, and spirit. Enjoy one-on-one relaxing techniques, participate in engaging mind-body practice sessions, and treat yourself to nutritious and delicious eats and drinks. Plus, don't miss the chance to win fabulous door prizes that will surely bring a smile! Let’s cultivate joy and resilience together with fellow nurses as we enhance our professional well-being. Mark your calendars and recharge with us! Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Register now; space is limited! https://lnkd.in/gCiwfC29 Share with nursing colleagues who might be interested! #ISHTMC #Nursing #SelfCare #nurses #registerednurse #nursesrock #NurseResilience #NurseWellbeing #HealthcareHero #SelfCareForNurses #MentalHealthInNursing #CompassionFatigue #BurnoutAwareness #NurseSupport #NurseSelfCare #MentalHealthNurse #NurseLifeBalance #StressManagementNurse #CompassionFatigueAwareness #BurnoutPrevention #NurseResilience #SelfCareSaturday, #Mindfulness #NurseLife #NurseAdvocate #NurseStrong #HealthyHabits #StressRelief #MindfulMoments #HealthcareSelfcare

Join us in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center for the 14th Annual Collective Soul Symposium! This year's conference, "The Collective Soul: Embracing Unity in Caring and Relieving Suffering," invites community-based chaplains, ministers, clergy, spiritual care counselors, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals delivering spiritual care in the community and healthcare facilities with skills for a better understanding of the Palliative Care Team role, embracing the human spirit of patients with advanced illnesses and multiple physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and religious issues. Continuing education certificates for attendance will be provided. March 7-8, 2025 | A Virtual Activity Virtual admission through registration at https://lnkd.in/gBCv8TXr #ISHTMC #MDAndersonCancerCenter #CollectiveSoulSymposium #palliativecare #unity #care #relievingsuffering #continuingeducation #conference #humanspirit #healthcare