Institute for Spirituality and Health

Institute for Spirituality and Health Offering lectures, continuing education, research focusing on the interface between religion, spirituality, and health.
(1)

Founded in 1955, the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center is an independent interfaith nonprofit whose mission is to enhance well-being by exploring the relationship between spirituality and health.

Did You Know? Since 2021, the Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition has trained over 100 volunteers from across the spectr...
06/12/2026

Did You Know?

Since 2021, the Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition has trained over 100 volunteers from across the spectrum of the diverse Houston community. Begun by the Institute in 2021, active volunteers give of their time and love to residents in 25 area assisted living or memory care facilities. The pandemic had forced all visits, including families, to cease. Many ongoing support programs from Houston faith groups also ceased, and many of those programs have failed to regain traction.

The ISCC spiritual care volunteers are connecting with the lives of many people who are adjusting to living in a place other than their homes. The relationships being built are absolutely remarkable.

ISCC–making a difference one life at a time. Your donations to the Institute sustain the invaluable work of our wonderful ISCC program and volunteers.

Consider supporting our mission this month by participating in our Day of Giving on Friday, June 26!

Transform your practice, deepen your connection, and guide others. The Yoga Teacher Training and National Certification ...
06/11/2026

Transform your practice, deepen your connection, and guide others. The Yoga Teacher Training and National Certification Course with the Yoga Institute at ISH is designed to do more than teach poses; it cultivates community and inner peace.

The next training begins July 25!

Limited spaces available. Register now to secure your spot in this immersive journey!

Click the link below to learn more and begin your path.
https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/theyogainstitute

Did you know? Bite of Hope seminars, led by the HOPE Clinic, help participants understand how nutrition can support the ...
06/10/2026

Did you know?

Bite of Hope seminars, led by the HOPE Clinic, help participants understand how nutrition can support the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease through practical, culturally relevant education. By combining nutrition knowledge with live culinary demonstrations, participants learn simple, affordable ways to prepare nutritious and flavorful meals using ingredients commonly available in their communities, making healthy eating more accessible and sustainable.

These seminars are part of the larger Cities for Better Health-Houston initiative at the Institute. By donating to the Institute, you help support these workshops, keeping them free and accessible to the communities that need them most.

Consider supporting our mission this month by participating in our Day of Giving on Friday, June 26!

Did you know?The Institute hosts four conferences annually, serving over 5,000 clinicians, faith leaders, and scholars e...
06/08/2026

Did you know?

The Institute hosts four conferences annually, serving over 5,000 clinicians, faith leaders, and scholars each year. But it’s about far more than just numbers—it’s about changing the culture of healthcare.

Through our signature annual events, we actively bridge the gap between scientific medicine and spiritual care:

👉 Conference on Medicine & Religion: Reimagining the pursuit of healing through the lens of diverse faith traditions.

👉 Collective Soul Symposium: Partnering with MD Anderson Cancer Center to explain how Palliative Care Teams can enhance the human spirit and relieve patients’ suffering.

👉 Psychotherapy & Faith Conference: Merging mental health practices with spiritual insights to contribute to growth and healing.

👉 Spirituality in Nursing Conference: Supporting frontline nurses to honor patient spirituality while preventing burnout.

Together, these events serve as critical meeting grounds where clinical science, mental health practices, and diverse spiritual traditions actively intersect to improve patient care and caregiver well-being.

Consider supporting our mission this month by participating in our Day of Giving on Friday, June 26!

Did You Know? 💡The Institute for Spirituality and Health is an independent, interfaith 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization....
06/03/2026

Did You Know? 💡

The Institute for Spirituality and Health is an independent, interfaith 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are completely funded by the generosity of individual donors, forward-thinking foundations, and public health grants.

What does that mean in practice? Every gift directly fuels our four Centers of Excellence—fostering spiritual connection amidst life’s greatest transitions, equipping healthcare professionals to integrate spirituality in patient care, empowering people with practices and insights for wholeness and thriving, and bridging faith communities and public health systems.

We don't just bridge the gap between spirituality and medicine; we rely on community-driven support to keep these vital resources accessible to everyone.

Consider supporting our mission this month by participating in our Day of Giving on Friday, June 26!

As we kick off a month-long celebration of the Institute’s impact, we invite you to be a part of our story. Throughout t...
06/01/2026

As we kick off a month-long celebration of the Institute’s impact, we invite you to be a part of our story. Throughout the month of June, we’ll be sharing fun and interesting facts about our history and the meaningful work we do across the greater Houston area.

It all leads up to our Day of Giving on Friday, June 26! Your support will help us launch into a brand-new fiscal year with a strong foundation, allowing us to continue cultivating heart and humanity in healthcare and our community.

✨ How you can join in today:

👉 Bookmark June 26 on your calendar.

👉 Follow along all month for a behind-the-scenes look at our impact.

👉 Consider making a financial contribution on June 26 to help us start our next chapter strong!

Stay tuned for more details, and thank you for being an essential part of our community!

We are feeling profoundly grateful following our Illumination Dinner at TMC Helix Park on Tuesday evening. More than 200...
05/22/2026

We are feeling profoundly grateful following our Illumination Dinner at TMC Helix Park on Tuesday evening. More than 200 of you stepped into the room to celebrate and support the intersection of spirituality and health—and we couldn't be more thankful for your generosity.

This year, we had the distinct honor of recognizing the wonderful ABC13-Melanie Lawson with the 2026 Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Caring Heart Award for her 43 years of dedicated storytelling and community advocacy. We were also deeply moved by Dr. Sunita Puri's moving keynote, reminding us all to honor the humanity in healthcare.

To our amazing emcee Lisa Malosky, our dedicated board, volunteers, underwriters, and guests: thank you for illuminating the path forward. Your support directly impacts our Centers of Excellence and the community members we serve.

Visit our website to see how you can stay involved! www.spiritualityandhealth.org

Time is running out to join us for an evening of inspiration and community at The Illumination Dinner! Join the Institut...
05/13/2026

Time is running out to join us for an evening of inspiration and community at The Illumination Dinner!

Join the Institute for Spirituality and Health next Tuesday, May 19, as we explore the power of compassionate language with keynote speaker Dr. Sunita Puri, author of That Good Night, who will share her insights on the intersection of medicine and humanity.

We will also honor the remarkable community contributions of the legendary Melanie Lawson by presenting her with the 2026 Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Caring Heart Award.

Your attendance directly benefits our four Centers of Excellence! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this special night. Visit www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/illuminationdinner to learn more and secure your spot!

We are pleased to honor Melanie Lawson, award-winning journalist and community advocate, with the 2026 Rabbi Samuel E. K...
05/06/2026

We are pleased to honor Melanie Lawson, award-winning journalist and community advocate, with the 2026 Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Caring Heart Award. Melanie Lawson retired in January 2025 from KTRK ABC 13 after serving in both reporter and news anchor roles for 43 years. She is known as a champion of underserved Houston communities, advocating for social justice, spiritual enrichment, and service to benefit others.

“Melanie Lawson is a beloved native Houstonian. She was chosen as this year’s recipient of the Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Caring Heart Award because she embodies the integration of spirituality and health at the highest level. Melanie models compassion and integrity in every aspect of her life. Her dedication to uplifting others reflects the very heart of our work." - Stuart Nelson, President & CEO

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/illuminationdinner

Purchase your tickets today to join us for this inspiring evening of community and conversation!

#

Objetivos y logros de los participantes de nuestras recientes clases de DSMES en español:Goals and achievements of parti...
05/06/2026

Objetivos y logros de los participantes de nuestras recientes clases de DSMES en español:

Goals and achievements of participants from our recent Spanish-speaking DSMES classes:

Sinar Coronel:
Personalmente he estado haciendo más ejercicio y cambié mis malos hábitos de alimentación y una vida sedentaria.

Personally, I have been exercising more and changed my bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle.

Zorelly Coronel:
Estoy caminando 45 minutos diarios, me gustó mucho la demostración culinaria y estoy poniendo en práctica la receta que nos compartió la Chef Katerine. Y he hecho cambios en mi alimentación.

I am walking 45 minutes daily; I really liked the culinary demonstration, and I am putting into practice the recipe Chef Katerine shared. And I have made changes to my diet.

Guadalupe Quezada:
Ahora estoy consumiendo una alimentación más sana, comiendo verduras, frutas y dejé de comer carne roja, estoy haciendo ejercicio y he bajado de peso y me siento mejor.

Now I am eating a healthier diet, eating vegetables and fruits, and I have stopped eating red meat; I am exercising, I have lost weight, and I feel better.

Carlos Lazo:
Este Seminario fue un pilar para aprender a controlar mi diabetes comiendo más saludable y las proporciones adecuadas tal como nos lo enseñaron y ha bajado mi nivel de azúcar.

This seminar was a pillar for learning to control my Diabetes by eating healthier and in the proper proportions as taught, and my sugar level has dropped.
Visite nuestro sitio web para obtener más información sobre nuestras clases de educación y apoyo para el automanejo de la diabetes, que forman parte de la Iniciativa Fe y Diabetes.

Visit our website to learn more about our Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support classes, which are part of the Faith & Diabetes Initiative.

https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/faithanddiabetes

Address

8100 Greenbriar, Suite 300
Houston, TX
77054

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Institute for Spirituality and Health posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category