Links to sites related to spirituality and science, healing and coping with chronic illness, and optimal health:

http://www.ishiprograms.org/ Since 1992, The Institute for the Study of Health & Illness (ISHI), founded by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, has provided education and support programs for health professionals who practice a medicine of service, human connection and compassionate healing. ISHI’s mission is to contribute to healing the culture of health care through innovative educational programs and the formation of supportive communities. Their programs provide innovative tools, practices and resources to enable health professionals to sustain their service values, their humanity and their passion for their work. At every level of professional training ISHI’s programs enable learners to: find deeper satisfaction and meaning in their day-to-day work lives, to strengthen their original sense of calling, to identify as healers within a worldwide community and long lineage of healers, to form authentic, non-competitive community with colleagues, to uncover the community of service that underlies the diversity of professional expertise, to discover they are not alone, to learn tools of self-care, and to renew their commitment to themselves, their patients, their students and medicine.

 http://www.cancerforward.org/ - The Foundation for Cancer Survivors' mission is to connect, educate and share information among cancer survivors, empowering them to move forward with their lives. The Survivor Network on CancerForward is a unique online platform that provides survivors and caregivers a virtual community to connect and share experiential information about disease-specific issues as well as health, wellness and practical living issues. One menu option is entitled "Experts speak" and at the following site Miki Fine speaks on "Mindfulness Meditation: Finding Peace adn Ease While Living With Cancer": http://www.cancerforward.org/mindfulness-meditation-finding-peace-and-ease-while-living-with-cancer/

http://www.slehc.org/ - St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities ("The Charities") is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the underserved. This site is a great resource for anyone interested in the connection between Health and Spirituality. With a focus on prevention, the Charities adopted the World Health Organization's broad definition of health: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absernce of disease or infirmity." Guided by this principle, along with a "Social Determinants Approach" to community-based research, Charities researchers engage community members at the neighborhood level to help ensure the successful interventions necessary for transformational change. The Charities acknowledges the connection of body, mind and spirit and provides the tools for directly addressing health disparities and strengthening communities through a collaborative, coordinated focus on health employing the full spectrum of the Charities' Operations, Research and Grantmaking functions.

http://www.zygonjournal.org/ -- Each issue of Zgygon: Journal of Religion & Science is filled with intelligent and interesting articles on science and relgion. Here is what Zygon says about itself: "Published since 1966, Zygon is dedicated to the manifold interactions between the sciences and human religious and moral convictions. We seek to consider the whole range of the sciences; cosmology and physics, biology and the neurosciences, sociology, psychology, and anthropology. We seek to be open to religious and non-religious perspectives, those rooted in the great traditions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, but also to religious naturalism, secular humanism, and atheism, both variants at home in the Western world and versions elsewhere on our globe. We cover ideas (theories, theologies) as well as practices. We address ethical issues and analyze the history of the differentiation between science and religion and their subsequent interactions." Zygon is an excellent resource for articles on the interface between science and religion.

http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/ - This is a long-standing site exploring the connection between spirituality, theology, and healing. Duke University has done research in spirituality and "paranormal" spiritual experiences for decades.

http://www.gwish.org/ - George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish) was established in May 2001 as a leading organization on education and clinical issues related to spirituality and health. The website is a resource including their definition of spirituality as well as a description of innovative programs for physicians and other members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, including clergy and chaplains.

http://www.bcm.edu/psychiatry/ - The Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. Baylor College of Medicine continues to be ranked among the leading medical schools in the country for research funding. The Menninger Department of Psychiatry has contributed to the school's history of research excellence, as illustrated by the increase in National Institute of Health and private research funding support. Grants to the department more than doubled between 2005 and 2009. During 2010, the department will exceed $6 million in grant funding, with the areas of addictions and mood disorders showing particularly strong growth. At this site you will find a log list of the Department of Psychiatry's research projects.

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http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/pastoralcare/institute_of_spirituality_and_medicine/ism_schedule - This site has a nice list of speakers for the Johns Hopkins Annual Conference, as well as several papers which can be downloaded. There is also information on the Pastoral Care Department, the CPE program, and The Institute for Spirituality and Medicine.

    http://www.scu.edu/ecppm/shi/ - The Spirituality and Health Institute (SHI) at Santa Clara University is devoted to exploring the complex relationship between spirituality and health from an interdisciplinary, multicultural perspective. Faculties from Santa Clara as well as other universities (Stanford, UC Berkeley) participate in a variety of collaborative research, teaching and outreach projects. The intention behind SHI is to bring creative, thoughtful and rigorous scholarly pursuit to better elucidate the relationship between spirituality and health.

http://www.spiritualityandhealth.ufl.edu/ - This site has a nice purpose and mission statement. And, it has numerous links to other sites of interest.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/spirituality/Patient - This is an interesting website focusing on the role spirituality plays in coping with cancer. Religious and spiritual values are important to patients coping with cancer. The opening page says: "Serious illnesses like cancer may cause patients or family caregivers to have doubts about their beliefs or religious values and cause much spiritual distress. Some studies show that patients with cancer may feel that they are being punished by God or may have a loss of faith after being diagnosed. Other patients may have mild feelings of spiritual distress when coping with cancer." The site addresses these and other issues related to spirituality and the treatment of patients with cancer.

http://yjhm.yale.edu/ - An online clearinghouse for manuscripts treating the humanities and medicine. Check the menus to find articles of interest such as "Spirituality, Religious Wisdom, and Care of the Patient," (Care of the Patient menu) and "When Doctors Get Sick" (Content menu).

http://www.sustainablepeace.org/ - The Institute for Sustainable Peace's mission is to reconcile leaders of groups in conflict, train them to work together in their diversity, and mentor them as they serve their communities. The Institute for Sustainable Peace's mission is to reconcile leaders of groups in conflict, train them to work together in their diversity, and mentor them as they serve their communities.

http://www.WisdomAtWork.com - Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey: "Explore the Frontiers of Personal, Team, & Organizational Performance With Inspiring Results Around the Globe!" Resources and workshops are listed.

http://www.cancerforward.org/ - This recently developed website is provided by the Foundation for Cancer Survivors and is unique web-based networking and educational resource. When completed, the site will provide cancer survivors a place where they can connect with other survivors and with healthcare professionals to share experiences, advice, and information about disease-specific issues as well as health, wellness, and practical living issues.

http://www.contemplative.net - The Contemplative Outreach Network is a contemplative, interdenominational Christian, all-volunteer, non-profit Organization, which collaborates with other Faith contemplative traditions. They share Centering Prayer, its Methodology and conceptual background, plus other related prayer. They offer follow-up Resource Meetings with Thomas Keating DVD’s, plus Prayer Groups, Retreats, and Resources.

http://brainimaging.waisman.wisc.edu/ - This site has articles on Neuropsychiatric Research.  It is a great resource for those interested in fMRI work.  The Waisman Brain Imaging Lab recruits human subject research participants on a regular basis.