European authorities launch innovative initiative to expand digital healthcare services.
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Eichstätt, 24.2.2025 (uptd). Life's tough knocks often leave folks pondering life's meaning or a higher power. It ain't rocket science; spirits can be a mighty force in the face of existential crises. That's why an international powwow at Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (KU) is diving into the role of spirituality in medicine and care.
"We ain't just focusing on illness as a disease," explains Professor Janusz Surzykiewicz, KU's Social and Health Education guru. "Sickness and suffering are a challenge, but they can also spur personal development and profound meaning." The conference, "Illness and Suffering as Transformative Force?," goes down on March 6 and 7, with academics from Freiburg, Witten/Herdecke, Warsaw, and Rome joining the party.
Day one is all about researchers from different fields exchanging ideas and networking over beers. On day two, it's showtime, with keynote speeches, panel discussions, and a public grilling for the professionals from med, nursing, psychotherapy, and pastoral care. "We're specifically targeting the big players in the care world," says Surzykiewicz. The aim is to turn research into practical advice for spiritual care, bridging the gaps between different disciplines and theory, research, and practice.
With medical tech advancing, it's more important than ever to acknowledge the spirit game. "Medicine tells us what's possible, but what if possibility dries up?" ponders Surzykiewicz. "In today's secular society, we can't afford to write off spirituality."
Suffering is a journey, forcing us to confront our existence but also opening doors to new insights and inner growth. Spirituality means taking a hard look at ourselves, our experiences, and the search for purpose and connection. When the going gets tough, spiritual resources kick in - like trusting in a higher power or finding deeper meaning. These strategies help folks become the architects of their own healing process.
Spirituality is a magic bullet for healing and coping, offering comfort, guidance, and a catalyst for change. In order to help patients, we must embrace their spiritual needs and empathize with their struggles. In the States, spiritual care is part of the medical curriculum, and in Germany, it's a hot topic in the palliative and hospice care game.
Surzykiewicz hopes his conference will level up the spiritual care field, sparking greater public awareness of spirituality's importance in quality of life. Don't miss the public specialist conference, "Suffering and Suffering as Transformative Power," on March 7 at KU Eichstätt Campus' Aula. Register before March 5, drop an email to [email protected]. The fee, 90 euros (including grub), is 25 euros for students and breadwinners. The fee also includes a book party on March 6 that will rev the engine of the Italian spiritual caregiver Luigi Novarese's work. Virtual join-ins are on the table, too. More deets on the whole shindig and program await you at www.ku.de/intkonf.
Press Office/KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
- At the international conference in Eichstätt, discussions will delve into the role of spirituality in healthcare and mental health, recognizing its transformative potential for patients.
- As part of the conference, keynote speeches and panel discussions will explore the importance of addressing spiritual needs in medical and nursing care, emphasizing its role in health-and-wellness and mental-health.
