We are pleased to invite you to our daylong conference: Exploring End of Life Spiritual Care: Learning from Case Studies. The conference will be held on June 2, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Room 994 of the Armour Academic Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 South Paulina.

Our conference begins with Chaplain Steve Nolan PhD teaching how four moments in the chaplain-patient relationship comprise a model of the chaplain as ‘hopeful presence.’ Critical discussion of Nolan’s model will be offered by both a pastoral theologian and a palliative care nurse practitioner. The rest of the day features case studies to explore the complex and diverse ways that spiritual care is provided at the end of life. First, Nolan presents a case titled “But you can’t get a bus ride to heaven, can you?” about a lapsed Baptist hospice patient concerned about his future. Again, critical discussion will be led by respondents: a chaplain and a palliative care clinician. In the afternoon, we break into small groups to discuss case studies about the different end of life contexts in which chaplains provide spiritual care. Finally, we introduce Fitchett and Nolan’s groundbreaking new book, Spiritual Care in Practice: Case Studies in Healthcare Chaplaincy (Jessica Kingsley, 2015).

Steve Nolan PhD is the chaplain at Princess Alice Hospice UK, and a member of the European Association for Palliative Care Taskforce on Spiritual Care in Palliative Care. He is the author of Spiritual Care at the End of Life: The Chaplain as a ‘Hopeful Presence’ (Jessica Kingsley, 2012).

The conference is designed for chaplains, palliative care clinicians, CPE students and supervisors, seminary faculty and students and CEUs will be available. It is co-sponsored by the Department of Religion, Health and Human Values (RHHV), and the Section of Pain and Palliative Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and Bishop Anderson House. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Copies of Nolan’s Spiritual Care at the End of Life: The Chaplain as a ‘Hopeful Presence’ and Fitchett and Nolan’s, Spiritual Care in Practice: Case Studies in Healthcare Chaplaincy will be available for sale.

There is no charge for registration for any Rush student, faculty or staff. Registration for any students with a valid ID, alumni of the Rush CPE program and the Bishop Anderson lay chaplain training program is $15. Registration for all other is $45.

Register here.  Please call 312-563-4822 and leave a message if you have dietary restrictions.

For additional information, contact RHHV’s Administrative Assistant, Eleanor Welch at Eleanor_welch@rush.edu, phone 312-942-5571.

Please feel free to share this message with any interested colleagues or friends.

NOTE: There is no charge to register for BAH staff or alumni, but you must register to reserve a space (and a lunch).

flyer – june 2 conference