Researchers at the Faculty of Theology and Religion regularly contribute to interdisciplinary global research that shifts perspectives and changes outcomes. Medical Humanities is one such interdisciplinary research hub. Hosted by TORCH, it brings together scholars, clinicians, and practitioners to explore health, illness, and care through the lenses of the humanities and social sciences. Drawing on disciplines such as philosophy, theology, history, psychology, and the arts, it supports interdisciplinary research and teaching that deepen understanding of the human dimensions of medicine and healthcare.
Faculty work has now led to the development of a new branch to this important research hub, focused on developing compassionate healthcare systems that attend to the whole person—physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. The focus on spiritual care responds to the reality that clinical practice, particularly in contexts such as serious illness and palliative care, often involves spiritual and existential concerns that shape patients’ experiences of illness and care.
There is growing empirical evidence that attention to spiritual care contributes to improved quality of life, reduced anxiety and depression, greater satisfaction with treatment decisions, and stronger coping for patients and families, while unrecognised spiritual distress can result in significant suffering.
A central aim of this work is to support medical education by equipping students with the understanding and practical skills needed to recognise spiritual needs in patients, engage sensitively with diverse beliefs and values, and work appropriately with chaplains and other members of the multidisciplinary team. Through this, students are encouraged to develop forms of clinical practice grounded in presence, attentive listening, and whole-person care.
The development of this work has been shaped by sustained engagement within Medical Humanities teaching and research, particularly in palliative care. Members of the Medical Humanities team—including Revd Professor Josh Hordern, Dr Gina Hadley, Dr Jim Harris, Dr Victoria Bradley, Dr Lynsey Bennet, and Dr Ariel Dempsey—have identified the need for deeper education and training in spiritual care and greater understanding of the role of chaplaincy within multidisciplinary clinical teams.
As part of this development, Dr Ariel Dempsey has designed a new teaching session on spiritual care, now included within the palliative care curriculum and delivered in partnership with hospice chaplain Cara Heafey. The session supports medical students in recognising spiritual distress and responding through presence, attentive listening, and appropriate referral.
🔗 Read more here: https://www.torch.ox.ac.uk/spirituality-religion-and-healthcare-integrating-spiritual-care-into-clinical-practice
