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The Vanderbilt Project began in 1996 as a symposium sponsored by the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies to explore the relationship between spirituality and medicine as well as the role of prayer in healing.  In 1998 Vanderbilt received a four-year John Templeton Grant for Spirituality and Medicine through the National Institute for Healthcare Research. In 2005 our core group along with John Thatamanil received a Cal Turner Program Faculty Research Grant to support a project on "The Centrality of Religion and Spirituality in the Teaching of Cultural Competency for Graduate Professional Schools." A Picker Institute 2006 Challenge Grant for "A Cultural Sensitivity Initiative for Medical Education" for was awarded. A brown-bag lunchtime medical school elective open to interested students, even those not enrolled, began in January 2008 and added Jeffrey Bishop, Director of the Clinical Ethics Education and Consultation Service, as a co-leader with the Tarpleys.

CREATE
A SPIRITUALITY-FRIENDLY
ENVIRONMENT
IN THE ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER: 
THE VANDERBILT MODEL

CORE--John Tarpley, Professor of Surgery; Bonnie Miller, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education and Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery; Mary Lou O'Gorman, Director of Pastoral Care, St. Thomas Hospital; Margaret Tarpley, Associate in Surgery.
RESOURCES--Bibliographies of pertinent journal articles, books, newspaper articles; media such as television, audio and video tapes. In order to keep abreast of current thought, the colleagues attend local and national conferences related to the topic.
EMPOWERING--Colleagues confer with medical students, health care professionals (nurses, physicians, and others), and staff in open dialogue concerning appropriateness, comfort levels of the medical person as well as patients. Involving the hospital chaplains is highly encouraged.
AVAILABILITY--The core colleagues accept every possible opportunity to speak to groups as well as individuals about the role of spiritual matters in the overall program of health care. Venues include the Vanderbilt Medical Center, Vanderbilt undergraduate and graduate school programs, Belmont University, local congregations, local and national medical centers.
TREATING--Respect for the patient and family as well as sensitivity to cultural and faith-system uniqueness are paramount. The four core colleagues represent three major world faith systems; but all spiritual outlooks, including the decision to have no particular belief system, are to be respected.
EMPHASIZING--Proselytizing is totally unacceptable because of the recognition that a power imbalance  exists in the physician-patient relationship.