Expanding the Scope of Spiritual Care Research in South African Healthcare

Expanding the Scope of Spiritual Care Research in South African Healthcare
Historically, spirituality and healthcare have supported each other. However, as Western medicine became a highly specialized scientific field, this relationship fractured, and the holistic approach that once included spiritual care was pushed aside. This has led to a significant gap in modern healthcare, where patient's spiritual needs are often neglected.

Spirituality is a vital part of holistic health and contributes significantly to a patient's well-being. This conference aims to bridge this gap by fostering collaborations between faith communities, health services, and various academic disciplines. We want to stimulate new ideas, present cutting-edge research, and encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue to better integrate spiritual care into our healthcare systems.

Our discussions will focus on these key research questions:
- To what extent can spiritual and religious interventions complement conventional medical treatment, influence healthcare outcomes, and impact the holistic well-being of individuals in South Africa.
- How can spiritual and religious beliefs, including harmful religious practices and views, influence the experience of illness, and how can a deeper understanding of these dynamics lead to improved patient care and better healthcare outcomes?
- How can spiritual education and the personal spirituality of healthcare professionals influence their approach to patient care, and what impact does it have on the effectiveness of spiritual care interventions in healthcare settings?
- How can interdisciplinary collaboration between healthcare, spirituality, and other fields, enhance the integration of spiritual care practices in healthcare and improve patient outcomes?

A distinguished list of speakers will present at the conference, including:
- Ms. Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko (MEC Health and Wellness, Gauteng)
- Dr. Annemarie Oberholzer (Hospivision)
- Prof. Sollie Millar (University of Pretoria)
- Prof. Christina Puchalski (The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health)
- Dr. Rene Hefti (Research Institute for Spirituality and Health)
- Prof. Daniël Louw (Stellenbosch University)
- Prof. Vhumani Magezi
- Dr. Raksha Balbadhur
- Ms. Shireen Ismail
- Ms. Zarina Hassem
- Dr. Candida Millar
- Prof. Marilyn Naidoo
- Prof. Janice Moodley-Marie
- Dr. Jacob Meiring
- Ms. Raashmi Balbadhur
- Dr. Mpho Ratsikana
- Dr. Annalie Steenkamp-Nel
- Dr. Alphonse Kanda
- Dr. Bonitta Pretorius
- Ms. Ané Vorster
- Prof. Harold Koenig
- Dr. Murray Louw
- Dr. Martin Bac
- Dr. Annelie Botha
- Prof. Christo Lombaard (University of Pretoria)

Who Should Attend?
This conference is for anyone interested in the intersection of religion, spirituality, and healthcare. We welcome healthcare practitioners, theologians, researchers, academics, students, policymakers, and community leaders. It's an inclusive space for dialogue and collaboration to advance holistic patient care.

Fees and Registration
The event runs from October 14-17, 2025, at the Future Africa Campus, University of Pretoria.

Registration closes October 5, 2025. You can register online for individual sessions or for the full four-day conference. A limited number of scholarships are available for those needing financial assistance.

Register and find scholarship information here:
https://www.hospivision.org.za/pages/registration-details

This conference is a collaborative effort between HospiVision and the Department of Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

Author: Christel Kloppers (Hospivision)

Dates: 14 October 2025 to 17 October 2025
Time: 08:00 - 17:00
Venue: University of Pretoria Future Africa Campus, Pretoria