Learning About the Self by Learning About Others
By Katherine R. B. Jankowski, Director of Professional and Continuing Education

Through engaging in dialogue with people of other philosophies, cultures, spiritualities, and religions we can come to learn and grow ourselves.

An excellent place to do that is through the offerings of the Open Center in New York City. “We exist to offer the full spectrum of holistic learning and world culture to the diverse people of the greater New York area,” says co-founder and creative director, Ralph White.

The Open Center, with resources online at www.opencenter.org and in person at 22 East 30^th Street in Manhattan, has been providing learning in holistic health, cross-cultural and interfaith programming for over 28 years.

For example, an excellent way to learn about Islam is a November 4^th and 5^th conference co-sponsored with the Middle East Institute at Columbia University. Entitled Ibn ‘Arabi and Rumi: Sufi Teachings for the Modern World. Learn about the Islam of Rumi and Ibn ‘Arabi, Islam, in which the focus of both is love.

For an immersive cultural experience, the Open Center is producing an upcoming trip to Alexandria, Egypt to explore the Greco-Egyptian birthplace of the Western mind. An exploration of the ancient and recently rebuilt Library of Alexandria will be part of this experience.

The Open Center provides programs on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam-Sufism, Judaism, Western Spiritual Traditions, Meditation, African American Culture, Latin and Caribbean Culture, Shamanism, and Native American culture. Many are available in podcast form for a small fee or are free on their website. Videos of events are also posted on the Open Center YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/nyopencenter#p/u.

Another resource is Lapis, the online magazine. It offers written articles and recordings that examine the inner personal world and the outer world of society. “What can we learn from Native America about war and peace?” is just one of the many free articles and podcasts located in the magazine. Find it at www.lapismagazine.org.

HealthCare Chaplaincy was introduced to the Open Center by Board member Jeanette Watson Sanger, who felt a collaboration between the two organizations would be mutually beneficial.

“There is tremendous synergy between the two organizations,” said Ms. Watson Sanger, “in that the Open Center’s programs of holistic healing and wellness compliment HealthCare Chaplaincy’s focus on palliative care. As a longtime fan of the Open Center where I have taken so many classes over the years, and as a new Board member of HealthCare Chaplaincy, I am thrilled that two of my favorite New York City institutions are collaborating.”

Juries Must Judge. Chaplains Must Not.
By Jim Siegel, Director of Marketing & Communications

For three weeks in late spring, I was a juror on a criminal trial in New York County Supreme Court in lower Manhattan.

This was the first time I’ve served on a jury.

I learned things that I did not anticipate.

I learned new respect for the American judicial system where one is charged with a crime but presumed innocent until the jury says “Guilty.”

I learned that justice can be messy – beyond a reasonable doubt.

I learned to appreciate in a new way what professional health care chaplains do – in contrast to what jurors do.


The Trial

Each of four defendants was charged with five counts of assault on two adults and endangering the welfare of two children. That added up to twenty individual counts to address.

The twelve of us on the jury had to reach a unanimous verdict of guilty or non-guilty on twenty individual counts. If you, yourself, have served on a jury, you know that is not so easy.
 
The judge defined reasonable doubt as evaluating with head, not heart, after considering the evidence.  He said that we were not to be detectives to try to determine what actually happened. Instead, we had to determine if the prosecution proved, or did not prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, based on the evidence presented, that the defendants committed the crimes with which they were charged.

The prosecution said in the opening argument that this was “a simple case.”

The four defense attorneys (one for each defendant) said in their closing arguments that this was “a complex case.”

The defense attorneys were right. The prosecution was wrong.

The Jury Deliberates

We on the jury agreed this was a sad case that would affect the lives of the key players for a long time.

We agreed that the defendants had acted stupidly and badly.

But until the final vote on the afternoon of day four of deliberations, we were deadlocked. Twice, we told the judge that. Twice, the judge said, “Go back to the jury room. Keep deliberating.”

He wanted no hung jury. No mistrial. No new trial with a new jury.


The Verdict

We found one defendant not guilty, and three guilty of the lowest assault count – third degree misdemeanor. In addition, we found one defendant guilty of endangering the welfare of two children.

Were we happy with this verdict?

No, but it was where we could reach consensus.

That’s what juries do.


Jurors and Chaplains: How Alike, How Different

Both jurors and professional chaplains in hospitals and other health care settings must listen to what’s said and not said and must keep an open mind.

Jurors pay attention to discern whether the defendant intended to commit the criminal act.

Chaplains pay attention to the beliefs and values as well as the dynamics behind the words.

When deliberating, jurors must assess the evidence and judge.

Chaplains conduct a spiritual assessment to facilitate conversations in the clinical setting. But chaplains do not judge.

Jurors cannot question or speak with the lawyers, defendants, or witnesses.

But there’s no intermediary between a chaplain and the patient, or the chaplain and the patient’s family. Also, sometimes the chaplain may actually act as an intermediary/ advocate/negotiator regarding wishes and needs between a patient and the medical staff.

Jurors who have served on a trial have experience, but there’s no such thing as an expert juror.

But chaplains are experts at helping patients, loved ones, and staff – regardless of religion or beliefs or culture – draw upon their source of inner strength to cope with life-changing health events.

Juries must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt in order to deliver an outcome.

But chaplains can have doubts, yet not be any less effective.

Jurors are collections of people who come together by chance, to help solve a problem for society, and then go home.

But chaplains are at it every day, connecting, communicating, and helping  patients, loved ones, staff, and others.

Thank goodness for that.

September 9^th “Interfaith Perspectives on
Communal Trauma and Healing” Symposium
for Religious Leaders & Mental Health Professionals

The Interfaith Center of New York, the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service, and partner institutions invite all religious leaders and mental health professionals to attend “Interfaith Perspectives on Communal Trauma and Healing” which will explore the emotional life of New York at the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

This half-day symposium on Friday morning, September 9^th will provide mental health professionals with the opportunity to work more effectively with members of diverse communities by learning about the invaluable therapeutic resources found in a range of religious traditions.

Events include:

- A panel discussion with leading mental health practitioners who bring both spiritual and psychological perspectives to bear on experiences of communal trauma.

-Small group workshops offering hands-on introductions to the therapeutic resources found in diverse religious traditions, including ritual, meditation, text, story and song.

-Lunch for participants, and a performance by the Peace of Heart Choir.

The Symposium will be held at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus, 60^th Street and Columbus Avenue. Professionals: advance registration $10, or $12 at the door. Students: $5 for advance registration or $7 at the door.

To learn more, and to register, go to http://traumahealing.webstarts.com.

The Diversity Doctors 2011 Conference
May Be for You

The delivery of effective patient-centered care requires meeting the needs of the highly diverse patient population.

This is so important that the Joint Commission, which accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, holds hospitals accountable for addressing and maintaining patient rights, including cultural, religious, and spiritual values and practices.

That is why HealthCare Chaplaincy is pleased to co-sponsor the September Diversity Doctors 2011 Conference in New York City.

The conference will present cutting edge information aimed at hospital and health care leaders, policymakers, researchers, advocates, and health care consumers on how to reduce health care disparities, improve cultural competence and advance patient-centered care.

The dates and location are Friday and Saturday, September 23^rd and 24^th at The Desmond Tutu Conference Center, 180 Tenth Avenue (20^th and 21^st St) in New York City.

Friday is devoted to hearing from nine prominent national speakers including:

• Dr. Joseph Betancourt, director of Massachusetts General’s Disparities Solutions Center, Senior Scientist, Mongan Institute for Health Policy and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
• Candi Castleberry-Singleton, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• Amy Wilson-Stronks, former Principal Investigator of the Joint Commission’s Hospitals, Language, and Culture.
• Marc Nivet, EdD, Chief Diversity Officer of the American Association of Medical Colleges.

Saturday is devoted to workshops where you will be able to:

• Explore evidence and root causes for disparities in health care
• Review the evidence for interventions that can reduce disparities in health care
• Share an understanding of practices that can support effective patient-provider communication
• Examine background information on the connection between various communication vulnerabilities and the safety and quality of health care
• Discuss current practices and opportunities for improvement
• Talk about the diversity mindset in academic medicine
• Learn how to move from evidence to action on diversity and cultural competence in your own organization
• Gain tips to manage conflict effectively across racial, cultural and ethnic differences

If you register by August 31, you will save $105. The early bird fee for Friday is $195 and $95 for Saturday. After that, the Friday session is $250 and Saturday is $145 for a total of $395 for both days.

Continuing education credit of 11.25 hours is approved by American Psychological Association and there are certificates of attendance for all attendees.

Other co-sponsors include Geacom, Inc., Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, and the Dignity and Respect Campaign. A portion of the proceeds go to Doctors without Borders.

Conference host is Dr. Patrick Swift, clinical assistant professor of New York University School of Medicine.

For more information and to register, go to www.diversitydoctor.org.

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