Professor of Medicine, Exec Director GWish
George Washington University
Christina Puchalski, MD, MS, OCDS, FACP, FAAHPM, is a pioneer and global leader in the movement to integrate spiritual health into clinical settings, education, and policy. Dr. Puchalski is Founder and Executive Director of the George Washington University’s Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish) and Professor of Medicine at The George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Dr. Puchalski’s collaborative work has influenced clinical practice on a global scale, most notably the development of a course for clinicians and chaplains to learn how to create systemic change in their own health settings [Interprofessional Spiritual Care Education Curriculum (ISPEC©)]; clinical spiritual care guidelines “Reflection Rounds” to offer peer-group support for clinicians; and the widely-disseminated spiritual history tool (FICA) to help assess patients’ spiritual/religious preferences. She currently is leading a global collaborative initiative called The GWish Project: Advancing Interprofessional Spiritual Care.
Dr. Puchalski has received numerous awards including being named in 2018, as one of “30 Visionaries” in the field by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. In 2022 she received the Debra Sivesind Career Award for Outstanding Contributions to Palliative Care.
Thursday, March 5, 2026
6:45am - 7:45am PST
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose