Spirituality and Health Practicum and Internship Projects

The Institute hosts both undergraduate and graduate students on a rolling basis, providing a venue and network for independent research, self-guided readings, and collaborative projects. Students’ projects, usually lasting one semester, have covered topics such as how to participate in end-of-life conversations with children, to the moral and religious dimensions of disorders of consciousness. We most often host students from Rice University, but have also worked with students from University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, and Saybrook University. These internships are often a defining feature of students’ undergraduate education as they allow participants to explore topics outside of their regular curriculum as well as the opportunity to interface and network with esteemed leaders in their respective fields.

Beginning in Spring 2024, we will work with students from Rice University’s Medical Humanities Research Institute to analyze the landscape of spirituality and health curricula currently offered in medical and nursing schools around the country. We will use these findings to identify gaps in learning and create a comprehensive spirituality and health curriculum for use by healthcare students, faculty, and staff.

Past Practicum and Internship Projects

Christian Capo - Spring 2016 - Having Conversations about Death with Children
Julianna Drew - Spring 2016 - Clinicians and End of Life Conversations
Zara Khan - Summer 2016 - Interfaith Perspectives on Conversations about Abortion
Navya Kumar - Summer 2016 - Transgenderism in the Hindu Cultural Landscape
Julia Jung - Fall 2016 - Religious and Spiritual Dimensions of Disorders of Consciousness
Shannon McLain - Spring 2017 - Mind-body Medicine for Medical Students
Michael Foster - Summer 2017 - Non-clinical Factors in Patient Satisfaction
Cierra Duckworth - Fall 2017 - The Faith Response to Hurricane Harvey
Pilar Canavosio - Fall 2018 - The Courage to Search Manual
Mina Bajic - Summer 2019 - Music as an Adjunctive Therapy for Alzheimer’s
Lillian Wieland - Fall 2019 - Meaning Making at the End of Life
Debora Kim - Spring 2020 - Music, Resilience, and Connection
Madeline West - Spring 2021 - The Overview Effect
Natalie Gault - Spring 2021 - The Lingering Voice: Music and Bereavement
Yunee Park - Spring 2021 - Psycho-spiritual Effects of Facial Scarring
Ashley Messineo - Fall 2021 - Elite Athletes & Media, Anxiety, and CAM
Pranav Mehta - Fall 2021 - Jain Diabetes Friendly Recipe Book
Sahar Momin - Fall 2021 - Understanding the Experiences of Cancer Caregivers
Allison Wang - Fall 2021 - ISH Entry in Handbook on Texas Medicine
Sahi Puvvala - Spring 2022 - Cultural Competence for EMTs
Sumin Choi - Spring 2022 - Providing Support for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Aishani Gargapati - Fall 2022 - Supporting Spirituality in Cancer Caregivers
Gage Christiansen - Fall 2022 - Spiritual Support at the End of Life
Charles Lee - Spring 2023 - Spiritual Dynamics of Medical Missionaries
Margaret Li - Spring 2023 - Medical Decision Making Amongst Asian American Families
Rija Naqvi - Spring 2023 - Resources for Those in Long-term Care
Shelby Desroches - Spring 2023 - Co-Navigating the End of Life
Karen Murambadoro - Spring 2023 - Diverse Grief Journeys