SPEAKERS

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Harold G. Koenig, MD, MHSc

Dr. Koenig completed his undergraduate education at Stanford University, his medical school training at the University of California in San Francisco, and his geriatric medicine, psychiatry, and biostatistics training at Duke University. He is board certified in general psychiatry, and formerly in family medicine, geriatric medicine, and geriatric psychiatry. He is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. He also holds professorship positions at Universities in Saudi Arabia and China. Dr. Koenig is the director of Duke’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, and has published extensively in the fields of religion, spirituality and health, with over 500 scientific peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and more than 50 books in print or in preparation for publication. His research on religion and health has been featured on many national and international TV news programs (including ABC’s World News Tonight, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz Show, and NBC Nightly News) and hundreds of national and international radio programs and newspapers/magazines (including Reader’s Digest, Parade Magazine, Newsweek, Time, and Guidepost). Dr. Koenig has given testimony before the U.S. Senate (1998) and U.S. House of Representatives (2008) concerning the benefits of religion and spirituality on public health. He is the recipient of the 2012 Oskar Pfister Award from the American Psychiatric Association and the 2013 Gary Collins Award from the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Peter Fenwick, MD 

He is the Consultant Neuropsychiatrist Emeritus to the Epilepsy Unit at the Maudsley Hospital, which he ran for twenty years. He is presently Emeritus Senior Lecturer, at the Institute of Psychiatry Kings College London. Dr. Fenwick has a long standing interest in brain function and the problem of consciousness and has published a large number of research papers related to altered states of consciousness, Near Death Experiences, End of Life Experiences and the process of dying. He has researched into meditation and continues to be interested in the relationship between meditative states, cognition and brain function.

Christina Puchalski, MD, MS, FACP, FAAHPM

She is a pioneer and international leader in the movement to integrate spirituality into healthcare in clinical settings and medical education. As founder and director of the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish) and Professor of Medicine at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, she continues to break new ground in the understanding and integration of spiritual care in healthcare settings. These programs and‎ activities have encouraged the development of a patient-centered perspective. GWish is fostering‎ alliances globally to further this integration. She developed the FICA spiritual history tool which is widely ‎used in clinical settings. She is board certified in Palliative Care and Internal Medicine, ‎directs an interdisciplinary outpatient supportive and palliative clinic and is a Medical Hospice Director in Washington, DC.‎

Alexander Moreira-Almeida, MD, PhD

He obtained a medical degree from Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Brazil and trained in psychiatry and cognitive-behavioral therapy at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, where he obtained his PhD in Health Sciences. Formerly a post-doctoral fellow in religion and health at Duke University, USA. In 2015, he led the publication of the WPA Position Statement on Spirituality and Religion in Psychiatry. He has published over 100 papers in the interface between spirituality, health and science that have received more than 2,000 citations at Google Scholar (h index=23). Moreira-Almeida has also worked with lay media to promote science communication on topics regarding science and religion to general public. In 2014, he led the creation and still coordinates the TV NUPES, a YouTube channel on Science and Spirituality that has produced more than 100 bilingual videos (English and Portuguese) that have been seen in more than 150 countries.

Celia Dantas, PhD

Professor of Physics at the Federal University of Goias since 1996.
She earned her PhD in Physics at the University of Sao Paulo, and is specialized in research in quantum optics. Dr. Dantas is dedicated to interconnect principles of quantum physics to the principles of Spiritist in proposing solution to some paradoxes.

Giancarlo Lucchetti, MD, PhD 

He is a General Practitioner, with fellowship training in Geriatrics, and received his PhD in Neurology/Neurosciences from the Federal University of São Paulo. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil and also collaborates in research for the Brazilian Spiritist Medical Association. He is the author of several articles on Spirituality and Health published in prestigious scientific journals.

Elida Maria Carneiro, PhD

Physical therapist; specialist in health services administration, cardiorespiratory physical therapy and acupuncture. She earned her PhD in Health Sciences from the Federal University of São Paulo. Currently, she is the Coordinator of the Center for Integrative and Complementary Practices in the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (HC/UFTM), Collaborating Professor in the Health and Spirituality Discipline of the UFTM Graduate Course, Researcher at HC/UFTM and Spiritist Medical Association of Uberaba. She is also the Founder of the Spiritist Chaplaincy and Religious Assistance Commission of HC/UFTM, and Founder and Coordinator of the Casa de Maria Supporting Center

Marcelo Saad, MD, PhD

Physician, board-certified in Physiatry and Acupuncture. Doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences by the Federal University of S. Paulo. Current director member of the Spiritist-Medical Association of Sao Paulo. Collaborator with the Brazilian and the International Spiritist-Medical Associations. Co-founder member of the Interfaith Coalition on Health and Spirituality (a movement to foster spiritual support in hospitals). Besides his work as a physician in private practice, he is also engaged in scientific publication, editorial collaborations with journals and books, technical lectures, and scholar tasks.

Joanna Farhat, MD

Joana Farhat received her MD degree from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Portugal. She also has a Master’s Degree in Medicine and is currently practicing in Internal Medicine and will begin her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in January 2022. Dr. Farhat is a member of the Spiritist Medical Association of North Portugal.

Mario F. P. Peres, MD

Neurologist, Professor at the Hospital of Clinics, University of São Paulo Medical School, Institute of Psychiatry.

Coordinator of the Spirituality Committee of the Brazilian Society for the Study of Pain.

Sonia Doi, MD, PhD

She is currently occupying the positions of President of the Allan Kardec Spiritist Society of Maryland, U.S. Spiritist Medical Association, and International Spiritist Medical Association. Graduated in Medicine by the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, with specialization in Endocrinology. Over 25 years of research experience in the US.