Integrating Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality (MPS) Within Lifestyle Medicine Education and Training: Core Competencies to Support Whole-Person Care

Authors

• Jessica A. Matthews, College of Health Sciences, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA, USA (JAM, LM).
• Liana Lianov, Global Positive Health Institute, Sacramento, CA, USA (LL).
• Gowri Anandarajah, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA (GA).
• Christina M. Puchalski, George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish), George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA (CMP).
• Nathan M. Jones, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA (NMJ).
• Christina Miller, Department of Preventive Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA (CM).
• Michele M. Suhie, College of Health Professions, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, USA (MMS).
• Elizabeth P. Frates, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA (EPF).
• Mary Gannon Kaufmann, The Renewed Practitioner, Elizabeth, CO, USA (MGK).
• Shiho Ito, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA (SI).
• Valerie A. Smith, Chaplain, Yerington, NV, USA (VAS).
• Deepa Sannidhi, Department of Family Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA (DS).
• Taylor B. Hayes, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA (TBH).
• Laurel Miller, College of Health Sciences, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA, USA (JAM, LM).
• Gregory Miller, Cornerstone Group Consultants, Loma Linda, CA, USA (GM).
• Selina S. Chen, Kapi'olani Medical Center, Hawai'i Pacific Health, Honolulu, HI, USA (SSC).
• Edward M. Phillips, VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA, USA (EMP).

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-1-2026

Journal

American journal of lifestyle medicine

Volume

20

Issue

1 Suppl

DOI

10.1177/15598276261421064

Keywords

lifestyle medicine; meaning; medical education; purpose; spirituality; whole-person care

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spirituality is a vital, yet sometimes misunderstood component of whole-person care. A growing body of evidence links meaning, purpose, and spirituality (MPS) with improved health outcomes, greater patient satisfaction, and enhanced clinician well-being. In 2024, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted Resolution 304 (A-24), advocating for the integration of MPS education throughout medical training and continuing education. Despite previous consensus statements and competencies from other professional organizations and accrediting bodies, such as the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), MPS-related competencies remain inconsistently embedded within health professions education, including within lifestyle medicine (LM). OBJECTIVE: To examine competencies, consensus statements and current evidence for spiritual care across various disciplines in order to discern common elements to support the establishment of MPS competencies within lifestyle medicine education and training. RESULTS: The competencies reviewed frame person-centered care through an expanded lens of the human person as biopsychosocial-spiritual. Across disciplines, 5 common categories of competencies emerged, which include: (1) An understanding of whole-person care and broad definitions of spirituality and religion; (2) clinician spiritual self-awareness and self-care, including exploration of potential biases and barriers to patient-centered care; (3) ethical practice, cultural sensitivity, and respect for diversity, including not imposing one's own personal beliefs (or lack thereof) on the patient; (4) spiritual assessment, communication and care planning skills in patient interactions, including team-based collaboration and referral to spiritual care professionals; (5) clinician therapeutic skills, including compassionate presence, active listening, sensitive communication, motivational interviewing and shared decision-making. CONCLUSION: Incorporating MPS competencies within LM education aligns with the updated pillar of connectedness, recognizing spirituality as a core driver of lifestyle behavior change. Embedding MPS competencies across the continuum of health professions education represents a timely, evidence-based, and ethically grounded step toward delivering more compassionate, sustainable, and impactful person-centered care.

APA Citation

Matthews, Jessica A.; Lianov, Liana; Anandarajah, Gowri; Puchalski, Christina M.; Jones, Nathan M.; Miller, Christina; Suhie, Michele M.; Frates, Elizabeth P.; Gannon Kaufmann, Mary; Ito, Shiho; Smith, Valerie A.; Sannidhi, Deepa; Hayes, Taylor B.; Miller, Laurel; Miller, Gregory; Chen, Selina S.; and Phillips, Edward M., "Integrating Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality (MPS) Within Lifestyle Medicine Education and Training: Core Competencies to Support Whole-Person Care" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 9164.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/9164

Department

Medicine