Benjamin R Doolittle 
Religion and Spirituality for the Healthcare Provider 

There is compelling evidence that religious involvement and spiritual attitudes are beneficial to health. Religious involvement has been associated with increased lifespan, improved mood, improved coping with illness, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol. And yet, there is a "religiosity gap" between patients and their healthcare providers. Patients often have strong religious and spiritual attitudes that influence their perspective on health. Healthcare providers are often ill-equipped to address these issues. Religion and Spirituality for the Healthcare Provider seeks to close that gap. Scholarly in scope, but approachable to all healthcare providers, Dr. Doolittle addresses the salient studies that explore the intersection of religion and health. He gives guidance about common challenges faced by healthcare providers: end of life issues, chronic illness, mental health, mindfulness and religious diversity. He also tackles controversies with the changing, complex role religion plays in modern society. Dr. Doolittle is an internal medicine-pediatrics physician on the faculty of Yale Medical School. In addition, he is an ordained minister with active involvement in the urban church.