Chief of Psychiatry presents at International Congress in Spirituality and Psychiatry

At the World Psychiatric Association’s International Congress in Spirituality and Psychiatry, held recently in Jerusalem, Israel, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Chief of Psychiatry John Fromson, MD, shared a presentation titled “The Role of Spirituality in Physician Recovery from Alcoholism.” Dr. Fromson’s speech was one of more than 50 formal presentations and 30 poster presentations from around the world to be shared during the three-day conference.

The presentation focused on spirituality as a key component to healing, explaining how physicians who participate in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or 12-Step Facilitation (TSF) therapy and experience a spiritual awakening are likely to have sustained long-term recovery from their own alcoholism. Dr. Fromson explains, “Physicians in the United States have incorporated mind, body and spiritual connections into their practice, but around the world it has had varying levels of acceptance and utilization by the medical community. When physicians become patients, they also find support and comfort through spirituality, especially those with alcohol use disorders.”

During his address, Dr. Fromson shared with the audience the stigma physicians face when confronted with their own substance use disorders and how effective AA and TSF can be in overcoming those obstacles and gaining sobriety.

“It was a privilege to represent BWFH on an international stage,” says Dr. Fromson. “I was thrilled to share our best practices and successful outcomes with this group of professional colleagues who are caring, empathetic and want to use a multidisciplinary, patient-centered and evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and treatment of patients along with a spiritual perspective.”