In 2012 I began thinking about a sabbatical for myself after 30 years working in medicine, increasingly aware of my discontent for two issues in modern medicine: a growing callousness for the suffering inherent in illness, and an observation that having religion did not seem necessary or sufficient for acceptance and peace in the last stages of life. The spiritual dimension of life was an area of experience that medicine failed to appreciate.

My single semester at Union Theological Seminary was a tremendous introduction to concepts, practices and experiences that I can use to enhance my purpose for my life and the life of my hospital and community. Much work remains to resist callousness in medical culture and the culture at large.