As founder of the George Washington University Institute for Spirituality and Health, Christina Puchalski M.D. is dedicated to connecting the spiritual with the medical.

This month's Prevention Magazine online examines Puchalski's work and the power of prayer in medicine.

The concept is less complex than it seems. It isn't about having enough scientific data to back the use of prayer; it's about compassion in medicine. “The health care system is forcing doctors to practice in a mode that does not value the doctor-patient relationship,” Puchalski told Prevention. “We’re forcing doctors to see patients in 10- to 15-minute blocks, bang bang, get ‘em in, get ‘em out. Patients aren’t cars. We’re not mechanics.”

For Puchalski, spiritual history is as important as medical history. She wants doctors to find out where their patients stand spiritually and she also encourages patients to openly communicate their spiritual needs to medical professionals.

Learn more about Dr. Puchalski's proposed changes in healthcare.