On April 12, 2005 the Institute partnered with the Foundation for Spirituality in Medicine and the Maryland Humanities Council to offer a day-long conference that explored the distinct contributions medical and religious professionals can offer terminally ill Christian, Jewish, and Muslim patients. During the conference physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, hospice staff, nurses, and clergy inves-tigated ways they can identify and address the unfinished business of patients' lives, differentiate realistic hopes from wishful thinking, and take requisite steps to help patients achieve "a good death."

This year, with the continued support of the Foundation for Spirituality and Medicine, the ICJS and the Dying Well planning committee will increase the program's outreach by hosting four congregational conversations in January and February 2006. Topics for each session will be based upon the work accom-plished during the conference. Details on how our members can participate in these conversations are available on this Web site.