RISHI at Pure Healthcare Provides Education and Support Programs for Health Professionals

Welcome to RISHI at Pure Healthcare! We provide education and support programs for health professionals who aspire to bring their hearts into their work and are dedicated to practicing a medicine of service, human connection, and compassionate healing.

About Us

The Institute for the Study of Health & Illness (ISHI) was founded by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, in 1991 at Commonweal. In 2016, the Institute was renamed The Remen Institute for the Study of Health & Illness (RISHI), and, in 2020, RISHI was integrated with Pure Healthcare within the Ohio’s Hospice organization. 

Our Programs

Healer’s Art^™

The Healer’s Art is an innovative discovery model course in values clarification and professionalism for first- and second-year medical students now offered annually at more than 90 U.S. medical schools as well as medical schools around the world. Designed in 1991 by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., the course offers a safe learning environment for a personal in-depth exploration of the time-honored values of service, healing relationship, reverence for life and compassionate care.

Power of Nursing™

The Power of Nursing is a 15-hour elective course that utilizes discovery model guidelines for nursing students and graduate nurses consisting of five sessions optimally spaced two weeks apart. The course is based on a discovery model in which there are no experts, no right answers, and it is acceptable to “not know.” The wisdom in the collective life experience of the group is clarified and harvested. A spirit of curiosity is encouraged.

Tending the Flame™

Our Tending the Flame retreat workshop for practicing clinicians and graduate program learners enables clinicians at all levels of training to develop an authentic and supportive professional community, take personal ownership of the meaning and values which are inherent in the lineage and practice of medicine, refresh their calling and service intention and learn effective self-care tools to enhance resiliency in their professional and personal lives.

Finding Meaning in Medicine™

Physicians, nurses, residents, students, and other health professionals are looking for ways to connect with one another in the changing arena of medicine. We have been helping clinicians connect with one another through our Finding Meaning Discussion Groups. These discussions are circles of exploration, discovery and sharing. Uncovering meaning is important to finding deeper satisfaction in service work. The dialogue within a supportive community can have positive effects for each participant.

Our Mission

Our mission is to contribute to healing the culture of healthcare through innovative educational programs and the formation of supportive communities. Our programs provide innovative tools, practices and resources to enable health professionals to sustain their service values, their humanity, and their passion for their work.

Our Values

We understand and champion the inherent unique gifts of every individual and the positive impact they can have on each of us. These gifts, when nurtured and developed, lend to a deeper and more meaningful professional and life experience.

These gifts are realized through the application of personal reflection and group dynamics engaged in transformational activities of self-awareness, self-care, and a focus on building professional community. All people involved with healthcare in any way are welcome to participate in our retreat and training workshops.

Ultimately, we believe and invest in strengthening community among healthcare learners, educators, and clinicians through the application of these principles, serving as the foundation for a life-long commitment to service as a way of life.  

To learn more about our programs and how they can help you find deeper meaning, visit: https://rishiprograms.org