Science and Soul: Advancing Health Care through Caritas Practice

Science and Soul is a one-of-a-kind immersive summit demonstrating how the transformative Caring Science theory moves from philosophy into real-world clinical practice. Activities and learning blend clinical science with the human side of care, giving participants modalities they can apply in their own practice.
As an expansion of the annual Watson Caring Science Institute annual Caritas Community Conference, Science and Soul brings together nurses, advanced practice providers, educators and health care leaders from around the world to an experiential event that blends evidence, reflection and practice-based learning to strengthen human-centered care.
Featuring renowned Caring Science founder and leader Jean Watson as keynote, the summit offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with global faculty, Caritas Coaches and interdisciplinary experts in experiential sessions, dialogue and community learning.
What Makes This Summit Different
- A unique integration of science, spirituality and clinical practice
- Experiential Caritas sessions led by international faculty
- Interprofessional collaboration with nursing, psychology and divinity perspectives
- Presentations from the Caring Science community, with participants from all levels—from students to practitioners
- Reflective practices designed to support clinician resilience and meaning in work
Summit Highlights
- Science and Soul keynote collaborations with Vanderbilt partners
- Student and Caritas Coach presentations
- Experiential breakout sessions applying Caring Science modalities
- Curriculum and nurse residency praxis discussions
- Simulation tours and immersive learning opportunities
Plus
- Opening ceremonies honoring place and community
- Closing reflections and book signing with Caring Science authors
Sessions are designed for those seeking deeper connection between evidence-based practice and the human experience of care. Science and Soul focuses on translating evidence into meaningful action while grounding that work in reflection, purpose and the authentic experience of caring for patients.
Who Should Attend
- Nurses and advanced practice clinicians
- Nurse educators and faculty
- Health care leaders and system innovators
- Interprofessional clinicians interested in Caring Science
- Anyone with interest in Caring Science is welcome