Patient Partner Feature: Anja Lanz | Bridging the Gap: Making Spiritual Care More Inclusive and Accessible in Healthcare Services

We are pleased to introduce to you Anja Lanz, one of our Art & Spirituality Research Team Patient Partners who has thoughtfully written about her experience with art and spirituality within the realm of healthcare.  

The remainder of this blog is written by Krista Heide, Research Coordinator, and Dr. Kendra L. Rieger, Primary Investigator, who are both key members of our Art and Spirituality Research Team.  

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Patient Partner Feature: Anja Lanz

Anja Lanz, Patient Partner

 “Art has been a profound source of emotional and psychological healing for me. It fosters a sense of connection, offering a supportive community of like-minded individuals eager to share ideas and build meaningful relationships. Engaging in artistic expression transcends the boundaries of illness, creating opportunities for personal transformation, and establishing an identity beyond being a patient. 

What makes art and spirituality so powerful in healthcare is their deeply personal nature. They invite individuals to embark on a journey of self-discovery, encouraging holistic well-being by recognizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Through art, we find a universal language that surpasses cultural and linguistic differences, bringing people together as a community and emphasizing the shared human experience. 

For me, art and spirituality aren't just therapeutic—they’re empowering. They provide a space for healing that feels deeply individual yet profoundly communal, reminding us that recovery isn’t just about the body but also about nurturing the soul.”  

-Anja Lanz, Art and Spirituality Research Team Patient Partner 

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Bridging the Gap: Making Spiritual Care More Inclusive and Accessible 

In today's healthcare system, many patients face barriers to receiving spiritual care that aligns with their beliefs, particularly those who experience systemic racism or structural vulnerabilities. Recognizing this need, our Art and Spirituality research aims to develop and evaluate equity-oriented, arts-based spiritual care (ABSC) initiatives. By making spiritual care more inclusive and relevant, we hope to improve patient outcomes and well-being for individuals with diverse spiritual and religious identities. 

Why Spiritual Care Matters 

Spirituality plays a crucial role in many people’s lives, offering comfort and meaning during challenging times. However, spiritual care services have often been shaped by historical biases and rigid frameworks that fail to reflect the evolving landscape of beliefs. Our project seeks to break down these barriers, ensuring that spiritual care is welcoming, accessible, and responsive to the needs of all patients, regardless of their backgrounds. Arts-based engagement helps us accomplish this.  

Our Approach to Inclusive Spiritual Care 

1. Engaging with Patient Partners 

To ensure our work remains patient-centered, we are collaborating directly with those who have lived experiences of structural vulnerabilities/inequities and healthcare services to understand their priorities and produce outcomes relevant to their needs. Our Arts and Spirituality Patient Advisory Group, consists of several individuals from diverse backgrounds, who will help to shape all stages of our research process. By following the SPOR Patient Engagement and Capacity Development Frameworks, we aim to make sure patient voices remain at the core of our work in healthcare services. From influencing research design to critically reflecting on data analysis, and helping with the implementation of findings, patient partners will play a vital role in ensuring our arts-based spiritual care initiatives truly address real-world needs. 

2. Learning from Indigenous Mentors 

Left: Switametelót Patti Victor Right: Elder Mabel Horton

Indigenous patients often request spiritual care, but many current approaches fail to be culturally safe and relevant. To address this, we are collaborating with several Indigenous mentors who will provide invaluable guidance in shaping our ABSC initiatives. Our Indigenous Advisory Circle, led by Switametelót, Patti Victor (from Cheam First Nation) and Elder Mabel Horton (from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation), will ensure that our work respects and incorporates Indigenous knowledge and traditions. They will also invite additional mentors to further strengthen this initiative.

3. Partnering with Key Stakeholders 

Collaboration is at the heart of this project. Co-led by Dr. Kendra Rieger , Dr. Sheryl Kirkham

This photo features some of members of our Art & Spirituality Research Team

Reimer, and Dr. Anne Tuppurainen, our Art and Spirituality research team includes a diverse group of interdisciplinary stakeholders. These include spiritual care practitioners, Indigenous mentors, administrators, artists, expressive arts/art therapists, nurses, doctors, social services providers, and more. Additionally, students from fields such as clinical psychospiritual education, nursing, and the arts will engage with our research, helping to shape future approaches to inclusive spiritual care.

Looking Ahead: A More Equitable Future 

By integrating patient voices, Indigenous wisdom, and collaborative expertise, our project seeks to transform the way spiritual care is delivered in healthcare settings. Our goal is to work together to create and facilitate art based spiritual care initiatives that are accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive—ensuring that every patient receives the support they need on their journey to healing.