Religious and Cultural Holiday Awareness: Celebrating the Hindu Festival of Krishna Janmashtami

Aug. 19, 2016

Dear Colleagues,

An essential part of building a culturally competent workforce and ensuring a safe and high-quality patient care environment is increasing our knowledge of the diverse cultural and faith traditions of our patients, faculty members, staff members and students. By doing this, we can strengthen our relationships with each other and positively impact the quality of patient care.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Department of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy have created fact sheets to provide general education and information about cultural and religious observances, and how they may impact interactions with colleagues, students, and patients and their family members.

View a fact sheet about the Hindu festival of Krishna Janmashtami, which will be celebrated on Thursday, Aug. 25. Please use this as a guide for supporting our patients, staff members, faculty members and students who may observe Krishna Janmashtami. Please keep in mind that it is intended to provide a general overview, and the information may not apply to all individuals in any given culture or faith.

Sincerely,

James E. Page Jr., M.B.A.
Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion
Chief Diversity Officer
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Paula Teague, D.Min, M.B.A.
Senior Director, Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy
Johns Hopkins Health System