Media Teleconference to Discuss Results Of Study to Examine Effects of Third-Party Prayer

Newswise — WHAT:

The American Heart Journal (AHJ) will publish Tuesday, April 4, the results of the Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP), the largest study to examine the effects of intercessory prayer—prayer provided by others. The STEP research team evaluated the impact of such prayer on patients recovering from coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Because the AHJ is no longer enforcing the Tuesday embargo, the study authors will conduct a media teleconference today to discuss key findings and take reporter questions.

The STEP team is composed of investigators at six academic medical centers, including Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee; Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts; Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Florida; Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C; and the Mind/Body Medical Institute.

WHEN:

Embargoed Media TeleconferenceToday, Thursday March 30, 20061:00 " 2:30 pm US EST

SPEAKERS:

Herbert Benson, MD: Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and director of the Mind/Body Institute. Dr. Benson was co-principal investigator of STEP.

Charles Bethea, MD: Chief Medical Officer for the Integris Baptist Heart Hospital. Dr. Bethea is a board-certified cardiologist. He was principal investigator of the Intregris Baptist Medical Center STEP study center.

Jeffery A. Dusek, PhD: Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Dusek is a psychologist. He was project director and co-principal director of STEP, providing day-to-day oversight of the STEP study centers and the STEP clinical coordinating center.

Sidney Levitsky MD: Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Levitsky is a board-certified cardiac surgeon. He was principal investigator of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center STEP study center.

Father Dean Marek: Director, Chaplain Services Mayo Clinic. Father Marek was co-principal investigator of the Mayo Clinic STEP study center.