The original post below was published on October 20, 2025. This update is published on July 13, 2026.
As of this date, a purported updated model of Whole Person Health developed by NCCIH mentioned in the original post has yet to be published on their website nor has there been any written announcements to that affect.
Unfortunately, other NIH and HHS agencies are moving forward with their respective new strategic plans with a framework of Whole Person Health that does not include a spiritual domain.
The NIH’s strategy for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative is using a Whole Person Health framework (figure to the left) that does not include a spiritual domain. (See slide 6 in the linked presentation)
The recent strategic plan for the Disability Health Research Program as it regards to Whole Person Health does not recognize the inclusion of the spiritual domain.
The new NCCIH Profile page on the updated NIH website indicates that Whole Person Health is an Interest Area. This is a sentence that describes Whole Person Health: ‘Examining how biological, behavioral, psychological, social, and environmental factors interact to influence health, resilience, and recovery.’ It omits a spiritual domain.
It has been almost a year since NCCIH indicated that a spiritual domain would be added to their model but this has yet to be implemented.
I intend to publish a more complete post on this issue in the days ahead. Stay tuned!
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I have some good news!
During the National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) Advisory Council Meeting on September 19, 2025, the Director announced that they have decided to add a Spiritual domain to their whole person health model!
Discussion about the decision to add the spiritual domain to their model can be viewed at the 26:05 mark in the video cast at the following link – NCCIH Adds a Spiritual Domain to Their Whole Persona Health Model.
This National Institute of Health (NIH) agency has been deliberating this issue for almost three years! This is an important milestone because one would expect that more research monies will now be made available to study the relationship between spirituality and health. Also, as NCCIH creates its next 5 year strategic plan, studying the spiritual component of health will be part of that plan. As well, other NIH agencies who are inclined to address whole person health will adopt the NCCIH model that now includes a spiritual domain. Resources that are made available to the public will eventually address the significance of spirituality as it impacts a person’s health and wellbeing.
My prayer is that, in the coming years, as the spiritual dimension of wellbeing receives more attention from our federal health agencies, this will positively impact on all aspects of the personal wellbeing of our citizens, as well as the public health of our nation and its related plaguing social issues such as poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, unemployment, crime, violence, and suicide.
The following scripture in the Bible, our Creator’s directions for living a full life, speaks to the significance of how one’s spiritual activities contributes to their wellbeing.
“Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. This is true and everyone should accept it.” 1 Timothy 4:7-9 (New Living Translation – First Edition).
I encourage NCCIH and other NIH staff members, and all researchers in the field of faith and health, to consider what Biblical truths – “spiritual exercises” – contribute to personal health and wellbeing in their research efforts as they study the connection between spirituality and health.
This is true and awesome really this is a milestone praying that this may impact social issues
Praise God!!
This is an awesome milestone!
Thank you so very much!
Chuck