Synergistic health care is topic of June 30 spirituality program in Lewes

 Dr. Jose A. Pando, a rheumatologist who founded Delaware Arthritis and more recently the Wellness Center in Lewes, will be guest speaker at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church weekly Summer Spirituality Series Thursday, June 30.

“Health care demands on the system are growing, and projected future costs should cause us to rethink what we do and how we take care of ourselves on a daily basis,” Pando says. He will address the need for synergistic health care that involves body, mind and spirit in the church’s fellowship hall, 211 Mulberry St., at 7 p.m.

He maintains that physical exercise, medications, diet and spirituality are each an important component of health, and will talk about how to integrate and balance these four components. When used together, they become synergistic, accomplishing more than each could alone, and they enhance our overall wellbeing, Pando says.

“Most of us focus on exercise, the prescribed medications we may need, and are knowledgeable about different diets, but we may not realize the value of spirituality as a pillar of overall health. Simple practices such as centering, forgiving ourselves, being compassionate and the development of community can lead to a significant impact on our overall wellbeing.”

A native of Peru, he did his internship and residency at the Yale University Primary Care Program, New Haven Conn., and completed his fellowship training at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., and Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

In early 2015 Dr. Pando and his wife, Catherine, opened the Wellness Center at 20268 Plantation Road, Lewes, a one-stop shop for Delawareans who want to pursue a healthy lifestyle. Services and classes offered include yoga, massage therapy, Pilates, a support group for women suffering from anxiety and depression, and twice-a-month classes on healthy eating and cooking.