OCHS Director Shaunaka Rishi Das will host the series and, through conversations with guests, dive into what Hindu chaplaincy is and why it is so important. Shaunaka and the guests will share experiences and patient stories to offer listeners examples of moments in which medical care alone was not enough, and where compassionate, spiritually informed support made all the difference.

Shaunaka Rishi Das, Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, a position he has held since the Centre’s foundation in 1997, is a lecturer, a broadcaster, and Hindu Chaplain to Oxford University. His interests include education, comparative theology, communication, and leadership. He is a member of The Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life, convened in 2013 by the Woolf Institute, Cambridge. In 2013, the Indian government appointed him to sit on the International Advisory Council of the Auroville Foundation.

Dr Shama Mehta is a Board Certified Chaplain and Certified Educator Candidate at Michigan Medicine. She is also co-founder and vice-chair of the North American Hindu Chaplains Association. As the first Indian Hindu Board Certified Chaplain in the United States, she brings a unique perspective to navigating cultural identities, personal growth, and professional development.

With over 12 years of healthcare experience and a Doctorate in Ministry, Dr Mehta specialises in bridging traditional wisdom with contemporary challenges. As a Certified Educator Candidate at Michigan Medicine, she mentors future spiritual caregivers and develops innovative resources that blend Hindu principles with practical life management tools. Her work focuses on helping individuals find resilience, purpose, and alignment across personal and professional domains.