Well-known author, physician and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra was in El Paso on Wednesday night to discuss how combining modern medicine with spirituality is key to creating a better health care system.

Chopra, who has written more than 80 books including 22 New York Times best sellers, was the guest speaker for the latest event in the University Medical Center Foundation's Health & Wellness series. The focus of his speech at the Abraham Chavez Theater was on the current state of health care and what improvements need to be made, Chopra said.

"We have a tendency to confuse health care reform with well-being," Chopra said. "Health care reform as it is currently practiced in the United States has nothing to do with health. It is insurance reform."

In order to improve health care and the well-being of people, a focus needs to be made on more than just the physical aspect of modern medical and incorporate the spiritual and religious aspects of life, Chopra said. This issue is the main focus of Chopra's latest book, "The Future of God."

"So many people in the scientific field are naive about what reality is. They think the only world that exist is the physical because you can find evidence for everything physical," he said. "Atheists have a very naive idea about reality and then there are religious fundamentalists that have naive ideas about the images of God," Chopra said.

Barron White, the owner of ESL International, a language school, said he became more aware of alternative medicine after his wife died from cancer a year ago. He said he was at the event to get more insight on how modern and alternative medicines can combine to help treat people.

"My wife died of cancer, so this (Chopra's speech) is of interest to me, I am here to learn more about this issue," White said. "So coming here kind of helps solidifies and valid that even though chemicals are used, there are other ways to help and treat people."

Aaron Martinez may be reached at 546-6249.

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Physician, spiritual guru Deepak Chopra visits El Paso to discuss state of health care