Bayhealth Chaplaincy Services celebrates latest graduating class

Bayhealth celebrates graduating class of their Chaplaincy Services program (Photo courtesy of Bayhealth)

Bayhealth’s Chaplaincy Services celebrated its first graduating class eligible for board certification. Three of the six class members will continue their clinical pastoral care career by working to become board-certified chaplains. Bayhealth is just one of two hospitals in Delaware that offer a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program.

“It is a wonderful addition to the services we provide at Bayhealth,” Rev. Dr. Carol Boggery, Director of Chaplaincy Services, said. “Since we have clinically trained chaplains, spiritual care can now become a more integral part of the treatment team.”

During the ceremony, Michael Ashton, MPH, FACHE, Bayhealth Sussex Campus administrator and vice-president of Operations, served as the keynote speaker. His message provided support to those in attendance, pointing out that it was important to remember the need to serve the whole patient. He felt that the CPE program was another example of Bayhealth’s mission to accomplish that goal. In addition to the graduating class, the graduation overlapped with Bayhealth’s accreditation review for the CPE program.

“The review committee was able to witness Bayhealth’s commitment and our keynote speaker’s speech,” Boggerty said. “Mr. Ashton is always an advocate for our CPE program, so it was very meaningful for him to speak to the graduates.”

Palliative Care Nurse Loretta Higgins, GNP-BC, shared a moving moment with those in attendance where Chaplaincy Services assisted her daughter during a critical stage in her disease process.

The accreditation review committee were provided the opportunity to speak to CPE students, nursing staff and current staff chaplains. After a tour of the facilities and assessing the educational offerings, Bayhealth was granted final accreditation of the CPE program.

“Healthcare and spiritual care can go hand-in-hand,” Boggerty said. “Having clinically trained chaplains makes Bayhealth a well-rounded, full-service facility. As the industry continues to grow and as health care recognizes the need for spiritual and pastoral care at an even greater level, I am grateful that Bayhealth continues to support our programming and invest in the need for this service to our families and our staff.”

For more information about the CPE program, visit their website by clicking here.