Spiritual Care at Massachusetts General Hospital
The Spiritual Care Department upholds the definition of spirituality used in our field which is “…the dynamic aspect of human life that relates to the way persons (individuals and community) experience, express and/or seek meaning, purpose and transcendence and the way they connect to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, to the significant and/or the sacred. Spirituality is expressed through beliefs, values, traditions and practices.” (Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2014.)
We welcome and include all people, and work in collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team. Our Spiritual Care Providers (SCPs) are assigned to specific units throughout the hospital, where we respond to referrals and visit most patients and families needing spiritual support. Frequent situations to which we are called include patients, families or staff grappling with moral distress; patients and families facing a new diagnosis; having to decide on treatment options; looking to change their goals of care from curative to palliative; and needing to explore their end-of-life concerns and ethical issues.
Our Team:
Rev. Donna Blagdan, BCC, Director of Spiritual Care
Rabbi Shulamit Izen, MAHL, BCC, ACPE Certified Educator, Director of Clinical Pastoral Education
Chaplain Alex Baskin, MDiv, Spiritual Care Provider – Cardiology and Transplant
Chaplain jessica young chang, Spiritual Care Provider – Reproductive Health
Rev. Carlos de Pina, BCC, Spiritual Care Provider – General Medicine
Chaplain Kate Gerne, MDiv, BCC, Spiritual Care Provider – Oncology
Rev. Ethan Loewi, MDiv, BCC, Spiritual Care Provider – General Medicine
Rev. Erica Long, MDiv, BCC, Spiritual Care Provider – Neurology and Psychiatry
Chaplain Catherine Mikula, MDiv, Spiritual Care Provider – General Medicine
Chaplain Maryclare O’Brien-Wilson, MDiv, Spiritual Care Provider – Pediatrics and General Medicine
Father Elias Ojomah, MA – Catholic Priest
Chaplain Jeff Shackleton, OFM, BCC, Spiritual Care Provider – Emergency Medicine
Working alongside us are Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residents.
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