This course introduces the nuanced and multi-faceted world of providing pastoral and spiritual care in the setting of a hospital. The course will include introductions to various aspects of hospital chaplaincy, including hospice and palliative care, working within Interdisciplinary teams, trauma, ministry of presence, spiritual assessments, and more. Even more, we will look at skills of cultural analysis, trauma informed communication, and crisis intervention in order to build skills for chaplains, ministers, and other members of congregations who might need to provide spiritual or pastoral care in a hospital.
Instructor: Dr. Stephan Quarles holds a PhD in Systematic and Philosophical theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Ca. He specializes in the intersections of 20th century philosophy with systematic theology, particularly the cross and apophatic theology. He lives in Central Illinois with his wife and child. He works as a Board-Certified Chaplain at OSF St. Francis in Peoria, Il in the areas of Trauma and Palliative Care.