Upcoming Webinars

Introducing the Dutch Chaplaincy
Outcome Measure
February 19, 11 AM - Noon (CST)

Chaplains are increasingly challenged to show outcomes of their work. However, current standardized instrument do not always fit the context of chaplaincy well. The Dutch Chaplaincy Outcome Measure was designed to remedy some of these issues: It was (a) designed with chaplains, their colleagues and their clients to (b) assess outcomes they deemed central to chaplaincy and (c) with a method that is standardized but matches the qualitative nature of chaplaincy. In this webinar, Dr. Anja Visser will introduce the instrument and how it was developed. She will be joined by respondent, Dr. Csaba Szilagyi.

Presenter: Dr. Anja Visser is assistant professor in spiritual care at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. This research was part of the Knowledge Hub on Meaning and Spiritual Care (2021-2024). Dr. Visser was projectleader of a research group within this Knowledge Workplace, focusing on goals, needs, interventions and outcomes of chaplaincy in primary, outpatient and community care.

Respondent: Dr. Csaba Szilagyi is Transforming Chaplaincy's Director and an Assistant Professor at Rush University Medical Center, where he also directs research in the Department of Religion, Health and Human Values. He is also an ACPE educator.

Designing for Spiritual Innovation: Exploring Futures for Digital Chaplaincy through the SPIRIT Design Framework
February 24, 1 - 2 pm (CST)

In this talk, Dr. Smith will introduce a novel design framework called “SPIRIT" (Spiritual Prerequisites and Innovative dimensions for Integrating Technology) developed in her lab to guide the expansion of spiritual care into digital realms. She will begin by presenting an operational definition of "spiritual care” derived through co-design work with chaplains. This definition can help to establish common ground between spiritual care clinicians and technology designers by shifting away from transactional support models toward relational accompaniment and compassionate presence. The presentation will then detail three essential sociotechnical prerequisites for meaningful engagement (openness to care, the cultivation of a safe space, and the ability to discern and articulate spiritual needs), and six key design dimensions such as the appropriate degree of technology use, loving presence, and meaning-making. To illustrate these principles in action, she will discuss examples ranging from established social platforms like CaringBridge to emerging research on Reddit and interactive AI-based prototypes for spiritual care screening. Finally, she will conclude by exploring future directions for spiritual innovation. She will be joined by respondent, Alex Schapiro.

Presenter: Dr. C. Estelle Smith is a computer science professor specialized in human-computer interaction (HCI). Dr. Smith's research with CaringBridge (an online health communication platform) has articulated a deep need for technology designers to center users’ spiritual needs during serious illness, leading her to develop an interdisciplinary research agenda grounded in collaboration with clinical spiritual care.

Respondent: Alex Beth Schapiro is the manager of a Digital Spiritual Health program within the Accountable Care Organizations at Atlantic Health in Northern New Jersey. Alex also co-convenes Transforming Chaplaincy's Population Health & Digital Spiritual Care research network.

What Do Chaplains Do?
Send Us Your Best Elevator Speech

Workshop, Friday, June 12, 10:45 am-12:15 pm
APC 2026 Annual Meeting, New Orleans

Chaplains’ clinical and administrative colleagues frequently have a limited understanding of what we do. Providing these colleagues with a clear, simple description of our work is one of a chaplains’ most important skills.

You are invited to submit your best 150 word elevator speech about what chaplains do for a workshop at the 2026 APC meeting in New Orleans in June. The audience for your speech can be administrative or clinical leaders or clinical colleagues. A panel of judges will review all the submissions and select the best 10. The 10 finalists will present their speeches at the workshop where workshop participants will vote on the 5 best.

The 10 finalists will receive a $100 discount on their conference registration. This includes a $50 APC discount as a workshop co-presenter and an additional $50 discount from Transforming Chaplaincy. Finalists are responsible for their other expenses for participating in the in-person workshop in New Orleans.

The deadline for submitting your speech is February 28, 2026. Finalists will be notified by March 30, 2026.

Workshop co-leaders: George Fitchett, Senior Advisor, Transforming Chaplaincy and Antonina Olszewski, Vice President, Spiritual Care, Mission Integration, Ascension

If you have any questions, please contact George Fitchett george_fitchett@rush.edu​

Experience powerful perspectives from leaders in spiritual health and psychedelic medicine.
​Featuring: Dr. George Fitchett, Senior Advisor, Transforming Chaplaincy & Dr. Boris Heifets
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​Location: Emory Alumni Memorial University Center Harland
March 25, 1-5 PM (EST)
​Registration Options:
1) In person: Emory University, Atlanta, GA;
2) Online streaming

We're excited to get the word out about the 6th Global Summit on Spirituality, Religion, & Mental Health in Boston, MA on May 14 and 15. Scan the QR code for more details and to register.

Research Participation

The OSU Wexner Medical Center and Transforming Chaplaincy are partnering to map spiritual care service and practice in outpatient oncology clinics, infusion centers, and cancer centers. Every chaplain or chaplain leader whose scope of service includes an outpatient oncology population is invited to participate.
​Questions: Contact Jason Matlack, Senior Chaplain, M.Div., BCC jason.matlack@osumc.edu

Partner Job Announcement

Baptist Health is currently looking for a Chaplain for our Spiritual Care department at Wolfson's Children's Hospital. This is a Full-Time Days opportunity and will support Wolfson's Pediatric ICU (PICU) and assist with Pediatric Behavioral Health Purpose and Meaning Support Groups.

Supporting Partnership Opportunities

If you are interested in discussing supporting partnership opportunities with Transforming Chaplaincy, please contact Cate Beaulieu-Desjardins, TC's Assistant Director of Research Development, at caitlin_m_desjardins@rush.edu.

To Support Transforming Chaplaincy

Thank you for engaging with Transforming Chaplaincy as we work together to advance spiritual care through research. We value your support, whether you are a part of one of our research networks, attend webinars, or are on a research team. Please also consider contributing financially by clicking the button below.

Missed a Webinar?

If you were not available to tune into a Transforming Chaplaincy (TC) live broadcast or perhaps you want to see a specific webinar again, check out TC's YouTube channel. Many of you (1.81K) are already TC YouTube channel subscribers and know how this works. When you subscribe, you receive a notification that a new recording is ready for your viewing along with 115+ of our videos. Thank you for whenever you engage TC's content to advance spiritual care through research. Transforming Chaplaincy’s YouTube channel.

​Transforming Chaplaincy: Advancing Spiritual Care Through Research​
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​Vision: We envision a future when chaplaincy is formed, informed, and transformed by evidence-based practice
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​Mission: The mission of Transforming Chaplaincy is to promote evidence-based spiritual care and integrate research into professional practice and education by fostering a culture of inquiry

Our mailing address is:​
Transforming Chaplaincy
Rush University Medical Center
Department of Religion, Health, and Human Values
1653 West Congress Parkway
Chicago, IL 60612