Transforming Chaplaincy promotes evidence-based spiritual care and integrate research into professional practice and education by fostering a culture of inquiry
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Transforming Chaplaincy News - September 2026
Published about 21 hours ago • 4 min read
Connecting and Our Community
Many of us were saddened to learn of Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen’s death on August 8. Her New York Times bestseller, Kitchen Table Wisdom, has been translated into 21 languages and influenced many of us. In the foreword, Dr. Dean Ornish writes, "...in the telling of stories we also learn what makes us similar, what connects us all, what helps us transcend the isolation that separates us from each other and from ourselves" (1996, p. xv).
Transforming Chaplaincy advances spiritual care through research by sharing stories of how evidence informs our work. That progress depends on our connection with you. Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter and sharing it with your colleagues.
We’re also grateful to connect with you on LinkedIn, where we recently surpassed 5,000 followers. We appreciate your likes and reposts, and more than 3,000 of you belong to our free online research network. Joining this research network through our community platform takes just one minute with this link.
Dr. Ornish also wrote, "Stories are the language of community" (1996, p. xv). Thank you for being a vital part of this community and the stories we share together.
Ornish, D. (1996). Foreword. In Remen, R.N., Kitchen table wisdom: Stories that heal. Riverhead Books/Penguin Putnam.
Upcoming Webinars
Spiritual Assessment in Hospice Care, Introduction to the H-5 Tuesday, October 20, 12-1 PM (CDT)
(L-R: Stacey Morgan & Brie Kruger)
Hospice teams are required to assess and respond to the spiritual concerns of patients and families, yet standardized tools for spiritual assessment in hospice care remain limited. This webinar introduces the H-5 spiritual assessment model, adapted from the PC-7 (now PC-6) framework, to better identify spiritual concerns, relational resources, and severity of spiritual distress among hospice patients and their families. Drawing on feedback from interdisciplinary colleagues and hospice chaplains, the webinar will explore how using the H-5 model can support more consistent documentation, improve interdisciplinary communication, and strengthen the quality of spiritual care at the end of life.
Presenters: Sarah McEvoy, MDiv, JD, Clinical chaplain at York Hospital in York, Maine & Jacqueline Cook, BCC, NCCDP, Clinical Chaplain at Messiah Lifeways (CCRC) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Respondent: Fatima Ali Naqvi, MD, Assistant Professor at George Washington University, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine.
(L-R: Tricia Bosma, Dr. George Fitchett, Angelika Zollfrank)
Congratulations to these Transforming Chaplaincy authors with the following publications: Sarah McEvoy, Co-convener, Elder Care Research Network (pictured above); Tricia Bosma, GERO-6 short course instructor; Jacqueline Cook, GERO-6 short course instructor (pictured above); Dr. George Fitchett, Senior Advisor; and Angelika Zollfrank, Convener, Chaplaincy and Mental Healthcare Research Network.
Development of the GERO-6, a Quantifiable Assessment of Spiritual Concerns of Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care
Developed by a team of long-term care chaplains from the Elder Care Research Network of Transforming Chaplaincy, the GERO-6 provides a standardized, quantifiable framework for assessing the spiritual concerns of older adults in long-term care and communicating those concerns within the interdisciplinary team.
The publication represents an important step in building the evidence base for spiritual assessment and chaplaincy practice in long-term care.
McEvoy, S. A., Bosma, T., Cook, J., Harris, D., Jarchow, S., Johnson, S., Mokos, B., Shaw, C., & Fitchett, G. (2026). Development of the GERO-6, a quantifiable assessment of spiritual concerns of older adults living in long-term care. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 27(10), 106437. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2026.106437
The Original "Yes"
A perspective article published as part of JAMA's Piece of My Mind series.
Health Care - Our Moral Imperative & Sacred Dignity Wednesday, October 7, 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM (CST)
Two presentations examining how deep listening, authentic presence, improvisation, and compassionate engagement with differing perspectives cultivate healing, strengthen relationships, and honor the sacred dignity of patients, families, and colleagues.
Whether through the improvisational attentiveness of jazz or the intentional practice of conflict mediation, both sessions underscore a commitment to preserving sacred dignity, promoting healing relationships, and creating compassionate communities of care.
If you are interested in becoming a Supporting Partner with Transforming Chaplaincy, please contact Cate Beaulieu-Desjardins, TC's Assistant Director of Research Development, at caitlin_m_desjardins@rush.edu.
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Transforming Chaplaincy: Advancing Spiritual Care Through Research Vision: We envision a future when chaplaincy is formed, informed, and transformed by evidence-based practice 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
Transforming Chaplaincy promotes evidence-based spiritual care and integrate research into professional practice and education by fostering a culture of inquiry
Connecting and Our Community Many of us were saddened to learn of Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen’s death on August 8. Her New York Times bestseller, Kitchen Table Wisdom, has been translated into 21 languages and influenced many of us. In the foreword, Dr. Dean Ornish writes, "...in the telling of stories we also learn what makes us similar, what connects us all, what helps us transcend the isolation that separates us from each other and from ourselves" (1996, p. xv). Transforming Chaplaincy advances...
Our Upcoming Webinars Clarifying What Chaplains Need to Know and Do: An Evidence-Based Competency FrameworkTuesday, September 15, 12-1:15 PM (CDT) (L-R: Drs. Keefe-Perry, Moon & Washington) Professional chaplaincy is a complex, relational field with fragmented competency standards, creating challenges for education, certification, and curricular alignment. This webinar presents the Center for Chaplaincy Studies Competencies, a validated cross-sector framework of 36 competencies that offers...
Our Upcoming Webinars Clarifying What Chaplains Need to Know and Do: An Evidence-Based Competency FrameworkTuesday, September 15, 12-1:15 PM (CDT) (L-R: Drs. Keefe-Perry, Moon & Washington) Professional chaplaincy is a complex, relational field with fragmented competency standards, creating challenges for education, certification, and curricular alignment. This webinar presents the Center for Chaplaincy Studies Competencies, a validated cross-sector framework of 36 competencies that offers...
