Meet the Spiritual Care & Education Team
At BIDMC, we are committed to providing holistic care that honors your unique spiritual journey.
Spiritual Care
Spiritual and religious support for patients and families
Interfaith Spiritual Care at BIDMC
At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), we recognize that emotional and spiritual well-being are integral to healing and recovery. Our chaplains offer interfaith, culturally inclusive spiritual and religious support to patients and their loved ones, as well as staff. Whether you’re seeking comfort during a challenging time, exploring questions of meaning or simply looking for a moment of reflection, our chaplains are here to help.
What is Spiritual Care?
Spiritual care, also known as pastoral care, focuses on addressing the emotional, spiritual and existential needs that often accompany illness, injury or significant life changes. Chaplains help patients and their families connect to their sources of hope and meaning during the hospital stay. We serve individuals of all faiths, spiritualities and those who identify as non-religious.
Chaplains strive to honor the beliefs, cultures and worldviews of those we serve. We recognize the inherent dignity of all and advocate for the religious and cultural needs of patients, their loved ones and staff.
What Services Are Available?
Our chaplains provide support by:
- Offering prayers, blessings, meditation, and sacramental care (including Communion and Sacrament of the Sick).
- Facilitating religious observances, spiritual practices, and ritual needs.
- Providing grief support and end-of-life rituals
- Providing support around decision-making
How Do I Access Spiritual Care Services?
You can request a chaplain by:
- Asking your nurse or care team to contact the Spiritual Care department.
- Calling us directly at 617-667-3030.
More About Spiritual Care
Interfaith Places of Worship
BIDMC provides two interfaith chapels:
- Dooley Chapel (West Campus)
- Wolfson Chapel (East Campus)
Each chapel is open 24/7 and has sacred texts from a variety of traditions. During important religious holidays, religion-specific symbols may be displayed in the chapels for a limited period of time.
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
At BIDMC, we are dedicated to training the next generation of chaplains through our Clinical Pastoral Education program. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is graduate-level professional interfaith training for spiritual care providers, religious/spiritual leaders, and those exploring the career of chaplaincy. CPE learning combines hands-on clinical training with reflection, feedback, small group work, didactics, and individual supervision with our ACPE Certified Educator.
