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The CPE program
Sacred Heart Medical Center was fully accredited for Level I/II CPE by
the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education in 2005. With our two experienced and respected supervisors, our hospital’s focus on the spirituality of healing, the integration of alternative and complimentary healers into the CPE program and the strong support of our hospital administration,
Sacred Heart offers the highest quality pastoral education. Our graduates leave our program well prepared to begin employment and service in health care, religious and other institutions.
 At Level I CPE students will learn about CPE and specialized ministry, make significant self-discoveries, take risks in initiating professional relationships, and identify their own strengths and weaknesses as spiritual care givers. At Level II CPE students will develop advanced skills related to pastoral reflection, formation, competence and specialization.
At both levels, students will work as part of an experienced and supportive team of board-certified chaplains and will have opportunities to learn from our team of music thanatologists, massage therapists, local clergy and lay ministers, musicians, artists, labyrinth guides … even
Tigger! CPE students will find warm welcome from physicians, nurses and professionals from other disciplines and will have many opportunities to care for a large number of people in a variety of crisis situations.
We offer units of CPE throughout the year. Our full-time single units begin in June, September,
December and March. Each full-time unit lasts eleven weeks. Program hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. Each CPE student provides on call coverage one evening and one night shift per week, and three weekend shifts per unit.
Our part-time or “extended” units begin in September and January. Each extended unit lasts approximately 20 weeks. Students must be able to spend one full day in classroom activities and an additional
12 hours engaged in caring for
patients. Each part-time student provides on-call coverage on ten evening and night shifts and
three weekend shifts per unit.
As above, students may enroll in one or multiple units.
Our yearlong residency includes four units of CPE, one of the requirements for certification as a Professional Chaplain. The curriculum of our Residency includes an introduction to Spiritual Care; Alternative and
Complementary Care; Multicultural and Interfaith Ministry; and Human Development/Organizational Development and Ethics/Professional Identity Development.
We offer a competitive support package to our residents that includes a stipend of approximately $20,000, some housing, free transportation and reduced tuition.
Thoughts from our graduates
What some of our graduates say about their experience of CPE at Sacred
Heart:
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Father Ken Olsen
Greek Catholic Church
2004 CPE graduate
Chaplain, Sacred Heart Medical Center
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When I started taking CPE, I was looking for something of an enhancement of pastoral
skills that I already possessed. I saw it, in anticipation, as just a little fine-tuning
to gear up to specializing in hospital work. What I encountered was a life-changing
experience that led me to a whole new understanding of God and my relationship with God. I
discovered a God of surprises who drew me into a Sacred moment and invites me to continue
seeing the profoundly sacral in every person I meet. CPE didn’t change my faith; it
released it. |
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Michael is a delightful director of the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at Sacred
Heart. He is full energy and ideas and brings insight and skill to the challenging CPE
program. The team of Michael and Janet highlights success, camaraderie and strength. It is
a real privilege to work with both of them. |
Rev. Dalesha Hall
Free Methodist Church
M.Div., George Fox Seminary, Portland
2005 CPE graduate
Chaplain, Hospice of Sacred Heart
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Micki Shirey
United Church of Christ
M.Div., Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass.
2004 CPE graduate
Chaplain, Sacred Heart Medical Center
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Among the many strengths of the CPE program at Sacred Heart is the clinical setting itself
and the strong integration of pastoral care as a part of overall patient care. I was
challenged continually as a chaplain intern to step into the already well developed role
for chaplains at Sacred Heart. Rev. Janet Hanson was a vital part of my personal and professional development during my
CPE experience. I deeply appreciate her ability to perceive the ways my practice of
ministry differed from my theology of ministry. She challenged me to integrate theory and
practice in ways that not only make be a better spiritual caregiver, but also help me
continue to grow in my ministry. |
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