Category: The Hospice Chaplaincy Show

Katy Butler is also a thought leader in the national movement for medical reform.  A popular speaker on doctor-patient communication and the choices families face near the end of life, Katy has given keynotes and Grand Rounds at Harvard Medical School, Kaiser Permanente, UCSF, and elsewhere. 

Born in South Africa and raised in Oxford, England, Katy came to America as a girl, earned a BA from Wesleyan University, and was a staff reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker; Mother Jones; Scientific American,Atlantic,, Tricycle, Psychotherapy Networker; Best American Essays, and Best American Science Writing.

Chaplains spend thousands of hours perfecting skills that many people assume come naturally: sitting and listening. They become masters of the ministry of presence, bringing the same professionalism to spiritual care that doctors bring to surgery. In today’s episode, we talk to our guests about Presence, Self-care, and Holistic practices in chaplaincy. On the job, Hospice chaplains have no scripts to follow or party tricks to employ. They learn to meet tragedy with humility and an open mind.

In today’s episode we are joined by three members of the spiritual care department of Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst, IL to talk about Hospital ministry during COVID-19. Our guest for this episode are;

1. Don Dahlheimer- Spiritual Care Manager
2. Curtis Baxter- CPE Supervisor
3. Marie Conlin- CPE student

James has had a remarkable journey from his humble upbringing in New York to serving in the United States military. It was during his military service that he sensed a call to ministry. With a strong support from his wife and children, he was able to pursue both his education and call to ministry. He is now serving as the Lead Chaplain with Palladium Hospice and Palliative care. You can find some of his writing here; https://charlesparker6.academia.edu/

As a music therapist Jen utilizes music in clinical settings for healing, building connections, and as a tool to walk with others through struggles and change. She brings healing music to patients and clients in geriatrics, hospice, mental health, and educational settings. Within the medical setting Jen incorporates music therapy into the plan of care to address issues of pain reduction, depression, anxiety, loss of control, quality of life, spiritual support and a host of other needs. She utilizes songwriting and improvisation heavily in her practice with both patients and families. You can find more about Jen Conley here; https://jenconleymusic.com/

Over the past week, the obituary pages of area newspapers have become a haunting litany of “memorial service to be held at a later date,” “no services,” and “services canceled due to COVID-19.” To be sure, this is our new normal, but for funeral directors dealing with the day-to-day business of life and death, the coronavirus and social distancing era has changed the way they help people grieve, and how funeral homes host celebrations of life. 

The lack of widespread screening means the coronavirus may well be present in countless hospital wards without anyone realizing it. Accordingly, many emergency-room workers are now behaving as if they’re already infected and separating from their families. One ER doctor said he has been sleeping in the guest bedroom for weeks. Other doctors have sent their families off to stay at second homes. 

The majority of workers who keep America’s hospitals running don’t have the salary to afford extra bedrooms, much less extra properties. For technicians, respiratory therapists, social workers, chaplains, first responders, cleaning staff, and many others, doing their job is an act of moral complexity. Without enough PPE, they’re putting their own health at risk every time they report for duty, as well as that of their families. With that we say, thank you for your service!

Saul Ebema got his bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Baptist Convention College in Soweto. He then got a Presidential Scholarship from Northern Seminary where he was able to complete his Masters in Divinity and Doctorate in Ministry.

Cassandra is the co-founder of On Purpose Consulting Group; a nonprofit designed to help women live their lives on purpose, for purpose, and with purpose.  She focuses on leadership strategy, coaching, content, and community. For over 12 years, she has also been working as a nurse. Serving in different fields including; oncology, ER, and Home Care.  Cassandra is passionate about helping those who help others to understand the cost of caring and how to effectively combat fatigue. 

Storm has a unique background that includes 25+ years of bringing music to persons in need through her work in a community music school, special education classrooms, physical and mental health hospitals, hospice and elder care facilities.  Her Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Therapy are from Western Michigan University.  She is a regular speaker on the topic of music therapy in university classrooms, regional, and national conferences.