Education and Training

Clinical Pastoral Education

This summer, University Hospital became the sole Central New York site to offer a nationally accredited training program through the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). Rev. Culbertson, who recently completed a rigorous, five-year ACPE supervisory program to provide this training, welcomed six seminarians and clergy. Each spent 400 hours on University Hospital units and in the classroom, learning to care for the sick and suffering patient.

If you are interested in more information about the program, visit the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education website.

To apply for the training program, download the application and return the completed form to:
Spiritual Care Services
University Hospital
750 East Adams Street
Syracuse, NY 13210

Clergy Day

Date: June 11, 2009.
Topic: Let's Not Meetby Accident for Clergy: Trauma, Emergency Surgery, Organ Donation and the Role of Clergy
Registration: This program is FREE to the first 40 clergy who register on a first come, first served basis. Registration is by phone 24 hours a day through University Hospital's Health Connections at 315 464-8668.
Brochure: 17th Annual Rev. Jerry Shave Clergy Day

Clergy are often asked by their congregants to offer spiritual support during a trauma – many times in the middle of the night during difficult circumstances. This "hands-on" seminar will deepen your understanding of how an emergency department functions, what actually happens when a trauma occurs, and opportunities to be involved pastorally with issues of decision-making, organ donation, and family support. A special feature of this year's training will include a tour of Upstate's new East Tower scheduled to open this summer.

Grand Rounds

Spiritual Care Grand Rounds are held the first Wednesday of each month in room 5301 Weiskotten Hall. Check the Upstate Update for topics.

Medical School Initiative

For the first time this year, 154 first-year SUNY Upstate medical students are focusing more closely on the spiritual dimension, in a Practice of Medicine curriculum requirement that culminates with each student accompanying a chaplain on institutional rounds.

“We want the medical students to recognize that faith often plays a role in the healing process,” Rev. Culbertson explains, “and to understand that faith may be the patient’s greatest strength.”

Culbertson recruited 29 volunteer chaplain-mentors for the course (which is funded by a grant from the John D. Templeton Foundation). “One of our goals,” she confides, “is to have the chaplains available as a source of support for the students, because medical school can be very stressful.”