Hamilton Medical Center’s Clinical Pastoral Education Program
Helps to Train Healthcare Chaplains Across the U.S.
(l/r) Ken Waddell, Cathy Meyer, Jeff Heffelfinger, Polly Robb, Earnest Renfroe, Darryl Ellis, Luke Morgan, Elizabeth Farr, and Tim Reid
With 30 years of experience serving as
both a chaplain and ordained member
of the clergy, Reverend Ken Waddell is
very familiar with the responsibilities
of a minister. “Not only do members
of the clergy preach, teach, pray, and
lead ministry programs and activities,
pastors also devote considerable time
and energy to caring for members of
their congregation,” says Ken. As the
full-time Coordinator of Pastoral Care
for Hamilton Medical Center, Ken also
understands the unique challenges in
the ministry of healthcare. He believes
that an important part of his chaplaincy
includes the extension of compassionate
pastoral counseling in times of unexpected
medical events.
Ken attributes the specialized training
he received to become a chaplain as
deepening his insight for ministering
within a healthcare facility. “Chaplains
are trained to serve people from all
walks of life, from all religious belief
systems, and denominations,” says Ken.
“Often, during a health crisis, people
are in need of supportive listening and
emotional support. Clinical Pastoral
Education helps members of the clergy
provide compassionate care to patients
and their families during very vulnerable
moments in their lives.”
Ken’s experience in both the sanctuary and
the surgical waiting room motivated him to
become a diplomate through the College of
Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy and
most recently to begin a Clinical Pastoral
Education training program at Hamilton
Medical Center. The program was initially
funded by LaFayette Presbyterian Church
and is now supported through Hamilton.
“Clergy from more than 15 different faith
groups have now participated in Hamilton’s
Clinical Pastoral Education program,
including those from local congregations
and from as far away as California and
Texas,” says Ken.
The Clinical Pastoral Training program
has provided the opportunity for chaplain
interns to help bring comfort and support
to patients and their families while they
are in the hospital. In turn, Hamilton
provides a multidisciplinary oversight
panel to the program, known as the
Professional Advisory Committee. “The
purpose of the Professional Advisory
Committee is to assist Ken with the
development and coordination of the Clinical
Pastoral Education training and to ensure
that our training complies with the College
of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy,”
explains Jeff Heffelfinger, Oncology
Service Line Administrator for Hamilton
Cancer Institute, who also facilitates the
Professional Advisory Committee. “This
innovative program brings inherent value to
our medical team and assists us in meeting
the needs of our patients and their families.
The members of our Professional Advisory
Committee represent a cross-section of
disciplines in the medical field, each lending
their unique perspective and ensuring
that we not only meet the medical needs
of our patients, but support their spiritual,
emotional, social, and psychological needs
as well.”
Hamilton Medical Center
Clinical Pastoral
Education Training Program
kwaddell@hhcs.org
1200 Memorial Drive
Dalton, Georgia
14 15
