Clinical Pastoral Education

A leading training center for health care chaplains

Founded and maintained as a faith-based organization, HealthEast Care System understands its mission of providing health care as a calling to offer compassionate service in this world. Chaplains symbolize and sustain this heritage and identity.

As a part of HealthEast's Spiritual Care department, residents function as members of the chaplaincy staff. They are an integral part of the interdisciplinary care provided throughout HealthEast.

HealthEast provides a unique and rich environment in which to learn Spiritual Care. A variety of settings give students the opportunity to have diverse experiences and tailor their clinical training to individual learning needs. Find out more about HealthEast.

Facilities and services where students may serve include:

Students are assigned to a facility or service and function as a chaplain at that location. Each student works alongside a staff chaplain who serves as a mentor for clinical ministry. Each student also regularly leads worship at a HealthEast facility and participates in the Spiritual Care department's on-call system. Through this structure students experience the breadth and depth of ministry as a chaplain.

Students meet regularly as a group to review case studies, discuss issues of practical theology, critique each other's pastoral work and hear didactic presentations. Written accounts of pastoral visits and reflection papers on significant experiences are the focus of these seminars and individual supervisory sessions.

A track record of excellence

A track record of excellence marks the CPE Program at HealthEast:

100% of surveyed graduates indicated they would recommend CPE at HealthEast to others and take another unit themselves if the opportunity arose.
75% of the past three residency graduating classes have found employment as chaplains within six months of completing the program.
100% of graduates surveyed in 2006 rated program components, such as weekly reflection and self-directed learning, as "excellent" or "very good."
A recent accreditation review noted the program's excellence in addressing educational standards and curriculum.

Calendar

Residency year:

August 29, 2008 through August 28, 2009
The program is conducted by HealthEast's supervisory staff.
Learn more about residency positions (pdf).

Extended units:

Fall 2007 through spring 2008 is full.
Please call 651-232-2060 to be put on a waiting list.
Learn more about the extended unit program (pdf).
March through July 2008 (for parish nurses)
Rev. Allen Dundek, Supervisor
Learn more about the parish nurse extended unit (pdf).

Tuition is $750 per unit. A surcharge applies for non-HealthEast clinical assignments.

To apply

There is no charge to apply and interview for a CPE unit offered by HealthEast. Applications are considered as they are received. A $250 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of acceptance into a program. Click for an application (pdf).

Send completed applications to:

Cindy Rudh, CPE Registrar
Spiritual Care Department
559 Capitol Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55103

For additional information or application forms, call the CPE registrar at 651-232-2060 or send an e-mail.

To view our brochure, click here (pdf).

Supervisory staff

The Rev. Scott W. Hinrichs
Vice President of Spiritual Care and Mission
Send an e-mail

The Rev. Allen J. Dundek
System Director for Clinical Pastoral Education
Midway Campus
Send an e-mail

The Rev. Nancy R. Wigdahl
System Director for Spiritual Care
Bethesda Hospital
Send an e-mail

HealthEast is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.

About St. Paul

St. Paul, Minnesota’s capital city, has been called the last of the eastern cities, with a strong European influence, deep historic roots, friendly people and superior educational systems.
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