Careers at UHN

Departmental Profiles

Allied Health - Chaplaincy

The chaplains at UHN function as a collaborative team, valuing interaction and communication as a basis for decision making. All members of this team come from various religious denominations and provide ministry to all patients respecting their spirituality and/or faith traditions. UHN Chaplaincy Services have been accredited by the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education.

UHN is actively involved in pastoral education (care and counseling), with a large number of students in residency at UHN throughout the year. Clinical Pastoral care is delivered through the Toronto Institute for Pastoral Education. Persons interested in learning more about the educational offerings should contact the Institute Business Manager, Doris Bradley, at (416) 595-0079, doris.bradley@utoronto.ca.

Pastoral Care Educational Opportunities at UHN

1. Residency in Clinical Pastoral Education
Bursaries are available for four residents in a 12 month program in Clinical Pastoral Education at Toronto General Hospital. These candidates for chaplaincy ministry usually have an undergraduate degree and a Masters of Divinity degree. Placement at UHN is for one year as student chaplains under a Supervisor certified in Clinical Pastoral Education with the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education. These students complete both basic and advanced CPE which is a requirement for certification as a Specialist in Pastoral Care, Health Care or Institutional Ministry, the required education for obtaining a position as a chaplain in an institution.

2. Basic Clinical Pastoral Education
Two basic units (twelve weeks) of Clinical Pastoral Education are offered at Toronto Western Hospital, an intensive unit during May, June and July each year and an extended unit from September to March annually. Many of these students are considering entrance into a residency program to become chaplains, or they are students at the Toronto School of Theology preparing for ministry with their respective faith groups in parishes, mosques, temples or synagogues. They work as chaplains on nursing units throughout the hospital and do day and overnight on call for UHN.

3. Field Education Programs
Four to six students from the Toronto School of Theology come to the Toronto Western Hospital
one day a week each semester to fulfill requirement in Field Education. These students work under the supervision of a chaplain and follow a program of instruction. This provides them with an introduction to caring for the spiritual and religious needs of people with severe illness.

Qualifications

• Chaplain Masters of Divinity Degree
• Certification with the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education as a Specialist in Pastoral Care, Health Care or Institutional Ministry

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