Clinical Pastoral Education
Program Overview
With a history of more than 40 years, the accredited Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) program is well integrated into the life and mission of UNC Hospitals. CPE students are considered valued members of the interdisciplinary patient care teams, and are called upon regularly by the hospital staff to assist in patient care. It is common for CPE students to be invited to family meetings and/or ethics consultations.
CPE students work alongside staff chaplains within a large, Pastoral Care Department. Staff chaplains supply consultation and back-up to CPE students. CPE students participate in regularly scheduled departmental meetings, department committees, and educational events.
The CPE program at UNC Hospitals takes advantage of resources throughout UNC Healthcare system, including UNC Schools of Medicine and Nursing. Students can attend lectures on a variety of issues including medical ethics, theology and humanities in medicine.
Each unit of CPE consists of at least 400 hours of training, 100 of which are spent in group and individual supervision. The curriculum is based on the clinical method of learning, utilizing information from the actual practice of ministry as the content for reflection.
Group work involves:
- Student presentations of pastoral visits
- Interdisciplinary presentations of conceptual material relating to ministry
- Reflection upon interpersonal relationships and group dynamics
- Integration of theological doctrine with pastoral encounters
In addition, students have the opportunity to specify individual learning goals. The student group consists of four to six participants for each program. An effort is made to convene a group that represents diversity, e.g. gender, ethnic, age, theological, etc. Clinical assignments are available in a variety of services including:
- Burn
- Neuroscience
- Labor and Delivery
- Oncology
- Psychiatry
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- General Medicine
- Emergency
- Surgery
Summer Program
Designed primarily for seminary students, this full-time, 11 week program (Level I), begins the Wednesday after Memorial Day and ends in early August. Each student is assigned to beds in three to four patient units (including part of an intensive care unit) and is responsible for seven 24-hour on-call rotations.
The students Also are responsible for leading one Sunday Worship service in the John M. Reeves All-Faiths Chapel. Tuition for the program is $400. Prerequisites include a college degree and some theological education or training. Stipend: $1500.
Fall and Spring Programs
The Fall programs begins in late August and runs for 15 weeks ending in early December. The Spring program begins in mid-January and runs for 15 weeks ending in late April. These programs meet as a group three times per week for a total of six hours and require an additional 15.5 hours of pastoral visitation. The student’s schedule for pastoral care hours are negotiated with the supervisor. Seven periods of 24-hour on-call coverage at UNC Hospitals are also required. Each student will lead two Sunday Worship Services in the John M. Reeves All- Faiths Chapel. Tuition for these programs is $400; Stipend: $1500.
Residency Program
This twelve-month, full-time program of three units (Levels I and II), is offered for clergy and lay persons interested in specialization in pastoral care or preparation for professional chaplaincy. The residency program begins July 1 and concludes June 30. Students have the opportunity to enjoy 32 days of paid time off (includes sick days and holidays). Students are assigned to up to 6 patient units in the hospital and are part of the rotation for 24-hour on-call duty during the residency year. The stipend is $28,000; tuition is $800 for the year. Basic medical insurance is available for a small fee. Prerequisites include a college degree, theological education or training (Master of Divinity preferred) and completion of one unit of CPE.
Supervisors
The Rev. Dr. Wayne Robinson is an ordained Baptist Minister. He has a M. Div. and Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Rev. Patricia McElroy is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She has a M. Div. from Yale Divinity School and a J.D. from Temple University. Each supervisor is certified by The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
Application Process
Individuals applying for all CPE programs should use the UNC Healthcare CPE application form (a $25 application fee payable to UNC Hospitals is required). Click on the button in the upper right of this page to open and print a program description, application and instructions. The form cannot be completed online. The application is in Adobe PDF format, so you will need the Adobe Reader to access it.
Interviews will begin in late November of this year and extend into February 2011. Decisions will be made in early February. The interview process will allow the candidate time with an individual staff member, the staff as a group, and a current resident.
Please mail your application by December 30, 2010. Include your individual and supervisor’s evaluation from your prior unit of CPE. We are pleased that you are interested in pursuing CPE in our institution. We look forward to receiving your application. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Accreditation
The UNC Healthcare Department of Pastoral Care CPE program is fully accredited by:
The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
1549 Clairmont Rd., Suite 103
Decatur, GA 30033.
Telephone: (404)320-1472
Website: www.acpe.edu
Contact Information
Inquiries and Applications:Summer, Spring and Fall Part-time, Residency:
The Rev. Dr. Wayne Robinson
Department of Pastoral Care
UNC Hospitals
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (919) 966-4022
Fax: (919) 843-0330
Email: wrobinso@unch.unc.edu
.jpg)