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Transforming Chaplaincy is one of the world’s leading programs in health and spiritual care research, with the mission to “promote evidence-based spiritual care and integrate research into professional practice and education by fostering a culture of inquiry.”
Transforming Chaplaincy is based in the Department of Religion, Health and Human Values at Rush University Medical Center and Rush University College of Health Sciences. Its beginnings date to the 1990s when Dr. George Fitchett established a ground-breaking program of research at Rush. In 2015, Dr. Fitchett and Rush partnered with Dr. Wendy Cadge and Brandeis University to co-found and co-lead Transforming Chaplaincy, a project funded by grants from the John Templeton Foundation and professional chaplaincy organizations, to advance chaplain research literacy and capacity for spiritual care research by supporting cohorts of chaplains in earning their research-focused master’s degrees among other initiatives. After the grant’s conclusion in 2019, Transforming Chaplaincy has continued to grow as a thriving center for chaplaincy research under George Fitchett’s leadership. In 2023, Csaba Szilagyi became the director of Transforming Chaplaincy and the director of research in Rush’s Department of Religion, Health and Human Values; George Fitchett is now Transforming Chaplaincy’s Senior Advisor.
At the heart of Transforming Chaplaincy’s mission and activities is leading impactful research. In 2022 and 2023, more than 40 research projects gained ground with support from Transforming Chaplaincy, spanning from large-scale studies to smaller initiatives by practicing chaplains. Though this number is impressive, many questions that require research to answer remain. “The importance of an evidence-based approach to spiritual care continues to grow, as does the interest in this work,” Dr. Fitchett said. Through mentoring, many projects created opportunities for chaplains to develop their research skills to advance spiritual care in their settings.
Our current research priorities are centered on enhancing spiritual care in palliative care, pediatrics, and cancer care, while also addressing equity and diversity issues in each area. Additional strategic efforts and advisory groups amplify the impact of our research to strengthen the practice and integration of spiritual care in these contexts.
Transforming Chaplaincy has grown to include numerous research networks and collaborators invested in research and educational activities that aim to advance evidence-based practice and research capacity among healthcare chaplains.
Nine research networks connect with 2,000+ members – chaplains, researchers, leaders, and interprofessional colleagues – seeking to generate and translate research into spiritual care practice in the following areas.
An evidence-based approach to care requires adequate training. To prepare chaplains to be more effective in their work and improve the quality of their spiritual care relationships, Transforming Chaplaincy offers specialized training programs, including the following:
A certificate program in Spiritual Care Management and Leadership is an exceptional resource for those aspiring to lead dynamic and effective spiritual care programs in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. This program, born from a unique partnership between the Rush Department of Health Systems Management and the Department of Religion, Health and Human Values, provides a comprehensive approach to the complex challenges of spiritual care leadership.
Additionally, Transforming Chaplaincy hosted or co-sponsored 42 webinars, with 5,800+ live attendees and 10,000+ recording views, in FY22 and FY23 to disseminate research to inform spiritual care practice.
As Szilagyi said, “Our shared commitment to evidence-based practice not only ensures the highest quality of care for patients but also promotes the continued growth and recognition of the chaplaincy profession as an integral part of healthcare delivery. Transforming Chaplaincy continues to pave the way for advancements in spiritual care research, practice, and education, ultimately improving individuals’ health outcomes and well-being.”
Chaplaincy—like any field in health care—is a specialty that requires research, which involves funding for personnel, equipment, and associated costs. With more work to be done to elevate the field of chaplaincy through research and evidence-based practice, philanthropic support is more critical than ever.
