The initial Transforming Chaplaincy Fellowship Program supports sixteen Chaplain Research Fellows across two staggered cohorts to complete two-year, research-focused Master of Science or Master of Public Health degrees in epidemiology, biostatistics, or public health at accredited schools. The Fellowships cover all tuition and associated fees as well as a yearly stipend, research funds, and support to attend program conferences. The Cohort 1 Kickoff Conference July 2016 in Chicago included the first group of 8 Fellows, the Transforming Chaplaincy Leadership and Advisory Committees, and our John Templeton Foundation Program Officer. It oriented Fellows to the program, chaplaincy research, and graduate-level studies. A similar Kickoff Conference took place in Chicago in July 2017.
Cohort 1
The Rev. Marilyn JD Barnes, MA, BCC
MPH, Epidemiology, Chicago School of Public Health Division of Epidemiology
Senior Staff Chaplain, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
The Rev. John Michael Betz, MDiv, BCC, CT
MPH, Biostatistics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Airborne Chaplain, US Army Reserves
Allison Delaney, MA, BCC, PT
MPH, Epidemiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Tim Ford, MA, MS
MPH, Epidemiology, Virginia Commonwealth University
Faculty Researcher and Instructor, VCU Health System, Richmond, Virginia
Rev. Patricia K. Palmer, MDiv, BCC
MS, Public Health, Rollings School of Public Health
Spiritual Health Oncology Fellow, Emory University Hospital
Rev. Geila Rajaee, MDiv, BCC
MPH, Health Behavior and Education, University of Michigan
Manager of Spiritual Care, Mount Carmel Health, Columbus, Ohio
Beba Tata, MDiv, MS, BCC
MPH, Community Health Promotion, University of Minnesota
Chaplain, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Rev. Kelsey Blankenship White, MDiv, BCC
MSc, Clinical Investigational Sciences, University of Louisville
Chaplain, Norton Healthcare, Louisville, Kentucky
Cohort 2
The Rev. Marta Dabis, MS, MBA, PBCC
MPH, University of Michigan School of Public Health
Chaplain, St. Joseph Mercy Health
Cate Desjardins, MDiv
MPH, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Chaplain Research Fellow, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Paul Galchutt
MPH, Community Health Promotion, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Inpatient Palliative and Staff Chaplain, University of Minnesota Health
Kristin Godlin, MDiv, STM, BCC
MPH, University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne
Chaplain, Carle Foundation Hospital and Presence Covenant Medical Center
Rev. Dirk Labuschagne, MDiv
MPH, Epidemiology, University of Illinois at Chicago
Registry Chaplain, Rush Oak Park Hospital
Saneta Maiko, PhD
MS Clinical Research, Indiana University
John Templeton Research Fellow, Indiana University School of Medicine
Shelley Varner-Perez, MDiv, BCC
MPH, Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University and Portland State University
Clinical Staff Chaplain, VA Portland Health Care System
Rev. Petra Wahnefried, MDiv
MPH, Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina
PRN, Carolinas Health System
Affiliate Fellow
Tim Usset
MPH, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Chaplain, US Army Reserve