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For Patients & Families

Chaplaincy Volunteers

  • Chaplain associate volunteers are an essential service within the Center for Spiritual Care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, providing spiritual and religious support to patients, families, and staff. Cancer can be a challenging and demanding experience, and chaplain associate volunteers — along with staff chaplains — are an integral part of the health care team offering spiritual care.

    Chaplain Associates assist patients and families in addressing many needs by the following:

    • Respecting a person’s beliefs, regardless of religious or spiritual identity.
    • Offering a caring, compassionate, and non-judgmental listening presence.
    • Assisting in exploring hope, meaning, and purpose.
    • Offering prayer and spiritual and religious rituals when desired.
    • Obtaining spiritual and religious materials and resources.
    • Making referrals to staff chaplains.
    • Contacting community clergy when requested.
    • Assisting in chapel services.

    Application and requirements

    The position requires:

    • Undergraduate degree in religious, spiritual care, health care studies or other related field, or a master’s degree in divinity or theological studies.
    • Letter of good standing from a faith community.
    • Chaplaincy internship, clinical pastoral education, or related spiritual care hospital experience. (If not, additional chaplaincy training may be available in the program.)
    • Ability to offer spiritual care to people of all religious faith and no faith traditions, gender, sexual orientation, race, and ethnic backgrounds.
    • Complete the Dana-Farber Chaplain Associate Training Program.
    • Available 4-12 hours per week, with a minimum six-month commitment.
    • Excellent interpersonal and computer skills.
    • Meet health, safety, and background checks.

    To begin the application process, download the Chaplain Associate Volunteer application and send with resume and letter of good standing to dfcispiritualcare@dfci.harvard.edu. For more information call 617-632-3908 or the Volunteer Department at 617-632-3307, volunteerservices@dfci.harvard.edu.