About Spiritual Care at Massachusetts General Hospital

The Spiritual Care Department upholds the definition of spirituality used in our field, which is “…the dynamic aspect of human life that relates to the way persons (individuals and community) experience, express and/or seek meaning, purpose and transcendence and the way they connect to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, to the significant and/or the sacred. Spirituality is expressed through beliefs, values, traditions and practices.” (Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2014.)

We welcome and include all people, and work in collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team. Our Spiritual Care Providers (SCPs) are assigned to specific units throughout the hospital, where we respond to referrals and visit most patients and families needing spiritual support. Frequent situations to which we are called include patients, families or staff grappling with moral distress; patients and families facing a new diagnosis; having to decide on treatment options; looking to change their goals of care from curative to palliative; and needing to explore their end-of-life concerns and ethical issues.

Our Team of Full-Time Chaplains

Chaplain Alex Baskin, MDiv, BCC, Spiritual Care Provider – Oncology and Transplant

Rev. Carlos de Pina, BCC, Spiritual Care Provider – Critical Care

Rev. Erica Long, MDiv, BCC, Team Lead and Clinical Specialist – Neurology and Psychiatry

Chaplain Catherine Mikula, MDiv, Spiritual Care Provider – Critical Care

Chaplain Maryclare O’Brien-Wilson, MDiv, BCC, Spiritual Care Provider – Pediatrics

Father Elias Ojomah, MA, Spiritual Care Provider and Roman Catholic Priest

Chaplain Jeff Shackleton, OFM, BCC, Spiritual Care Provider – Emergency Medicine

Working alongside us are Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residents and per diem chaplains/priests, including Father Ron Golini, Father Xavier Arulraj, Bill Crane, and Taylor Mish.