Institutional Context

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington is a 146-bed medical care facility with more than 500 physicians representing 38 medical specialties. Good Shepherd Hospital provides advanced cardiac services, including diagnostic and interventional catheterizations and open-heart surgery in our Wayne and Patricia Kocourek Family Cardiac Care Center.

Population Served

The communities are largely-Euro-American with a growing Spanish-speaking population. It is a state-designated Level II Trauma Center with a designated pediatric treatment area and Illinois state EDAP (Emergency Departments Approved for Pediatrics) designation. Good Shepherd is a Level II “Plus” birthing center with a special care nursery and neonatalogists on site 24 hours a day. It has a nationally accredited cancer program that has been designated as a “Comprehensive, Community Cancer Program” by the American College of Surgeons.

Description of Pastoral Care Department

The Department of Mission and Spiritual Care consists of the vice-president, one ACPE associate supervisor and 3 staff chaplains, several on call chaplains who represent diverse faith groups and a part time secretary. The department supports, develops and endorses the Eucharistic ministers, patient welcome volunteers and participates and sponsors community activities.

Unique Educational Elements

Each year Good Shepherd Hospital offers an extended unit, which begins in October, and runs for 6 months. The class is small and meets once a week at the hospital (usually Tuesdays) from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. In addition to the class time, each student must perform 7 hours of clinical time in any area of the hospital. All students develop an atmosphere of openness and work closely as a team as they respond to requests for a chaplain by staff, patients and families throughout the hospital. Each student meets on bi-weekly basis with the supervisor who evaluates their progress and responds to their individual concerns. Summer Intensive unit runs from the day after Memorial Day until the second week of August.

Pertinent Information for Applicants

A non-refundable deposit, applicable to tuition, is required to hold a place when the applicant is offered a position.

Students may not begin a program until they have complied with the mandated criminal record background check, drug screen and health clearance, which includes a 2-step TB test and a Respiratory Mask FIT test.

There is no stipend. There is no housing.

For More Information...

Rev. Moses Oladele Taiwo
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
450 West Highway 22
Barrington, IL 60010
847.381.9600, Ext. 26-5364
moses.taiwo@advocatehealth.com