Angels in Training at Banner Thunderbird

GLENDALE, Ariz. (June 1, 2009) – They may not have wings or halos but four chaplain interns at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center will embark on one of the most emotional and spiritual journeys of their lives this month as they minister to the sick and hurting at the busy Glendale hospital.

As part of non-profit Banner Thunderbird’s Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program, a 10-week summer session, the interns not only participate in classroom learning but they serve as chaplains where needed: at the patient bedside, in waiting areas and in the hospital’s chapel.  The session includes 100 hours of education and 300 hours of hands on ministry with patients and their loved ones.

Participating in this unit of CPE is a Catholic priest from Sun City West, a seminary student from Glendale, a Ukrainian Byzantine priest from Phoenix, and an Episcopal deacon from Surprise.

The CPE program is offered to people of all denominations and is an opportunity to prepare for ministries and continue education. The program provides a valuable resource to the community by furthering the experience and education of religious leaders and also through providing spiritual care to those in the hospital.

The summer session begins June 8 and runs through Aug. 14. The interns work a shift from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. during the week while others work evening hours and take calls overnight.

About Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, part of Banner Health—a nonprofit health system with 22 hospitals throughout the West—is a 409-bed acute-care hospital featuring a behavioral health center, children’s center and dedicated outpatient center.