Banner Thunderbird Medical Center CPE Program

Banner Thunderbird Medical Center serves the rapidly growing Northwest area of metro Phoenix, including the city of Glendale.

The hospital offers excellent programs in emergency services, pediatrics, medical/surgical, orthopedics, cardiac and behavioral health.

As a satellite site of Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center's CPE program, Banner Thunderbird offers two extended units per year and one full-time summer unit. Each unit requires 100 hours of group educational time and 300 hours of clinical practice time with patients and families. 

In the Part-Time Extended Units, students meet one day per week for group training time. Students are expected to spend the remaining hours in clinical practice on assigned floors and in on-call rotation. Time in the hospital per week averages 20 hours for approximately five months.

During the summer, Banner Thunderbird runs a fulltime CPE Unit that is 12 weeks long. Students meet three mornings per week in group training and process and spend the remaining time in clinical practice on assigned floors and in on-call rotation. The unit is based on a 40 hours per week schedule.

All CPE units at Banner Thunderbird involve participation in the on-call shift rotation, including night shifts.

In the Fall 2011, Rev. Dr. Alfred Merwald, ACPE Supervisor, joined the Spiritual Care department and is currently supervising two Extended Level I and Level II CPE units and one Summer intensive CPE unit for 2012-2013.

For further information about future units and dates, and for application, contact the Spiritual Care Departments at Banner Thunderbird at 602-865-6072, or at Banner Good Sam at 602-839-4324.

CPE Students' Testimonials:

"CPE has been and continues to be about how my experiences have shaped and continue to shape me and my ministry."

"I have grown in my own pastoral authority, of myself, and how I minister to others"