About Us

The Department of Pastoral Services, as part of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is committed to the spiritual well being of patients, families, and staff; the preparation of professional and lay people who will serve the health needs of others; and the discovery of new knowledge about the interaction of spirituality and health. We seek to achieve this through:

Patient Care

• Meeting the spiritual needs of the patients and families who come to the Hershey Medical Center.

Education

• Training religious professionals and laity in the art of pastoral care
• Sensitizing medical professionals to the spiritual dimensions in a patient's life
• Consulting with patients, family, and staff about ethical issues

Community Outreach

• Offering continuing education programs for religious professionals and laity
• Arranging public lectures on topics of religion and health
• Offering educational videos for use in local religious communities
• Helping the religious community understand their role in health promotion and health care

Research

• Conduct research on the relationship between spirituality and health
• Publish articles on pastoral care