When Calvin Bradley Jr. walks into a hospital room, he’s not thinking about medical charts or machinery. He’s thinking about the child in front of him — and what that child needs most in that moment. Sometimes, it’s reassurance. Sometimes, it’s a prayer. And sometimes, it’s as simple as a sweet treat.

“I want to make sure the voice of the child is heard,” Bradley said. “Sometimes, everybody is racking their brains over treatment, and the only thing the child wants at that moment is a popsicle.”

That belief – that children’s needs, both spoken and unspoken, deserve to guide care – has shaped Bradley’s career and his life. Since 2015, he has dedicated himself to pediatric chaplaincy, always seeking to make hospital spaces feel a little less intimidating and a lot more human for young patients.

Oftentimes, he said, pediatric training for chaplains is overlooked. In his clinical ethics courses at VCU, he makes sure students gain real-world insight into the unique challenges and needs of children in medical settings.

“I teach pediatric cases that I’ve worked through, not just read about,” Bradley said, “which makes it a different experience for students.”

Today, Bradley serves as pediatric chaplain at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, director of education for VCU’s Department of Patient Counseling, and assistant professor of clinical ethics in VCU’s Ph.D. Program in Health Related Sciences. In his director of education role, he manages all department programs, including a summer internship program for aspiring chaplains and a continuing education program for spiritual care companions.

Becoming a chaplain, Bradley explains, is a long and intentional journey: a college degree, seminary or divinity studies, residency and board certification. Chaplains go on to serve in various settings, from corporations to the U.S. armed forces, and hospitals across the United States. 

Bradley’s own path began at East Carolina University (ECU) where he earned bachelor’s degrees in rehabilitation studies and religious studies, along with a graduate certificate in global understanding. He went on to complete a master’s degree in divinity from Campbell University Divinity School and a master’s degree in global and international education with a concentration in peace studies from Drexel University. 

His first role as a chaplain was at ECU’s Maynard Children's Hospital, where he joined the Pediatric Chaplains Network (PCN) in 2018. In 2023, he was elected to a six-year presidential leadership role with the nonprofit, which connects pediatric chaplains nationwide and equips them with resources and training. The role is two-year terms as president-elect, president and immediate past president. Bradley recently stepped into the presidency and is already focused on the future.

“I want members to feel like this is their organization and make sure I’m positioning the Pediatric Chaplains Network for the future that lies ahead,” he said. “It’s humbling.”

So far, he has led efforts to digitize and modernize PCN’s day-to-day processes and planned its 30-year anniversary conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Membership now stands at 200 and continues to grow. 

“We’re growing up as an organization,” Bradley said. “So to be a leader at this time is really significant and impactful.” 

True to his philosophy, Bradley wants every member’s voice to be heard.

“The way that I like to lead is to have everybody's voice heard at the table,” he said. 

That focus on connection is at the heart of PCN’s mission. Since its founding in 1995, the network has worked to ensure pediatric chaplains – who often are placed in children's hospitals with little specialized support – have a community and the training they need. Bradley plans to expand virtual education, continue building membership and develop a strategic plan to build the organization’s next chapter.

His own calling to serve started early. Growing up in a rural community, helping neighbors was simply part of life, and that ethic still shapes his approach to care.

“In rural areas, we’re taught to be in service of one another, and that’s something that has shaped me profoundly,” Bradley said.

While he doesn’t seek the spotlight, Bradley’s experience often puts him there. He was named a Top 40 under 40 by Drexel in 2018, and is a Hastings Center Sadler Scholar. His election as PCN president is just the latest milestone.

"Calvin always says that he wants to leave every space better than he found it, and that's what he's done in our department," said Rev. Marilyn Barnes, chair of the Department of Patient Counseling, College of Health Professions, and director of Pastoral Care at VCU Health. "He brings real-world experience into the classroom, and that's invaluable. At PCN, he's expanded membership, planned conferences, and helped modernize the organization. He's a phenomenal leader and colleague."

As Bradley sets PCN up for the future, he’s focused on creating a sustainable environment for strong leadership – even after his term ends.

“I’m positioning the organization for what lies ahead,” said Bradley. “I want to set the next person up for success in this role.”

-by Conor Lobb