As we near the conclusion of 2025 and prepare for 2026, the Patient Counseling Department continues to flourish. This year our faculty, staff, students and alumni have celebrated numerous accomplishments, each contributing meaningfully to the field of professional chaplaincy. The Spiritual Care Department has remained unwavering in offering evidence-based, proactive and reactive spiritual care interventions to patients, their loved ones and members of the interdisciplinary team.

I am proud to share that every enrolled student has successfully completed either the master’s in patient counseling degree or the certificate in patient counseling. Equally inspiring, 100% of our graduating master’s students from 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 are employed in the field of chaplaincy, affirming the strength and relevance of our program.

Looking ahead, fall 2026 will mark the launch of our 47-credit Master of Science in patient counseling with a chaplain certification concentration. This degree concentration will provide students with four (4) units of CPE accredited through the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). With the degree and the required 2,000 hours of post-clinical training, graduates will be eligible for board certification through the Spiritual Care Association (SCA). Coursework includes theory, clinical practice, research, spiritual assessment and care planning, spiritual care across the lifespan, grief and bereavement, ethics, trauma informed care and leadership in health care.

Our department’s journey continues its focus on educating future spiritual care providers, advancing research that demonstrates the impact of spiritual care on health outcomes and evolving our education programs. I am grateful for the encouragement and generosity of donors and alumni, whose support sustains this work. If you would like to help students directly, scholarships offer a meaningful way to ensure that future spiritual care providers can pursue their passion with confidence. Whether through contributions to existing scholarship funds or by establishing a scholarship in honor of someone who has shaped your life, your gift strengthens the next generation of chaplains.

As you read this newsletter, I encourage you to notice familiar faces, areas of interest and opportunities to celebrate and engage with our department.

May 2026 bring joy and peace to you and those you hold dear. We look forward to sharing quarterly updates that keep you connected and informed.

With gratitude,

Rev. Marilyn J. D. Barnes, MS, MA, MPH, BCC
Chair and Associate Professor, Patient Counseling Department, VCU
Director, Spiritual Care Department, VCU Health