Dr. White received her PhD in Public Health Sciences, concentration in Health Management and Systems Sciences, as well as a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation Sciences from the University of Louisville. She completed her theological degree, a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Pastoral Ministry and Theology, at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Her Bachelor of Arts degree was awarded from Transylvania University after majoring in Religion and minoring in Mathematics.

Dr. White considers herself a Health Services Researcher and Chaplaincy Researcher. Her research primarily focuses on the integration of chaplains within healthcare delivery systems and their impact on healthcare access and quality. She includes research areas such as the social determinants of health, cross-organizational collaboration, and population health among her favorites.

Dr. White is the author of multiple peer-reviewed publications about chaplaincy and co-edited Evidence-based Healthcare Chaplaincy: A Research Reader. She is a board-certified chaplain and member of the Association of Professional Chaplains. She is among the first cohort of Transforming Chaplaincy Research Fellows, and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy.

View Dr. Kelsey White's CV.

Select Publications

White, K.B., Jennings, J.C., Karimi, S., Johnson, C.E., & Fitchett, G. (2021). Examining factors associated with utilization of chaplains in the acute care setting. Journal of Religion & Health. Epub ahead of print: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01460-x

White, K.B., Combs, R.M., Decker, H., & Schmidt, B.M. (2021). Gender-based Perspectives on Professional Healthcare Chaplaincy Board Certification. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Epub ahead of print: https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.12752

White, K.B., Combs, R., & Decker, H.D. (2021). Board Certification of Professional Chaplains: A Qualitative Study of Stakeholder Perspectives. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2021.1916334

White, K.B., Barnes, M.J.D., Cadge, W., & Fitchett, G. (2020). Mapping the Healthcare Chaplaincy Workforce: A Baseline Description. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 27(4), 238-258. http://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2020.1723192

White, K.B., Murphy, P.E., Jeuland, J., & Fitchett, G. (2019). Distress and Self-Care among Chaplains Working in Palliative Care. Palliative and Supportive Care, 17(5), 542-549. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951518001062

White, K.B., Lee, S-H., Jennings, J.C., Karimi, S., Johnson, C.E., & Fitchett, G. (2023). Provision of chaplaincy services in U.S. hospitals: A strategic conformity perspective. Health Care Management Review, 48(4), 342-351. https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.0000000000000382

Walker-Cornetta, E., White, K.B., Berning, J.N., Yip, N., & Baldwin, M. (2023). Improving professional spiritual care to persons with limited English proficiency: The cross-language chaplaincy introduction guidebook. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 77(1), 19 -26. https://doi.org/10.1177/15423050221138745 

Tartaglia, A. White, K.B., Corson, T., Fitchett, G., Charlescraft, A., Jackson-Jordan, E., & Johnson, T. (2022). Supporting staff: The role of health care chaplains. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 15, 1-14. Epub ahead of print: https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2022.2154107

Tartaglia, A., Corson, T., White, K.B., Fitchett, G., Charlescraft, A., Jackson-Jordan, E., & Johnson, T. (2022). Chaplain staffing and scope of service: Benchmarking spiritual care departments. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy. Epub ahead of print: https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2022.2121579