Dr. Alexander (Lex) Tartaglia is Professor Emeritus in Patient Counseling having held the appointment of Katherine I. Lantz Professor from 2010 to 2020. He served as Senior Associate Dean for the College of Health Professions for 12 years prior to his retirement in 2020.  He served as Chair of the Department of Patient Counseling from 1996 to 2008 and Director of Pastoral Care for the VCU Health System from 1996 to 2007. He remains active on the hospital Ethics Committee after having served as committee co-chair for 20+ years.

Prior to VCU he served as Director of Chaplaincy and CPE at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine as well as Director of CPE and Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Dr. Tartaglia holds a B.A. from Colgate University and M.A. (Theological Ethics), M. Div., and D. Min. (Psychology and Clinical Studies) degrees from Andover-Newton Theological School. He is now a retired ACPE Educator and Board Certified Chaplain.  He has published in diverse areas such as organ donation, spirituality and HIV disease, clinical pastoral education, spiritual care services, provider stress, ethics, and disability employment.