Michigan Medicine Spiritual Care

What is a chaplain?

Chaplains are clinically trained religious and spiritual leaders who specialize in offering spiritual and emotional care and support to patients, their families, and staff. Chaplains listen to what is important to each person, valuing and upholding the diverse strengths of individuals, families, and groups. Chaplains represent a variety of spiritual and religious traditions.

Read this article featuring our Associate Director, Rev. Dr. Christina Wright, to learn more about what we do and common myths related to chaplains!

What can chaplains do?

• Non-judgmental listening, safe emotional space
• Guided exploration of areas of distress and strength
• Prayer or meditation
• Religious items or devotional aids
• Perform or facilitate rituals
• Assistance in thinking through important decisions or big life questions
• Assistance advocating for religious/spiritual needs in your care
• Crisis and end-of-life support

How do I contact a chaplain?

Spiritual Care is available at the Adult Hospital and the C.S. Mott Children’s and Voigtlander Hospitals on a 24/7 basis. Anyone can request a chaplain visit, simply by asking your nurse or by calling 734-936-4041 from 8AM-4:30PM Monday-Friday. For urgent or after hours needs, ask your care team or the hospital operator to page the on-call chaplain.