The Reverand Kirsty De Pree is an interfaith chaplain at APD and DHMC.
Kirsty was born in Scotland and educated at Hope College, Duke University, and UVM. She is the daughter of a preacher. When Kirsty was 15 years old, she was a Rotary exchange student in Scotland for a year, an experience that played a very important role in her education.
As a chaplain, she asks people if they could use some kindness and compassion. This usually results in their saying yes. Chaplains are there for staff, patients, and family. The individuals that chaplains counsel don’t have to be religious people.
Chaplains give emotional and spiritual support to people wherever they are on their life journey. Even an atheist doesn’t necessarily have to be denying spirituality.
Clergy are not necessarily chaplains. Chaplains need clinical pastoral educational units. DHMC requires 400 hours times four units of course work—a total of 1,600 hours of pastoral education. Chaplains can now chart in the patient’s medical record to provide a full picture of the patient.
A chaplain typically tries to meet people where they’re at. Chaplain’s help people find hope and meaning in their lives.
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