Clinical Pastoral Education

The Pastoral Care Department staff at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital offers Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and other programs focusing on pastoral skills, theological reflection, bio-ethics, and issues of communication and relational competence in clinical practice. Read more about Pastoral Care or Chaplaincy at SSM Health.

The CPE program at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital is accredited for Level I/Level II and certified education program by the ACPE: the Standard for Spiritual Care and Education, which is the only CPE accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education
1 Concourse Parkway
Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30328
404-320-1472
acpe@acpe.edu

Download an Application for Clinical Pastoral Education (can be submitted via email). The cost for a CPE unit is $650 (tuition) and, in most cases, a $50 application fee is required. Tuition is waved for residents.

For information regarding Level I/Level II CPE and Certified Education training, refer to the ACPE Education website. For information about currently offered CPE units, refer to the CPE Units page. 

Staff Education

The Pastoral Care staff offers educational programs for nurses, medical residents, and clinical staff, as well as non-clinical staff. Programs focus on issues of grief; end-of-life issues; respect and dignity; ethics; religious diversity, or distress, etc.

Field Education for Theology Students

The Pastoral Care department collaborates with seminaries and schools of theology to offer field education experiences for students. These learning opportunities include patients' visitation, supervision and evaluation.

Permanent Diaconate Formation Ministry Practicum

The Pastoral Care department offers a ministry experience for the aspirants to the Permanent Diaconate of the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis. This program includes patients' visitation, group reflection, supervision and evaluation.

Education for SLU Health Sciences Students

The Pastoral Care staff offer opportunities for medical students, nursing students and allied health students to shadow chaplains and reflect on their experiences. Pastoral Care staff are available for classes and presentations on topics related to spirituality and medicine.

Contact Clinical Pastoral Education

For more information about Clinical Pastoral Education contact us via one of the following:

Phone: 314-257-8700 (main CPE office)

M. Cristina Stephenson, CE
Director of Clinical Pastoral Education and Pastoral Care

John Allen, DMin, BCC
CPE Certified Educator

Rev. J. Scott Blair, BCC
Manager of Pastoral Care

Physical address

Pastoral Care, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
3655 Vista Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63110

Mailing address

Pastoral Care, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
1201 S. Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63104

To ensure prompt arrival of your materials, we highly recommend sending your application via FedEx.

Helpful CPE Links

ACPE
The Association of Professional Chaplains
The National Association of Catholic Chaplains
Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains

This ACPE accredited program does not discriminate against persons because of race, ethnicity, religious/spiritual tradition, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability.

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