Chaplains are invited to apply for the Chaplaincy Research Summer Institute (CRSI). First offered in July of 2017, the CRSI prepares chaplains to develop the skills necessary to conduct simple but important research and quality improvement projects. The CRSI follows a short-term, intensive format with ample opportunities for follow-up. Furthermore, participants will begin building a network of both early-career and established chaplains for future collaborations. The Institute includes a number of hands-on activities, including using PubMed to conduct a literature search and working in small groups to develop research questions and proposals which are presented at the end of the conference.

Chaplains have embraced the importance of a research-informed approach to chaplaincy practice, including the importance of research literacy. The audience for the CRSI includes chaplains who wish to develop modest projects to advance their understanding of chaplaincy-related issues and practices (e.g. religious and/or spiritual needs and resources of patients and families being served in a specific clinical context; pilot testing a new approach to screening for religious/spiritual need in a new clinical area) and chaplains who are providing leadership to chaplaincy quality improvement projects. The CRSI will also be useful for chaplains who plan to collaborate on research projects with non-chaplain investigators as well as those planning chaplaincy-related DMin projects. The CRSI also provides a useful background for CPE Educators who are leading research literacy curriculum in their centers.

The content of the CRSI provides participants with an introduction to the research process, various methods relevant for chaplaincy research (e.g. case studies, qualitative and quantitative methods), and important examples of existing chaplaincy-related research. The CRSI includes a number of hands-on activities, including using PubMed to conduct a literature search. Participants will also work in small groups to discuss individual or group research questions and proposals.  Participants in the midst of chaplaincy-related projects are welcome to bring those projects to work on through the week.  Time will be available for several participants to present their research to whole group at the end of the week for consultation and feedback.

Faculty The 2022 CRSI will be led by George Fitchett, DMin, PhD, BCC, Director of Research, Department of Religion, Health and Human Values, Rush University Medical Center and Director of Transforming Chaplaincy. Other faculty will include Katherine “Kate” Piderman, PhD, Department of Chaplaincy Services, Mayo Clinic, Beth Muehlhausen, PhD, MDiv, BCC, LCSW, Sr. Researcher for Spiritual Care & Mission Integration, Ascension, Allison DeLaney, MA, MPH, BCC-PCHAC, Researcher for Spiritual Care and Mission Integration, Ascension, and Annelieke Damen, PhD, University for Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, The Netherlands. The names of additional faculty will be announced.