Clinical Pastoral Education at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue

Mission

The mission of the NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue’s Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program is to provide learning opportunities for ministry professionals, seminary students and qualified laypersons to develop their theoretical, clinical, theological, professional, and personal competencies in the delivery of spiritual care in an acute setting while simultaneously providing chaplaincy services to our staff.

Program Overview

At NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, CPE is an experience-based learning program that combines daily work in hospital ministry to patients, families and staff with reflective learning in a small group setting. The basic three-fold purpose of CPE at Bellevue is:

• To learn the skills of spiritual care.
• To know and use theological and spiritual reflection in the practice of ministry.
• To know and experience one’s self as a spiritual and pastoral person.

All programs are tailored to the individual learning goals of the student. These course offerings are accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE).

Our Setting

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is the flagship hospital of NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest public hospital system. Bellevue offers a wide range of medical, surgical, and psychiatric services and is a major referral center for highly complex cases. The clinics alone have more than 500,000 visits per year. NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue provides comprehensive health services of the highest quality for all New Yorkers, regardless of their ability to pay, in an atmosphere of humane care, dignity, and respect.

Clinical Pastoral Education at Bellevue was accredited by ACPE in 2006. CPE students at Bellevue receive the most diverse education imaginable. Each student is assigned to surgical units, medicine units and psychiatric units. Some are assigned to outpatient or inpatient chemical addiction units. Students are also assigned to our Riker’s Island forensic units for both mentally and physically ill patients and rotate through our emergency room trauma center.

Our Programs

CPE Units Offered:

• Summer, Fall and Spring (400+ hours)
• Tuition: $700

Summer CPE Unit:

Late May – Mid August

Summer CPE Program is designed primarily for seminarians, qualified lay persons and local religious leaders desiring skills refinement and exploring one’s gifts for the ministry. The program is full-time and involves over 400 hours of which at least 100 hours are devoted to the educational experiences comprised of theological reflection, didactics, small group process discussions and reflection of clinical material. The curriculum integrates the experience of ministry with theology, personal history, behavioral sciences and spiritual development. Students are on call in the hospital during the early evenings and on weekends.

Extended CPE Units:

Designed as a continuing education experience for selected lay persons, social workers, teachers, health care professionals, clergy and religious leaders to deepen one’s own spirituality, learn new skills in one’s ministry and explore a new career in the ministry. Program includes weekly classes and a minimum of 15 hours per week of clinical time providing spiritual care. While in the program you will have the opportunity to conduct interfaith worship and participate in our departmental life. The program will involve over 400 hours of which at least 100 will be devoted to the educational experience.

Fall and Spring Units:

Program includes weekly classes and a minimum of 15 hours per week of clinical time providing spiritual care. Students are on call in the hospital during the early evening and on weekends.

The Center is accredited to offer Supervisory Education. For more information, email: montongm@nychhc.org

Note: We offer three types of programs:

• Summer
• Extended
• Supervisory Education

Rev. Dr. Martin Montonye
ACPE Supervisor

The Rev. Dr. Martin Montonye is the 10th CPE Supervisor at Bellevue. Rev. Montonye was certified in 1998 by ACPE and 2003 by the Association for Professional Chaplains. He was ordained by the United Church of Christ in 1987 and is a graduate of Yale Divinity School and Hartford Seminary.

CPE Program Site:

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
Spiritual Care Department
462 First Avenue, Rm A142
New York, NY 10016
CPE Telephone: 212-562-7203
Email: montongm@nychhc.org

Pre-requisites for CPE:

• Baccalaureate Degree
• Ordination/Religious Profession
• Ministerial background or active membership in a faith community or commission to minister by an appropriate religious authority.

Application Process:

• A completed ACPE application, including all essays. Download application here:
• Application
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Admission interview by qualified interviewer
• Acceptance into program by ACPE Supervisor.

Clinical Pastoral Education Brochure

• Brochure

The NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue ACPE-CPE program is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., One West Court Square, Suite 325, Decatur, GA 30033-4635; Telephone: 404-320-1472; www.acpe.edu