The Rev. Carlos Alejandro (North General Hospital), the Rev. Trudi Hirsch (Beth Israel Singer Division), and the Rev. Dr. Yvonne Valeris (The Brooklyn Hospital Center) were approved as full clinical pastoral education (CPE) supervisors at the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education Certification Committee meeting in March. This accomplishment is a testament to their hard work and clinical competence, and to the work of their CPE supervisors at The HealthCare Chaplaincy.

Chaplaincy research assistant Karen G. Costa represented The Chaplaincy’s research department at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association in March. She presented the results of a study titled "A Quantitative Analysis of Behavioral Research on Religion and Spirituality in Various Age Groups: 1971-2002." Ms. Costa was the first author on the study; Chaplaincy researchers Drs. Kevin Flannelly and Andrew Weaver were co-authors.

Rabbi Stephen Roberts (New York- Presbyterian Hospital) spoke to over 100 mental health workers on "Spiritual Issues of the Elderly Regarding Isolation, Depression, and the Impact of September 11th." His presentation was part of a larger meeting entitled: "The Silent Crisis: Seniors, Depression, and Mental Health," hosted by the Lower Manhattan Health Care Coalition & The Manhattan Coalition on Mental Health Issues of the Elderly.

Rabbi Bonita E. Taylor (The HealthCare Chaplaincy) has published an article entitled " Nearly Everything We Wish Our Non-Jewish Supervisors Had Known About Us As Jewish Supervisees" (co-authored with NAJC colleague Rabbi David J. Zucker) in the Winter 2002 edition of The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling.

Chaplain Barbara Yeager was presented with the prestigious Hamilton Award at the Westchester Division of New York- Presbyterian Hospital. This venerable award is given annually to a staff person who has made significant contributions over time to the compassionate care of patients.

The Rev. Carolyn Yard (New York- Presbyterian Hospital) has recently been appointed to the Board of the New York Regional Organ Donor Network. Her duties include review of policies and programs and raising awareness among minority communities regarding the importance of organ donation.