The HealthCare Chaplaincy has hired Dominic (Nick) Ucci as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, a new position. Reporting to The Chaplaincy's president and CEO, The Rev. Dr. Walter J. Smith, S.J., Nick will manage day-to-day operations for pastoral care, education and outreach programs, and research. He will also direct relationships with The Chaplaincy's partner hospitals and healthcare provider institutions, as well as with its religious, foundation, and corporate communities. In addition, he will oversee implementation of The Chaplaincy's strategic plan for promoting spiritual care and health.

Nick is a veteran of more than 20 years with Common Cause, the non-partisan, non-profit citizens' lobby in Washington, D.C., and served most recently as senior vice president, management and financial planning. From this experience, he brings an understanding of how organizations thrive and grow in the face of fiscal and policy challenges. "With the wisdom of the strategic plan in place, The Chaplaincy is at a perfect point for growth," he said. "The time is right for new programs, new perspectives, new ways of doing things."

Nick pointed to the current generation as a source of his optimism about The Chaplaincy's growth potential. "The American public is more educated and sophisticated about matters of the mind, body, and spirit. Baby boomers, in particular, are pushing for an integrative approach to their values. They are ready to realign their personal values against the pressures of materialism, and I think they would be responsive to the spiritual aspects of healthcare," he noted.

Father Smith cited Nick's management expertise, his dynamic leadership style, and his personal enthusiasm as valuable assets for The Chaplaincy. "Nick was instrumental in advancing the growth of Common Cause, and I am delighted to have the benefit of his experience at this moment in our history," he said. "The Chaplaincy is poised for further expansion and development, and Nick has the skills to help us face the challenges and reach our potential as a model of innovative health-related pastoral care beyond our current borders."

An expert at defining priorities and developing human and financial resources, Nick said his first step will be "taking care of the care givers." He will turn his attention to the staff - both clinical and administrative - and immerse himself in the culture of healthcare chaplaincy to help stimulate creative thinking about the organization's future.

He pointed to new technology as a "tremendously significant development" for The Chaplaincy. "We're at the cutting edge of information technology, with interactivity and opportunities to connect to global information resources. And if we use it wisely, technology can have a fabulously effective impact on how we structure, communicate, and deliver our services, educational programs, and research results," he said.

Nick noted that he was drawn to the spiritual side of The Chaplaincy's work. "I had an immediate reaction that this is good work, it is work that rings true," he said. His management style is collaborative, and he is "fascinated by the servant leadership model," which places the organization's leadership at the service of its administrative and clinical staff.

A native of Albany, NY, Nick graduated from the State University of New York with a B.S. in Secondary Education and English. He received an M.A. in Educational Administration from Albany and completed graduate work in finance at George Washington University in Washington, DC. For the last two years, he has been a consultant in management and finance for several not-for-profit cause-oriented groups, including People for the American Way, Democracy 21, and the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. He enjoys cultural activities and is also a fitness enthusiast.