As Chief Nursing Officer at The Menninger Clinic, I am honored to nominate Rev. Salvador Delmundo Jr., APBCC (SCA), for recognition as a Patient Care Honoree at your annual Wholeness of Life Celebration. Having dedicated twenty years to ensuring compassionate spiritual care at our institution, Chaplain Delmundo exemplifies the profound meaning of caring for the human spirit in ways that transform not only individual lives but entire healthcare communities.
Since joining The Menninger Clinic in 2005, Rev. Delmundo has served as more than our Director of Chaplaincy Services—he has become the spiritual architect of our healing environment. He meets patients individually, for consultations, spiritual assessments, and ongoing spiritual care counseling. He leads six groups each week. He supervises the work of our PRN chaplain, three graduate counseling interns, and three contract clergies. He leads three chapel services on Sundays. He provides spiritual care to staff. These numbers, however, only begin to capture the depth of its impact. What distinguishes his service is the authentic presence he brings to each encounter, whether with patients facing their darkest struggles or families navigating complex psychiatric treatment journeys.
As a nurse leader who has presented nationally on patient-centered care and staff well-being, I have observed how Chaplain Delmundo seamlessly integrates spiritual care into our clinical framework. His approach to what he calls “covenantal pluralism” ensures that patients of all faith traditions—and those with no religious affiliation—receive respectful, individualized spiritual support. This inclusive model has become integral to our interdisciplinary care approach, enhancing therapeutic outcomes across all service lines.
This past year has tested our institutional resilience in unprecedented ways. We have mourned the loss of four beloved staff/former members, each death sending ripples of grief throughout our community. In these moments of profound loss, Chaplain Delmundo’s ministry revealed its true depth and power.
For each memorial service, he did not simply conduct a religious ceremony; he crafted sacred experiences that honored the unique contributions and humanity of each colleague. His preparation involved countless hours meeting with grieving families, gathering stories from coworkers, and creating services that captured the essence of lives dedicated to healing others. These were not generic tributes but deeply personal celebrations that helped our community process grief while finding meaning in loss.
He was able to create space for collective grieving while maintaining the hope essential to our healing mission. His ability to hold both sorrow and hope simultaneously exemplifies the profound spiritual leadership our field desperately needs.
What sets Rev. Delmundo apart is his understanding that caring for the human spirit extends far beyond individual patient encounters. He has officiated weddings for staff members, bringing joy and sacred meaning to life’s celebrations. His timely invocations at institutional gatherings consistently remind us of our deeper purpose amid the administrative demands of modern healthcare.
His mentorship of graduate counseling students has shaped a new generation of spiritual care providers. Many of these individuals now serve in leadership roles across the country, carrying forward his model of compassionate, inclusive ministry. His recent completion of doctoral studies while maintaining his full-time responsibilities demonstrates the commitment to excellence that characterizes all aspects of his service.
As someone deeply committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, I have been consistently impressed by Rev. Delmundo’s ability to collaborate seamlessly with clinical teams. He participates in treatment planning meetings, provides crucial insights during complex cases, and offers support that enhances our collective ability to promote healing, recovery, and resilience—values that align perfectly with Menninger’s mission.
His spiritual assessments provide clinical teams with essential information about patients’ spiritual resources and concerns, directly impacting treatment approaches. I have observed him de-escalate crisis situations through his calming presence and helping patients find hope when medical interventions alone seemed insufficient.
Rev. Delmundo’s ministry embodies the highest ideals of healthcare chaplaincy. His quiet spiritual authority creates an atmosphere where healing becomes possible, where patients find strength to continue their recovery journeys, and where staff members discover renewed purpose in their calling to serve others.
His twenty-year tenure represents unwavering dedication to ensuring that every person who enters our doors—patient, family member, or staff—experiences the kind of compassionate care that honors their inherent dignity and spiritual worth. In an era when healthcare often struggles to maintain its human center, he consistently reminds us that caring for the body without attending to the spirit represents incomplete healing.
Rev. Salvador Delmundo Jr. has selflessly and tirelessly dedicated his career to providing spiritual care and comfort for those he serves. His ministry has transformed countless lives and created a culture of compassionate care that extends far beyond our institution’s walls. He represents the very best of healthcare chaplaincy and is exceptionally deserving of recognition as a Patient Care Honoree.
I offer this nomination with profound respect for his ministry and deep gratitude for the privilege of witnessing his transformational impact on our healing community.