Spiritual Care

Partnership with the Presbyterian churches of Orange County began in 1945 with the fund raising efforts of the Rev. Raymond I. Brahams of the Community Presbyterian Church of Laguna Beach, the Rev. O. Scott McFarland of the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana, other local churches, civic groups, and matching support from the Hoag Family Foundation. Land was purchased overlooking Newport Harbor and a 75 bed hospital was built, receiving its first patient on September 15, 1952.

In 1965, Rev. Edward G. Reitz became Hoag’s first chaplain. Five years later the Rev. Wm. Robert Parry succeeded him and expanded services to include a second protestant chaplain, the Rev. Lloyd Sellers, and a Roman Catholic priest. Under the Rev. Parry’s direction, a health ministries/parish nurse program was started. Later the program became a part of Hoag Community Medicine. Following the Rev. Parry’s retirement, the Rev. Dr. Donald Oliver was hired as director in 1992 and Father Joseph Rich joined the staff a few years later, who retired in December 2006. The Rev. Dr. Johanna Griesel became Executive Director of Spiritual Care for Hoag Health in January, 2023, bringing extensive background in management of a health system Pastoral Care department and more than two decades in training of hospital Chaplains.

The members of the Spiritual Care staff have enjoyed a very special relationship with Hoag’s founding organization, the Association of Presbyterian Members (made up of two appointees from each congregation in Los Ranchos Presbytery, as well as the ECO Presbyterian Churches). Together, we have worked to ensure access to the highest quality physical and spiritual care.

• Executive Director of Spiritual Care – Rev. Johanna M. Griesel, Ph.D.

• Administrative Specialist – Emily Miller

• Chaplains Serving Newport Beach

  • Dean-Paul Aguirre, MTS, MAPT

  • James Kook, MDiv

  • Cory Newell, MDiv, BCC

  • Christie Shine, M.T.S.

• Chaplains Serving Irvine

  • Joseph Choi, MDiv

  • Thomas Halls, PhD, GC-C

  • William Summerville, MDiv

• Faith Community Nursing

  • Program Manager – Dawn Lejarde, RN, PHN, MSN, MPH, NPD-BC

  • Administrative Assistant Sr. – ​Kellie Gonzalez

  • Faith Community Nursing Outreach RN – Hannah Kittle, BSN, RN

  • Faith Community Nurse Outreach RN – Beth Otterbein, BSN, RN

Established in 1987, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has supported an expansive Faith Community Nursing Program throughout Orange County. This spiritually-based wellness program is open to all faith traditions and is administered by the Faith Community Nurse (FCN). The purpose of the program is to support the mental, physical and spiritual health needs of those being served. Each FCN develops educational programs and interventions specific to the unique needs of their faith community as they seek a health affirming balance between the mind, body and spirit. Visit us to learn more about Hoag’s Faith Community Nursing Program.

Established in 1987, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has supported an expansive and dynamic Faith Community Nurse Program throughout Orange County and beyond. The spiritually based wellness program is open to all faith traditions and is administered by your Faith Community Nurse (FCN). The mission of the program is to provide excellence in Whole Person Care to meet the health needs of those being served, whether in a traditional or community-based setting. Each FCN develops educational programs and interventions specific to the unique needs of your members as they seek a health affirming balance between the mind, body and spirit. Hoag FCN is here to support you.

Faith Community Nursing is a unique and rewarding nursing specialty that supports the belief that spiritual health is central to a person’s well-being and influences both mental and physical health. Faith Community Nursing incorporates the scientific practice of nursing with public health initiatives and spiritual support to best meet the needs of those they serve.

To promote spiritual well-being in health care, the Hoag Faith Community Nursing Program offers covenanted partnerships to all faith traditions and community-based organizations throughout Orange County. Hoag Faith Community Nursing supports your nurse in educating and empowering your congregations in becoming healthier communities. The Hoag program provides your Registered Nurse with leadership, educational meetings, courses and conferences, resource materials, equipment, AED/CPR training, and networking support to aid in the development of successful programs for your organizations and congregations.

Roles of a Faith Community Nurse are varied, include a broad range of options and will be developed based on the needs of your faith community. The FCN plays a critical role in providing preventive health services such as flu vaccination clinics, blood pressure screening, health care information and support. The FCN may serve in your congregation, a community setting, the hospital or the individual’s home – again, the options are many.

Roles of the FCN with a few examples of possible interventions:

• Integrates Faith and Health – Offers Prayer, Presence & Intentional Listening

• Personal Health Counselor – Answers Specific Disease or Medication Questions

• Health Advocate – Assists with Patient Navigation & Transitional Care

• Health Educator – Organizes Group Preventive Education Classes

• Community Resources Liaison – Aids in Identifying & Accessing Needed Services

• Develops Support Groups – Grief, Caregiving, Mental Health

• Trains Volunteers – Assist at Health Fairs, Visitations, Support Groups

The Hoag Faith Community Nursing Program is staffed by bilingual Spanish, Registered Nurses and administrative leaders. For further information of how Hoag can help you help your community, please contact Dawn Lejarde at Dawn.Lejarde@hoag.org or Kellie Gonzalez at Kellie.Gonzalez@hoag.org. Thank you.

Parish or Congregational Nursing is a growing specialty practice of nursing, recognized by the American Nursing Association as Faith Community Nursing. FCN is open to all faith traditions and led by a licensed Registered Nurse. Training during this course will focus on the intentional care of the spirit, promotion of an integrative model of health and prevention and minimization of illness within the context of a faith community. Hoag Faith Community Nursing will be offering a five day class, to current Registered Nurses, new to the specialty. 36 CEUs will be offered upon successful completion of all course material.

Foundations of Faith Community Nursing – This course focuses on applying the nursing process in a leadership role of Faith Community Nursing in a community of faith. This course examines the four major concepts of Faith Community Nursing: spirituality, professionalism, ‘holistic’ health, and community and cultural diversity. Students will identify the key components of the “intentional care of the spirit as part of the process of promoting holistic health and preventing or minimizing illness in a faith community” as defined by the ANA. This course affords the student the opportunity to identify ways to facilitate the whole-person health of a congregation, which helps reclaim the healing ministry of the faith tradition. This course is open to RNs of all faith traditions. This is a time of learning, worship, personal reflection, spiritual growth and communal fellowship with other professional registered nurses. This course prepares nurses to establish and grow Faith Community Nursing within their faith community.

• Registered nurse with a current unencumbered license to practice in the state(s) in which one will practice in the role. Preferred 3 – 5 years experience as a practicing RN.

• Commitment to the holistic concept of health care, including the spiritual dimension of health and healing

• Good communication skills

• Active involvement in a local faith community; open to all faith traditions

• A letter of reference from a professional colleague or clergy person

• Commitment to completion of the entire foundations preparation course

• Spirituality – History and Philosophy; Health, Healing and Wholeness; Spiritual Care; Prayer; Self-Care

• Professionalism – Ethical Issues; Documenting Practice; Legal Aspects; Beginning Your Ministry; Communication and Collaboration

• Holistic Health – Health Promotion; Behavioral Health; Transforming Life Issues: Family Violence, Loss, Suffering and Grief

• Community Health – Assessment, Accessing Resources, Advocacy, Care Coordination

• Clergy Recommendation for Course

• Foundations Course