Student Ministry Opportunities

Students in Hillcrest's Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program have the opportunity to develop pastoral skills by being part of a team of care givers. Students function as "staff chaplains" and are assigned to specific patient units including oncology, cardiopulmonary intensive care, dialysis, comprehensive rehabilitation and hospice. All students have opportunities to minister to patients and families in the Emergency Services Department, a major trauma center for Central Texas, and in the medical/surgical Intensive Care Unit, treating approximately 1,450 individuals each year.

For more than 75 years, Hillcrest has provided a comprehensive program of quality health care and services to thousands of Central Texans. Consistent with this tradition, the goal of the Hillcrest Pastoral Care Department is to offer a complete ministry as a part of total patient care. Our purpose is to be a representative of God's love and grace to all we serve through personal pastoral care. This department serves patients and family members of all faith groups by enabling them to draw upon religious beliefs, values, prayer and rituals for spiritual assistance in coping with personal tragedy or loss of health.