Pastoral Care Week 2006
"Celebrating Community Service"
This year, Chaplaincy Services and Pastoral Education highlighted community service as it's theme for Pastoral Care Week. On October 25, the Department hosted a luncheon for area clergy and pastoral visitors, and presented the Clyde M. Watson Distinguished Service Award for Pastoral Care and Education to the Caring Committee of Congregation Beth Israel. Following the award and luncheon, participants were invited to attend the Medical Center Hour, Into the Gap: Volunteering in New Orleans After Hurricane Katrina
The following is a news-story reported by local television station, NBC29.
Congregation Receives Pastoral Care Award
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Reported by Dana Hackett
October 25, 2006
A local congregation is being recognized for its service to patients at local hospitals.
As part of pastoral care week, the University of Virginia Health System presented an award to the Caring Committee at Congregation Beth Israel. Wednesday, the group received the Clyde M. Watson, Jr. Distinguished Service Award in pastoral care and education.
The Caring Committee coordinates visits to Jewish patients who have been admitted to local hospitals.
"I think people have been very pleased with what's going on. That they really appreciate somebody from the community, someone not from their own community reaching out to them," stated Karen Bloomfield of the Congregation Beth Israel.
This is the fourth year the health system has presented this honor. <end of article>
History of the Clyde M. Watson Distinguished Service Award for Pastoral Care and Education:
The Clyde M. Watson Jr. Distinguished Service Award for Pastoral Care and Education was established in 2003 to honor Clyde M. Watson, Jr., the long-time chair of the Chaplaincy Department at the University of Virginia Health System. Dr. Watson served as chair from 1965 to 1997. He established the clinical pastoral education program at UVa Health System.
The Clyde M. Watson Jr. Distinguished Service Award for Pastoral Care and Education is given to local clergy, lay persons and religious groups who have made significant contributions to the Chaplaincy Department at the UVa Health System. Selections are based on individual or group contributions to pastoral care of patients and families in the Medical Center or surrounding communities, and on contributions to the education of religious/spiritual persons in the field of pastoral care.
Past recipients have included: Dr. Nan Brown, 2003, for her work with victims of HIV/AIDS, and for her work with the Chaplaincy Department; Cherry Avenue Christian Church, 2003, for their volunteer work at KCRC; the priests of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 2004, for their service to Roman Catholic patients and for the education of Chaplain residents and interns; and Dr. Stan Nolan, 2005, retired chief of thoracic cardiovascular surgery at UVa, for his 30 years of supporting the Chaplaincy Department and teaching Chaplain residents and interns. Please see the story below for information about this year's award recipients.