How spiritual care supports patients and families at Ascension Saint Thomas

In Memoriam: Rev. Calin Tamiian passed away on Oct. 6, 2026. We honor his legacy of compassionate care, spiritual leadership, and dedicated service to Ascension Saint Thomas and the Middle Tennessee community.

At Ascension Saint Thomas, healing extends beyond physical needs. Our spiritual care team provides compassionate, evidence-based care for the emotional, spiritual, moral, and existential needs of patients, families, associates, and the communities we serve.

Our professionally trained clinical chaplains are committed to whole-person care that honors the mind, body, and spirit. Integrated into our faith-based health ministry, chaplains accompany people through moments of uncertainty, crisis, hope, healing, and loss with respect for every person's beliefs and values.

Each year, our chaplains provide more than 32,000 spiritual care encounters across 17 facilities.

"Spiritual care begins with listening to what matters most to each person. Our chaplains are clinically trained to support patients and families as they navigate difficult questions, important decisions, uncertainty, grief, and moments of hope. We meet each person where they are, respecting their beliefs and values while caring for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit," said Rev. Calin Tamiian, Director of Spiritual Care at Ascension Saint Thomas.

Supporting patients, families, and associates

Spiritual care is available throughout a patient's care journey. Whether someone is facing a new diagnosis, navigating a medical crisis, celebrating recovery, or grieving the loss of a loved one, our chaplains provide a steady and compassionate presence.

Our chaplains:

• Address emotional and spiritual needs.
• Help patients and families find meaning during illness and recovery.
• Provide spiritual rituals, prayers, and sacraments.
• Support loved ones during times of crisis and bereavement.
• Assist with advance care planning and values-based decision-making.
• Offer emotional and spiritual support to doctors, nurses, and associates following difficult events.

In emergency departments, chaplains support patients, families, and care teams during some of life's most stressful moments.

One patient shared what that presence meant during their care:

"You visited me daily. We had many conversations about opportunity, gifts, community, death, and the hope thereafter. I tried to imagine how many people you have helped on their journey to healing since you accompanied me."

Walking alongside organ donor families

At Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West, chaplains partner closely with Tennessee Donor Services in the Donor Care Unit, the region's center for organ donation. They provide compassionate care to donor families throughout the donation process, offering grief support, facilitating Honor Walks, and caring for the associates who participate in this important work.

Preparing the next generation of chaplains

A cornerstone of our ministry is the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Center, which prepares future spiritual care leaders through supervised clinical education and professional formation.

Each year, the program trains approximately 23 chaplain students based in Nashville and across other Ascension Ministry Markets. Students come from local universities, seminaries, and other educational institutions, creating a diverse, ecumenical learning environment that reflects the communities we serve.

The CPE program also serves learners from other Ascension markets that do not have an established CPE program. While the majority of our CPE residents and students come from local seminaries and schools of theology, the program also attracts learners from other regions because of its strong reputation and the trust placed in our ability to provide rigorous, high-quality clinical pastoral education and prepare effective, competent chaplains for healthcare ministry.

Extending our Mission through partnerships

Spiritual care also supports patients across many of Ascension Saint Thomas' joint venture partnerships. Chaplain teams, including those serving at Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas, help connect our Values with daily patient care and strengthen relationships among patients, associates, leaders, and the communities they serve.

Today, chaplains serve nine joint venture facilities, extending Ascension Saint Thomas' Mission and commitment to whole-person care.

A lasting legacy of compassion

Across Ascension Saint Thomas, 32 professional chaplains walk alongside patients, families, and associates during some of life's most meaningful moments. They offer comfort during illness, supporting difficult decisions, celebrating healing, or accompanying families through loss.

Through thousands of encounters each year, spiritual care teams help patients and families feel supported throughout their healing journey.