Page 3 - BSWH Office of Mission Ministry Annual Report

A Letter from the Chief
What would you sacrifice to accomplish your calling?
Over the past two years, I’ve committed to meeting one-on-one with all 170-plus Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH) Office of Mission and Ministry (OMM) employees. I’ve always been passionate about making
personal contact with our team members and traveled a
number of miles to do so.
There was plenty that I knew about our office “on paper.” But now, those things have soaked into my heart and my bones simply because I had the privilege to sit with each individual, hear their stories, see their passion, celebrate their creativity and stand in awe of the commitment that drives them.
Here is some of what I’ve learned:
OMM professionals are committed to each other in compassion and skilled collegiality. For instance, Pastoral Care directors David Lowe and Mike Mullender visited a seriously ill colleague to provide support and ensure a meaningful Christmas for this colleague’s family. On a broader scale, our Faith Community Health (FCH) coordinators partner with colleagues across other disciplines and healthcare systems to improve the health of the communities they serve.
OMM professionals make above-and-beyond sacrifices to bring care and support
to the people they serve. Can you imagine retiring from a demanding profession then taking a job ministering to hurting, traumatized people at 2:00 AM? Half of OMM employees are as-needed (PRN) chaplains who cover the hours between 5:00 PM and 7:00 AM. Many work another job, yet they still provide incredible ministry that is inspiring.
OMM professionals are re-imagining the future of whole person care going beyond crisis and trauma to now support preventive care and enhanced care beyond our medical center campuses. Lives are being transformed through
the innovative connections OMM is forming. This includes our ever-expanding FCH efforts in concert with the BSWH Office of Equitable Care, which helps staff rediscover themselves by volunteering for “glocal” (global and local) humanitarian projects. Meanwhile, our Sacred Vocation program helps staff reconnect with their sense of purpose as healthcare providers.