Campbell County Health is proud of its employees, and we want the CCH family
and the Campbell County, Wyoming community to know about the good work
that they do for this organization.
Say hello to
Donny Edwards, MDiv, the
Chaplain Coordinator in the
Patient Experience Department for CCH. Donny has been with CCH for nearly four years, and has been in
the healthcare field for more than six years. He earned his masters of
divinity from
Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. As the Chaplain Coordinator, Donny oversees and recruits
for the chaplain, associate chaplain, and abiders programs. He works with
a team of around 30 volunteers that includes highly respected senior members
of the local pastoral community to 20-somethings with more progressive
ideas toward their ministries. There are Associate Chaplains who specialize
in specific care areas like long term care or hospice, and Abiders who
sit with residents at
The Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center in their final days or hours.
Donny was attracted to work as a Chaplain in health care from his first
ministry experience. “I had a few students who were in the hospital
often, so I would find myself traveling to wherever they were to be with
the family during illness. I watched and became more and more interested
in working alongside the healthcare staff. The ability to work with different
backgrounds, professionals, and faith communities while providing spiritual
care interested me to the point where I began an internship and never
left. There is something unique about sitting with a family and holding
with them the sacred moments of life,” he says.
When asked who his health care heroes are, Donny says he has many he’d
like to mention. “Wendi Steinberg for pushing me in residency to
ask the questions of myself and my work to grow into a more effective
chaplain.
Mary Barks and Katie Golinvaux for challenging me to grow as a person and chaplain
in our community. George Keralis for consistently demonstrating humility,
intelligence, and grace in every interaction he has,” he says. He
then adds: “The on-call chaplains, associate chaplains and abiders
are my true heroes for their grace, love, and willingness to walk with
me to serve this community is something I am honored by each and every
day."
When Donny isn’t at work, he says that he loves hiking with his wife,
Rachel, and dogs as they explore the wild west. “Rachel and I love
traveling, and during those elusive times when we both are off, we love
exploring the surrounding territory,” he says. Donny also says that
he finds joy in study, and is always working on some lesson plan or concept
to keep him busy.
We asked Donny what he likes most about working for CCH, and what excellence
every day means to him. Check out his response:
“This is a place that is run and connected to the community we serve.
Every single day we take care of neighbors, friends, family within our
walls, and what I see is a CCH family that takes the extra moment to help
a patient, goes above what they need to do to just to make sure somebody
has a better day.
I work in a small and diverse department. In the midst of that diversity,
I find that our respect for one another, different areas of expertise
and skill, and willingness to listen and help allow us to find creative
solutions to problems together.
Ultimately, for me excellence every day means that I use the skills and
abilities I have as a chaplain, and as a person, to meet a customer most
effectively in an interaction that would move them one step closer to
their goal or need. I ask myself, ‘How can I communicate that they
are heard, loved, and sacred most effectively to them with both my words
and actions?’”
We appreciate you, Donny. Thank you for being a wonderful colleague, friend,
chaplain, community member and person. We are proud to have you on our team.
Is there a CCH employee who went the extra mile or shows you extraordinary
service? Give them a pat on the back by completing an
Excellence Every Day card.
For more information about Chaplain Services, feel free to contact Donny
at 307.688.1540, check out the page
www.cchwyo.org/chaplains, or visit him in his office by the
Emergency Department. And know that he always has a supply of tea for visitors.