Pastoral ministry has been an important part of Duke’s care for more than half a century. In 1956, Russell Dicks, PhD, professor of pastoral psychology at Duke Divinity School, helped create a half-time position for a hospital chaplain. One of his former students, Rev. P. Wesley Aitken, was the first to take on this position, which later expanded to a full-time role.

In the following years, the program received accreditation as a training center for hospital chaplains. The department grew to include clinical pastoral education (CPE) supervisors, a position for supervisory CPE, and chaplain resident positions.

In addition, programs such as the grant-funded Partners In Caring (HIV/AIDS outreach program), Bereavement Services, Decedent Care, and the Hospital Ethics Committee were either located within or linked to Pastoral Services.

The Reverend Jim Rawlings Jr., DMin, was named director of Pastoral Services in January 2008.