Patricia “Tricia” Young is the chaplain and bereavement specialist at Broward Health Medical Center and Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital. Over the last 2 years, Young has provided spiritual support to patient and their families in addition to bereavement support to families.
“My favorite part about being a chaplain is meeting people where they are and being present with them and listening,” said Young. “It is such an honor and privilege to be invited into their sacred space. As patients spiritually heal you can sometimes see the weight being lifted from their distress and this is such a joy to see.”
Young’s role also extends to providing support to nurses, physicians, social workers, and other healthcare teams throughout the hospital. This past October, Young planned spiritual care week for staff at the hospital which included events such as blessings of the hands, affirmation rock painting, wheels of joy, an interfaith prayer wall and an orthodox Catholic mass in the chapel. Young recalled, “As staff was either rushing in or rushing out during shifts, they were able to take a minute to center themselves and receive a moment of peace during the blessing of the hands.”
Young became a hospital chaplain after a personal family experience. “My mom had a hospice chaplain who she connected with spiritually when she had breast cancer,” said Young. “This person helped me as well as I lived 9 hours away. It was during that time that I felt the call to pursue the ministry of chaplaincy.”
Young received her Bachelor of Science in communications for business at Florida State University. She is scheduled to graduate in April 2022 with her Master of Divinity from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.
