Ignatius Amachukwu Okonkwo
San Antonio,TX
Summary
Experienced Supervisory Chaplain with over 25 years experience in church and hospital ministries. Excellent reputation for compassionate care, reflective listening, and improving customer satisfaction. Dedicated spiritual care professional with a history of meeting people, complex, and organizational goals. Excellent education, community, and interpersonal skills. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
CHAPLAIN
Department Of Veterans Affairs
San Antonio, TX
03.2022 - Current
- Over 90% execution of job functions or scope of assigned duties from day one of employment
- Provided comprehensive, religious ministry services to Veteran patients, family, and staff according to their specific needs and desires
- Guided Chaplain Service Management staff and chaplain colleagues that improved service by at least 10%
- Provided crisis interventions and stabilization as required
- Counseled Veterans and provided person-centered chaplain interventions
- Delivered 95% of required Catholic ministry, consults, and referrals
CHAPLAIN SPECIALIST
Ascension Sacred Heart
Panama City, FL
04.2021 - 03.2022
- Oversaw site administration and management of spiritual care ministry
- Provided spiritual guidance, emotional support, and direct care to patients, family members, and staff; improved staff burnout by 10%
- Provided spiritual care, visitation, counseling, ethics consultation, and prayer
- Comforted family members and offered attentive listening during heightened emotional situations.
- Applied knowledge regarding crisis interventions to emergencies
- Supported individuals and groups with compassion and appropriate spiritual interventions
CHAPLAIN SPECIALIST
AMITAHealth Alexian Brothers Medical Center, ABMC
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
03.2020 - 03.2021
- Provided person-centered, compassionate, respectful, and spiritual support to patients, family, and staff
- Coordinated activities and flow of pastoral care services that optimize clinical coverage, staff development, oversight, and collaboration at local/system levels
- Served in interdisciplinary care team as embedded ethics resource for patients, families, and healthcare providers
- Supervised department team provision of quality, respectful, compassionate spiritual care
- Oversaw staff scheduling, payroll timecard, and information flow
- Served as department strategic directions, policies, and procedures lead person
- Facilitated COVID-19 crisis spiritual care services that improved staff residence by almost 25%
PRIEST CHAPLAIN
AMITAHealth Alexian Brothers Medical Center, ABMC
Elk Grove Village, IL
11.2013 - 03.2020
- Led worship, study, fellowship, and spiritual service
- Provided spiritual counseling to distressed patients, family members, and associates
- Developed chaplains' referral tool that improved chaplains' interdisciplinary team care connection by over 25%
- Provided emotional intelligence program that reduced associates' burnout by over 15 %
- Provided liturgical services, sacraments, and spiritual resources to care receivers
- Served as department safety coach, enhanced patient safety, controlled release of proprietary and confidential information
- Resolved conflicts, and negotiated agreements that improved patient/staff relations significantly
PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Diocese of Rockville Center
New York, Rockville, New York
08.2013 - 10.2013
- Provided summer spiritual support to patients, families and staff of South-side Hospital, Bay Shore and Mercy Medical Center.
- Successfully responded promptly to 95% emergency request for priestly ministry which resulted in positive care outcome.
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish
Kalamazoo, MI
08.2012 - 05.2013
- Oversaw administration and management of all area of ministry for 500 students and parish households.
- Led programs such as worship, study, fellowship and service opportunities that improved church members by 15%.
- Provided spiritual care through grief support, visitation, counseling and prayer benefiting 25% of grieving parishioners.
- Officiated special services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms and nursing home services.
ADMINISTRATOR: THREE CLUSTER PARISHES
Diocese Of Belleville
Eldorado, Elizabethtown, Harrisburg, IL
01.2006 - 08.2012
- Oversaw administration and management of 400 household members of all three parishes of ministry.
- Led programs such as worship, study, fellowship and service opportunities.
- Established and updated work schedules to account for changing staff levels and expected workloads.
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously to aid executive leaders.
- Adapted to workflow changes and implemented continuous process improvements to overcome obstacles.
Education
Master of Health Administration - Health Administration
NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY
Chicago, IL08.2022
Embedded Ethics Resource (EER) - Ethical & Religious Directives For Cath Health Care Services
Presence AMITAHealth
Chicago, IL2019
Doctor of Ministry (DMin) - Pastoral care & counseling
Graduate Theological Foundation
Mishawaka, IN2017
Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) -
National Association of Catholic Chaplains
Milwaukee, WI2014
CPE Residency - Clinical Pastoral Education
Western Baptist Hospital
Paducah, KY2012
Master's of Sacred Theology - Theology
St. Joseph Major Seminary
Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria1998
Bachelor of Philosophy - Philosophy
St. Joseph Major Seminary
Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria1993
School Certificate - undefined
All Hallows Seminary
Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria1987
Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Strategic planning
- Creativity
- Acute Care
- Spiritual leadership
- Research
- Crisis Intervention
- Mentoring
- Patient care and confidentiality
- Community outreach
- Critical Thinking
- Compassionate patient care
- Healthcare Management
- Performance Appraisals
- Customer Service
Accomplishments
- Developed chaplain referral tool which led to greater chaplains involvement in interdisciplinary care and improved patient satisfaction.
- Provided patient safety practice leadership, training, and supervision to department team of twenty staff members.
- Collaborated with unit management in the development of emotional intelligence program which led to reduced staff burnout.
- Collaborated with community organization in enhancing holistic health through spirituality and physical health education.
- Initiated parish grief support program which led to improved holistic health for 75% of parish members experiencing grief and loss.
Timeline
CHAPLAIN
Department Of Veterans Affairs
03.2022 - Current
CHAPLAIN SPECIALIST
Ascension Sacred Heart
04.2021 - 03.2022
CHAPLAIN SPECIALIST
AMITAHealth Alexian Brothers Medical Center, ABMC
03.2020 - 03.2021
PRIEST CHAPLAIN
AMITAHealth Alexian Brothers Medical Center, ABMC
11.2013 - 03.2020
PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Diocese of Rockville Center
08.2013 - 10.2013
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish
08.2012 - 05.2013
ADMINISTRATOR: THREE CLUSTER PARISHES
Diocese Of Belleville
01.2006 - 08.2012
Master of Health Administration - Health Administration
NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY
Embedded Ethics Resource (EER) - Ethical & Religious Directives For Cath Health Care Services
Presence AMITAHealth
Doctor of Ministry (DMin) - Pastoral care & counseling
Graduate Theological Foundation
Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) -
National Association of Catholic Chaplains
CPE Residency - Clinical Pastoral Education
Western Baptist Hospital
Master's of Sacred Theology - Theology
St. Joseph Major Seminary
Bachelor of Philosophy - Philosophy
St. Joseph Major Seminary
School Certificate - undefined
All Hallows Seminary