MARTIN E. FOLAN
Freeport
Summary
Board Certified Chaplain and Roman Catholic healthcare administrator trained in Leadership and Program Development, Ethics, Mission Integration, Spirituality, Hospice, Palliative Care and Chaplaincy.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Palliative Care Chaplain
CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital
06.2023 - 10.2025
- Enhanced spiritual support for Palliative Care patients and their families.
- Identified signs of distress in patients and caregivers to provide appropriate interventions.
- Served as a key resource for spiritual care and counseling within Palliative Care team.
- Facilitated sacramental needs of patients, fostering spiritual well-being and comfort.
- Collaborated in developing patient care plans through goals of care conversations.
- Guided bereaved individuals through grief, offering resources and support for healing.
Hospice Chaplain
St. Croix Hospice
11.2022 - 06.2023
- Enhanced emotional processing through life reviews with patients and families.
- Provided compassionate spiritual care to veterans and lower-middle-class patients.
- Led dignified graveside memorial services honoring patients’ lives and memories.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to create tailored patient care plans.
- Acted as liaison for community chaplains, connecting them with essential resources.
- Supported bereavement director in assisting families for 13 months after loss.
Chaplain and Director, Mission Integration & Spirituality
Essentia-St. Joseph Medical Center
02.2021 - 04.2022
- Enhanced spiritual support for patients and families as dedicated chaplain.
- Supervised Spiritual Care Staff, improving service delivery and team performance.
- Implemented biweekly Spiritual Enrichment activities for diverse patient populations.
- Collaborated with leadership to establish Mission Vision & Values Awards program.
- Facilitated advance directives completion, ensuring all patient wishes were honored.
- Developed ethics training module for nursing staff across the healthcare system.
Director, Mission Integration & Spirituality Chaplain, Hospital and Palliative Care
Mercy Hospital & Medical Center
12.2014 - 02.2021
- Served diverse populations, including Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic communities.
- Presented Mission Integration programs to Management Team and new employees bi-monthly.
- Launched Advance Directive Workflow process to educate patients on Advance Care Planning.
- Facilitated Living Our Values Colleague Recognition program to honor monthly and annual achievements.
- Coordinated quarterly Memorial Services for families of deceased loved ones in the community.
- Developed Mission Integration programming during transition from Sisters of Mercy to Trinity Health.
Director of Spiritual & Pastoral Services / Hospital and Hospice Chaplain
St. Nicholas Hospital
08.2006 - 08.2014
- Achieved 100% participation in Colleague Engagement Survey through effective team leadership.
- Developed 24/7 spiritual programming to enrich patients' hospital experiences.
- Empowered chaplain team to implement strategies improving patient satisfaction scores.
- Coordinated Lunch and Learn sessions enhancing ethics education for physicians and staff.
- Established High School Support Groups addressing community needs for psychiatric illness support.
- Facilitated healing ceremonies, aiding patients in coping with PTSD-related issues.
Chaplain Resident
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital
08.2005 - 08.2006
- Enhanced patient outcomes by assessing needs in Emergency Room and Orthopedics.
- Facilitated personal growth by identifying and removing obstacles in patients' lives.
- Developed and presented weekly Spiritual Activity program for patient care team enrichment.
- Collaborated in creating comprehensive treatment plans as part of Interdisciplinary Team.
- Co-facilitated Grief Group, supporting families through the grieving process.
- Coordinated meaningful Memorial Services for families after losing loved ones.
Education
Certificate - Dementia – 8 courses
Center To Advance Palliative Care
01.2025
Catholic Ethics for Mission Leaders Program
Catholic Health Association, St. Louis, MO
St. Louis, MO01.2020
Certification - Chaplain Fellow
Coleman Palliative Medicine Fellowship
01.2017
Certification - Board Certified Chaplain
National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Orlando, FL
Orlando, FL01.2009
CPE - Residency –4 Units
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Elmhurst, IL
Elmhurst, IL01.2006
CPE - Extended Unit
Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL
Park Ridge, IL01.2005
Certification - Field Advocate for Annulments
Diocese of Joliet, Frankfort, IL
Frankfort, IL01.2004
Course - Liturgical Catechesis
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL01.2000
Course - Youth Ministry Certification
Center for Youth Ministry Development, Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL01.1997
Masters - Pastoral Studies Degree
Loyola University Chicago/ IPS, Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL01.1994
Graduate Studies - Adolescent and Adult Counseling
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Carbondale, IL01.1988
Bachelor of Science Degree - Journalism
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Carbondale, IL01.1986
General Studies
Blackburn College, Carlinville, IL
Carlinville, IL01.1982
Skills
- Grief support
- Records management
- Spiritual care
- Materials preparation
Accomplishments
Presented seminar, Spirituality: the Essence of Your Being,
at the National Association of Catholic Chaplains' annual conference in Buffalo, NY in 2025.
Co-led the design and implementation of a new Spiritual Assessment tool to inform health care professionals about patients’ spiritual needs to improve spiritual outcomes.
Utilized Meaningful Frames of Reference tools for patient Life Reviews to help patients synthesize their life experiences into a fulfilling and positive narrative.
Happily Ever After Endings Journeyed with 36 Palliative Care patients through their end-of-life journey, ensured their physical, emotional and spiritual needs were met, and facilitated peaceful transitions and positive family closure.
Co-designed and implemented Advance Directive Workflow process with Nursing and Admissions and increased completion of HealthCare Directives among minority populations by 300 percent.
Developed and launched an adolescent mental wellness group focused on building resilience and reducing stigma among teens with psychiatric diagnoses.
Designed and implemented a dedicated media channel for pastoral and spiritual care to ensure 24/7 availability of supportive content for patients, families and staff.
Developed an Introduction to Ethics module for RNs system-wide.
Wrote, published and sold 1,000 copies of book, From Impossible to I'm Possible, and donated proceeds to charitable organizations.
Certification
Certified Chaplain Fellow with Coleman Palliative Medicine, Chicago, IL, 2015-17
Board Certified Chaplain with National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Milwaukee, WI, 2008
Timeline
Palliative Care Chaplain
CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital
06.2023 - 10.2025
Hospice Chaplain
St. Croix Hospice
11.2022 - 06.2023
Chaplain and Director, Mission Integration & Spirituality
Essentia-St. Joseph Medical Center
02.2021 - 04.2022
Director, Mission Integration & Spirituality Chaplain, Hospital and Palliative Care
Mercy Hospital & Medical Center
12.2014 - 02.2021
Director of Spiritual & Pastoral Services / Hospital and Hospice Chaplain
St. Nicholas Hospital
08.2006 - 08.2014
Chaplain Resident
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital
08.2005 - 08.2006
Catholic Ethics for Mission Leaders Program
Catholic Health Association, St. Louis, MO
Certification - Chaplain Fellow
Coleman Palliative Medicine Fellowship
Certification - Board Certified Chaplain
National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Orlando, FL
CPE - Residency –4 Units
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Elmhurst, IL
CPE - Extended Unit
Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL
Certification - Field Advocate for Annulments
Diocese of Joliet, Frankfort, IL
Course - Liturgical Catechesis
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL
Course - Youth Ministry Certification
Center for Youth Ministry Development, Chicago, IL
Masters - Pastoral Studies Degree
Loyola University Chicago/ IPS, Chicago, IL
Graduate Studies - Adolescent and Adult Counseling
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Bachelor of Science Degree - Journalism
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
General Studies
Blackburn College, Carlinville, IL
Certificate - Dementia – 8 courses
Center To Advance Palliative Care
AWARDS & HONORS
Above and Beyond Award, Junior Achievement of Chicago 2001, Honored by Illinois Library Association for book, From Impossible to I’m Possible (Professional Press) 1999, Customer Service Award, Osco Drugstore, Inc. 1990, Polly Robinson Feature Writing Scholarship 1985, William Randolph Hearst Foundation Scholarship 1984, Finalist Statewide Newman Center Essay Contest 1984, Family of the Year, State of Illinois, Knights of Columbus 1980, Certificate of Award from Secretary of State for Essay Contest 1976
PUBLICATIONS AUTHORED
- Spoke Folk 2003 (Vision Group Media) 2004
- Sojourn 2000 Servant Musical Tour (Vision Group Media) 2000
- From Impossible to I’m Possible (Professional Press) 1998
PRESENTATIONS
- National Association of Catholic Chaplains Annual Conference, Buffalo, NY 2025
- Spirituality: the Essence of Your Being
- Essentia-St. Joseph Medical Center, Brainerd, MN 2021-2022
- Emotional Well-Being
- Belief Systems
- St. Nicholas Hospital, Sheboygan, WI 2007-2014
- Prayer and Healing
- Spirituality 101
- How to Better Serve Brain-Damaged Victims
- Spirituality and Self-Care
- From Impossible to I’m Possible, Chicagoland, IL 1998-2004
- From Impossible to I’m Possible, (channel 54 UHF) (WXAV 88.3 FM)
- Chapter One (channel 43 cable)
- Public book presentations at libraries, churches and schools