Providing quality care for people in all aspects of their life is part of what we do every day at Luthercare. Kelsey O’Brien plays a crucial part in those efforts by supporting residents mentally and spiritually as the Chaplain at our Lititz campus, Luther Acres—A Luthercare Community. With her extensive training and unique qualities, Kelsey is perfectly suited to the work, and we’re so glad to have her on our team!
After completing her bachelor’s degree in philosophy with a minor in theology from Moody Bible Institute, Kelsey thought she would be a theology professor. However, she discovered that she really enjoyed working with people and began to explore chaplaincy as a career path after receiving some encouragement from a mentor. From there, she attended Princeton Theological Seminary where she received her Master of Divinity. After that, she went to Hershey Medical Center where she completed her Clinical Pastoral Education—a year-long period of training that covers practical skills for working in a hospital setting, similar to a medical residency. After her training and certification, Kelsey continued to work at Hershey Medical Center as a staff chaplain for inpatient, oncology, and palliative care services. There she would provide guidance for people experiencing extremely difficult situations. In addition to her duties as a chaplain, Kelsey educated other chaplains and medical students with classes on death and dying; spirituality; and advance care planning.
After seven years at Hershey Medical Center, Kelsey was looking for a change of pace. She decided that she wanted something that focused more on her strengths of relationship building and personal interaction. Kelsey was familiar with Rev. Glenn Beard Jr., our Vice President of Church Relations & Pastoral Care, and discovered that a position was open at Luther Acres. She applied and joined Luthercare in June 2023.
At Luther Acres, Kelsey’s overall goal is providing guidance and serving as a community resource. Kelsey accomplishes this in a variety of formats. For people who enjoy group activities, her worship services, devotional groups, and chaplain chats may be ideal. For those who prefer something more private, Kelsey has one-on-one time available to talk with residents and their family members. In every setting, Kelsey makes sure everyone can feel respected and embraced by adapting to accommodate individual needs.
In addition to her work with residents, Kelsey connects with our other campus chaplains, who all share ideas and coordinate care among residents. Kelsey has a unique connection to Spang Crest Chaplain, Rev. Michael Yesenko, who she trained while at Hershey Medical Center. To connect with the larger community, Kelsey attends Warwick ministerium meetings.
For the past ten months Kelsey has enjoyed slowing down and getting to know everyone: “I’m happy here, I feel like I’m learning a lot and hearing a lot of great stories,” Kelsey said. So, if you see her on campus, feel free to say hello to Kelsey O’Brien and thank her for all the work she does!
If you’re interested in leaving a positive impact on others like Kelsey does, see our open positions here.