The Pastoral Care Team
at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – New Brunswick
Rev. Christine Davies, MDiv, MSW
Director
Christine is a New Jersey native and an ACPE-Certified Educator. She is
ordained as a Minister of Word & Sacrament within the Presbyterian
Church (USA). She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological
Seminary and a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University. Prior to
entering chaplaincy, Christine was a counselor for addiction and mental
health. She has led the Chaplaincy Services department at NYU Langone
Medical Center in NYC, was the CPE Coordinator at Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center and a staff chaplain at Methodist Hospital in Philadelphia.
Christine and her husband are raising two energetic sons.
Rev. Amy Fairbanks Seat
Manager, CPE Program
Rev. Amy Fairbanks Seat is an ACPE Certified Educator and an ordained minister
in the United Church of Christ. She holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton
Theological Seminary and is experienced as a chaplain in a range settings
including hospice, behavioral health, a level 1 trauma center, and corrections.
Originally from Texas, Amy and her husband met in seminary and returned
to New Jersey after a few years in St. Louis, MO where Amy completed her
CPE residency at Saint Louis University Hospital. Since returning to New
Jersey, Amy was a staff chaplain, coordinator, and then manager of CPE
at Penn Medicine Princeton Health and a chaplain educator at Morristown
Medical Center. Amy currently lives in Hillsborough with her husband,
son, and cat.
Chaplain Gavan Meehan, MDiv, JD
Staff Chaplain
Gavan joined the RWJBarnabas Health New Brunswick team as a staff chaplain
in 2017, specializing in oncology chaplaincy and palliative care. Previously,
he served as the staff chaplain at Bridgeport Hospital and as hospice
chaplain for Constellation Health Services in Connecticut. Gavan completed
his CPE Residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 2015, after retiring from
his prior career as an attorney. He holds degrees from Harvard College,
Yale Divinity School and the University of Connecticut School of Law,
and is a certified mediator. A parishioner at St. Peter the Apostle Roman
Catholic Church, New Brunswick, Gavan is board certified through the National
Association of Catholic Chaplains. His self-care includes hiking, choral
singing, pilgrimaging, and exploring New Jersey.
Apara Mahal
Office Coordinator
Apara is a 2018 CPE graduate who has worked for Robert Wood Johnson University
Hospital for over nine years. Prior to joining the Pastoral Care Department,
Apara worked in the Emergency Room as a registrar. She holds a Master
of Public Administration, Health Policy and Management concentration from
Seton Hall University. Her proudest accomplishment is her memoir,
Angel Child, which she published in 2015. She is also the author of many children's
books. Apara lives in South Bound Brook with her two cats.
Rev. Ramon Orostizaga, MDiv, ThM
Spanish Speaking Chaplain
Native of Chile S.A., Ramon completed his undergraduate and theological
education in his home country, where he was also ordained in 1996 as a
Minister of Word and Sacrament in the National Presbyterian Church of
Chile. He moved to the United States in 2001 and received a call from
a Latino congregation of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
He ministered to this Spanish-speaking congregation, whose membership
consisted of people from various countries of Latin America, and their
cultures as well as dialects differed greatly. Ramon took a break from
congregational ministry after 10 years and entered Princeton Theological
Seminary, where he earned his Master of Divinity and Master of Theology
degrees. He is married and a proud father of three daughters.
Rev. Ann B. Shamy, MDiv
Perinatal and Pediatric Chaplain
Ann graduated from University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science
in Sociology and a Master of Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
She is a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.) and Certified as a Clinical Chaplain by College of Pastoral Supervision
and Psychotherapy. Ann covers perinatal and Children's Services at RWJUH
New Brunswick in 2W, 3T, and at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital.
Rev. Jerrold Smith Jr., MDiv, BCC
Staff Chaplain
Jerrold grew up in a loving home in the south suburbs of Chicago. He received
a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Howard University and a Master of
Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Jerrold is board certified
by the Association of Professional Chaplains and is an ordained minister
with Baptist roots and an affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ). He is happily married to the love of his life and together
they have five beautiful daughters.