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.