HOSPITAL
DUKE
DURHAM, N. C.
December, 1056
New Chaplain Named
at Duke
To those who have sought and found
pastoral care while patients in a hospi
tal, the importance of this service is
well known.
A calm, friendly young minister has
been seen on Duke Hospital halls
since July 1, and i)atients and staff
will be seeing a great deal moi’e of
him as the months go by.
He’s the Rev. Paul W. Aitken, and
he’s Duke Hospital’s new chaplain.
Mr. Aitken succeeds Dr. Russell
Dicks, professor of pastoral care in
^^le University Divinity School, and
^^s arrival marks a newly-intensified
program in Duke Hospital’s effort to
provide for its patients’ spiritual
needs
Mr. Aitken and his two Divinity
student assistants, Frank Crim and
Ted Hofman, will continue the Hos
pital chaplaincy policy of individual
attention to patients. There is no
routine bed to bed visitation program,
Mr. Aitken explains, because the
limits of time and personnel make
complete coverage of the hospital im
possible. Their efforts will continue,
therefore, to be concentrated upon the
critically ill and their families and
upon pre-operative ])atients.
The Chaplain and his staff see pa
tients upon the i’equest of their friends
and through family contacts, and
upon referrals from doctors, nurses
and other interested persons. The
goal is that of good pastoral care
such as ministers provide their local
congregations. Specially trained for
service in this growing field, the hos-
^|)ital chaplain devotes full-time to
^Biis important phase of the ministry.
Mr. Aitken will also work closely with
■ ■" '0
f
Paul W. Aitken
Dr. Dicks in the exisiting chaplaincy
training program which is being ex
panded under Dr. Dick’s direction.
A native of Pennsylvania, the new
chaplain is a graduate of Morris Haw
ley College in Charleston, W. Va.
and of the Duke Divinity School
and has had seven years of ministe
rial experience at a number of church
es. His hospital experiences in min
istering to his own congregations and
his student work with Dr. Dicks at
Duke Hospital led him into his full
time chaplaincy work. The results of
his dedicated approach to his work
and quiet, reassuring manner with
])atients and their families are alreadj^
evident. In addition to liis work at
Duke, Mr. Aitken is sharing his time
with Keely Institute in Greensboro,
where he is setting up a chaplaincy
program.
Mr. Aitken and his wife, Ruth
Ellen, and their sou Danny, three, are
making their home at 1152 Delano St.
Auxiliary Starts Two
New Services
Two new services staffed by Aux
iliary volunteers are now' in operation.
The Feeding Service is exactly what
the name implies. Five days a w'eek,
Monday through Friday, between 5
and 6 P. M., Auxiliary members help
feed the young patients on Matas
Ward. The volunteers who have as
sumed this responsibility at a difficult
hour of the day are Liggett and Myers
hostesses and school teachers. It is
hoped that this service will become
a permanent phase of Aiixiliary work,
and that someday it can be extended,
also, to Howland Ward.
The second new job uiulertaken by
the Auxiliary is a liegistration Ser
vice f(»' Kirhy Clinic. This is now
staffed on Monday and Wednesday
mornings, and may someday include
Friday morning, also. These volun
teers not only register patients but
they also answer the telephone, help
with filing and do whatever clerical
w'ork they can. By the time Kirby
Clinic moves into the new building,
this should be an established ser
vice.—EveUpt’ Stead
Christmas Parties
The annual Christmas party
for subsidiary workers will be
held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.,
Thursday, Dec. 20, Entertain
ment will be featured during the
open house.
On Friday, Dec. 21, wage em
ployees will gather for their an
nual party, to be held from 2:30
to 4:30 p.m. in the amphitheater.
A show featuring employees will
begin at 2:30 and will be repeat
ed at 3:30 p.m.