Subject Area
Theology/Religious Education
Abstract
Systemic racism against minorities has woven its way into every facet of everyday existence, especially for Black Americans, and Healthcare is no exception. There are numerous proven instances of unfair and inequitable treatment of marginalized patients throughout the Healthcare system, and some have even caused Black patients to lose their lives. The mistreatment of Black and Brown people during perhaps one of the most vulnerable times of their lives is well documented dating back centuries. There are massive cuts to Medicaid, and insurance premiums are steadily going up making it very cumbersome for the poor and disenfranchised to navigate the system when they are ill. Chaplains who witness injustice against vulnerable patients experience moral injury leading not only to burn out, but also guilt, frustration and anger. Chaplains who are valuable members of the medical Interdisciplinary team are going to have to use their expertise coupled with boldness and compassion to advocate for the marginalized and speak truth to power. I shall address articles and research on the subject of unconscious and implicit biases as it relates specifically to the minority community and their patient/doctor interactions. Also, I shall share of experiences that I have personally encountered which further give credence to the issue of the vulnerable state of minority patients. The term moral injury is relatively new for most professionals working in the Healthcare field. However, research will show that moral injury has been around for some time now and the concept originated from the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This project aims to highlight and address systemic racism and the moral injury it causes. It also provides viable and practical solutions for implementing how to deal with its crippling effects.
Degree Date
Spring 5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
D.Min.
Department
Perkins School of Theology
Advisor
Dr. Dallas Gingle
Second Advisor
Dr. April Bristow
Third Advisor
Dr. Elias Lopez
Number of Pages
176
Format
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Drew, Stephanie, "Moral Injury among Healthcare Chaplains: Responding to Systemic Racism through Ethical Advocacy and Spiritual Care" (2026). Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses. 67.
https://scholar.smu.edu/theology_ministry_etds/67
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