Site Mission:

We exist to provide quality health services to our community.

Chaplaincy Values:

We believe that all persons are of worth and that being human has many expressions. Each expression deserves attention. And all health changes, big or small, impact the whole fabric of life.

About the Site:

All students who select this clinical setting should bring the results of their tuberculosis test to the August site orientation. Students will not be allowed to begin site work until they have received a T.B. skin test, and the test result has been given to the site supervisor. In addition, students are encouraged to get a flu shot from their personal physician or public health center.

With roots that go back over 60 years, Gwinnett Medical Center now includes two hospitals plus additional supporting medical facilities, with more than 4,100 employees and 800 affiliated physicians. Gwinnett Medical Center is a not-for-profit healthcare network providing a wide array of high-quality services and facilities to Gwinnett and the surrounding area.

Our Goal:

We want to be the leading hospital system in the region—not only because we provide vital and compassionate services, but because we also invest in early intervention and preventive care. We want to transform healthcare in Gwinnett County and beyond by providing the highest quality care available.

This fall GMC Con Ed I students will meet each Wednesday from 1:00–2:30 p.m. at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville for the Reflection Group meeting. The clinical ministry site work will take place Wednesdays, between 9:00-5:00 p.m. In spring the Integrated Seminars will take place on Tusesday afternoon from 2:30–4:30 p.m. at Candler School of Theology. Students are supported by other chaplain staff and CPE chaplain residents as the students visit with families and patients.

A Student's Perspective:

"The site-work segment of Con Ed was undoubtedly the most formative time of my first year at Candler. As a chaplain on the floor of the Duluth Gwinnett Medical Hospital, I had the opportunity to minister to people of all different faiths or no faith at all. One of the greatest lessons was understanding that I was not there to spiritually 'fix' patients, but to listen to them and allow them a chance to reflect and respond spiritually to their circumstance. Listening is something that we all can do and something that is essential to chaplaincy. I am using my experience as a result of my Con Ed experience in many ways. The experience led me to the realization that God will, and is, using me to meet the needs of God's people through pastoral care. I found that the more people I saw, the more the Spirit moved me to want to meet with more. The experience taught me patience, courage to speak to those who are not like me, and the ability to sit quietly with someone who didn’t even speak the same language as I did. God used me in my willingness to simply be present. My site supervisor Lynne instilled confidence and assured me. She was slow to criticize and quick to praise.

The site was about 45 minutes from the campus, but only 20 minutes from my home so it worked out nicely for me. Many of my classmates carpooled together and were able to have fruitful discussions on the way home.

I would choose this site if I had it to do all over again, because we were treated as chaplains, not as 'first-year seminary students' or junior chaplains, or chaplains in training. We were it, and it gave us the freedom and the challenge to rise to that calling."