Dr. Rev. Charles Parker is the Director of Hospice Division for the Spiritual Care Association and the Director of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Education for Traditions Health. Additionally, his duties include direct patient care as a Hospice Chaplain / Bereavement Coordinator. Dr. Parker is an Air Force Veteran with over 17 years of active duty service that includes 6 years with the Department of Aerospace Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi. With over 12 years of ministry experience, Dr. Parker’s chaplaincy background includes acute care, oncology, palliative care, and hospice care. Chaplain Parker was the Lead Chaplain for Palladium Hospice and Palliative Care and an Addictions Counselor for the Next Step Program at Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services. He has earned both a Masters of Divinity in Chaplaincy and a Doctor of Education in Pastoral Counseling. His research focus has been self-care and self- compassion, and he has published on these topics in the Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy. Dr. Parker is a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) and an Advanced Practice Board Certified Chaplain with Hospice and Palliative Care specialty (APBCC-HPC) member of the Spiritual Care Association (SCA). He is a caregiver for the SCA Time for Compassion program and serves on the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) Spiritual Caregiver Steering Committee.