Please read the below message from HMSL CEO, Chris Siebenaler:
Sugar Land Team,
I am pleased to announce Robert Vitela as our Spiritual Care and Values Integration Director.
Robert comes to us from Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital where he has served for 2-and-a-half years. Robert served Clear Lake faithfully and was an anchor during the COVID-19 pandemic. This opportunity will allow him to grow in his role as a director by supporting and overseeing a larger Spiritual Care team.
Robert began his career in clinical chaplaincy by completing his chaplain residency at Houston Methodist Hospital in 2014 and was subsequently hired. He supported patients and staff in Houston Methodist Hospital’s Cardiovascular Intensive Care, Intermediate Cardiovascular Care, Cardiac Care Step-down units, and in non-clinical areas such as the HM Research Institute. Robert moved into his role as Director of Spiritual Care and Values Integration at Clear Lake in 2020. One of his many accomplishments while there was developing the first 24-hour chaplain support line, which offers emotional and spiritual support to patients and staff on inpatient units. This proved to be a crucial resource during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His broad range of professional experience includes roles outside of healthcare. He worked in governmental relations and policy development in state government and trained independent school district staff throughout Texas on HIPPA and Medicaid guidelines.
He completed his Master of Divinity degree from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, and his Bachelor of Arts in History and Politics from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
Supporting hospital staff is near and dear to his heart. Mentoring and supporting chaplain residents while at HMH gave him an appreciation of the critical importance of guiding new chaplains’ professional development to enhance staff and patient care.
Robert loves the outdoors – especially if it involves hiking or mountain biking, or even backpacking in the remote wilderness. He loves trying new restaurants and spending time with friends and family. He is one of five siblings and jokes that his parents stopped trying for a daughter after having five sons.
I have no doubt that his interest and experience in building and sustaining our unique culture and living out spiritual care within the hospital and throughout the community will be beneficial to HMSL and our leadership team.
You will see him rounding at HMSL periodically starting but has graciously agreed to continue to serve HMCL in this role through current leadership transitions, which includes hiring his replacement.
I look forward to seeing the impact he will make on our campus. Please give him a warm welcome when you see him.
Thank you,
Chris Siebenaler
Regional Executive Vice President, CEO
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