Dave Carper, MDiv, BCC

David J. Carper is a dedicated healthcare professional with a strong background in spiritual care, counseling, and leadership. He holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Ohio University. David is a Board-Certified Chaplain (BCC) through the Board of Certified Chaplaincy Inc., and is both ordained and endorsed by the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Since 2007, David has been with Bluegrass Care Navigators, a leading provider of hospice and palliative care. In his current role as Counseling Resource Officer, David has spearheaded several key initiatives, including the creation of a Code Lavender Team, which provides compassionate debriefing to staff following traumatic workplace events. His advocacy efforts also extend beyond the organization, as he has served as a My Hospice Ambassador for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, where he champions hospice and palliative care policies at both state and federal levels. He was also selected for an Innovation Team, which developed creative solutions for patient care, earning the Hospice Innovation Award in 2022 for leading grief support initiatives for individuals displaced by the Kentucky floods.

Honestly, it wasn't a field I would have ever chosen for myself. It has been a calling for me. Early in my career before graduating from seminary, I remember asking about an internship at hospice (palliative care wasn't an option at the time). I was told it was a difficult placement and felt like they were trying to talk me out of it. But it intrigued me and applied for my first unit of clinical pastoral education at Hospice of the Bluegrass. During my time there, I experienced a whole new world of compassionate care I didn't know existed and found a lot of my gifts and graces were affirmed during this experience. Caring for the serious ill has been a life passion and am grateful to have been able to be a part of it for most of my career. I have found that the patient and families have been my best teachers.

Early in my career I was fortunate enough to work with a lot of experienced clinicians dedicated to serving the seriously ill. I remember one particular supervisor who taught me what to do when there wasn't anything to say or do when visiting a patient. If I felt "stuck" he taught me to ask the following question, "How can I be here for you?" A few weeks later I found myself at the bedside of a patient who was actively dying. He was still able to speak but was only selectively. As I held his hand quietly, I eventually got the courage to ask him the question my supervisor taught me. And his response was so beautifully simple, "Just be here". He died later that evening. Sometimes we just need to be and that can be the greatest gift any of us can offer.

I currently serve as the Counseling Resource Officer for our agency. In this role, I serve all of our agency social workers, chaplains and bereavement counselors. Because of those before me who have opened the doors, I am the first person trained as a chaplain to serve in this position. Beforehand it had traditionally been held by a social worker. And I am grateful for my predecessor and previous supervisor who had the confidence in me to step into this role. I am very proud of the social workers, chaplains and bereavement counselors I serve and am grateful to be able to advocate and support their complex needs to serve our vulnerable population.

My great love is backpacking. And while I enjoy the sights, smells and sounds one can only find on the trail in the secluded reaches of the great outdoors, it is the camping I enjoy the most. I love to "piddle" as I set up camp and relax in the evening after a long day on the trail. It is amazing how the hours can roll by without even a thought. It is truly relaxing for me, and I look forward to it on every hike.