Bay pines va chaplain remains steadfast in mission to provide comfort, care | va bay pines health care | veterans affairs

The fabric of Bay Pines VA Healthcare System is woven with individuals from all walks of life, who are dedicated to serving America’s heroes; but within our Chaplain Service, Veterans may

find a form of healing that is truly intangible. As we celebrate Spiritual Care Week, Chaplain Kaylla Cooper reflects on the pride that’s evoked by caring for others, in times of joy and

extreme adversity. “My mother is a VA chaplain and a retired U.S. Army chaplain so being able to witness her work, sparked my curiosity,” shared the U.S. Army reserve captain. “I really

can't think of a time in my life that I haven’t been in church. More importantly, I can't think of a time where I've not felt some sense of responsibility and urgency to serve

the Lord in a much deeper context.”   Cooper, who hails from a military family, spent her entire life knowing she would join the Armed Forces, but it wasn’t until adulthood that she felt

called to become a chaplain. In time, that calling evolved into a want to serve Veterans. “You really have to come into this with an open mind, because you're sitting with people from

all faiths, traditions, and cultures,” the Atlanta, Georgia native shared. “Not everyone is comfortable with that.” In addition to being unbiased, becoming a VA chaplain can be a lengthy

process. To provide faith-based services at the VA, one must obtain a Master of Divinity, receive ordination and an endorsement, then complete clinical pastoral care training. Once those

prerequisites are met, they must acquire their board certification. For Cooper, the nearly 10 years it took to earn her title as a VA chaplain was well worth it. “It’s exciting to know that

I can serve the Lord in this capacity. I’ve joined a team where I have an opportunity to bring my perspective to the table,” Cooper shared. “With the support of my chief and the rest of my

team, I find a lot of joy in what I do.” When Cooper joined Bay Pines VA last year, she became the first woman chaplain in the healthcare system’s 90-year history. In her role, she serves as

the only chaplain for Bay Pines VA’s Lee County Healthcare Center as well as the VA Clinics in our southern catchment area. “My daily responsibilities vary, but the Veterans always come

first,” Cooper stated. “As long as I don’t already have a spiritual session on my calendar, then I always have time to meet with them. Veterans have total agency, so the care I provide is

dependent on the type of services they would like to receive.” Whether it’s leading individual sessions or group activities, Cooper remains committed to uncovering new ways to effectively

care for those she serves. “Being a VA chaplain is important to me because I've been given an opportunity to be the person to walk with them, journey with them and, when they don't

want to talk, to sit with them,” Cooper shared. “If I wasn’t caring for Veterans, I just couldn't imagine what else I would be doing.”