Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Written on a dry erase board in Doug West's office is the proverb, "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime."
As the new Kosciusko Community Hospital director of the chaplaincy ministry, the proverb could apply to West's own life.
On one hand, as a chaplain, he's helping four different groups of people - physicians and staff, patients and families, the chaplaincy association and Kosciusko County pastors - learn to deal with the ups and downs of life. On the other hand, he's a part-time student at Grace Seminary.
Originally from Muncie, West married his wife, Kathleen, in Warsaw 12 years ago. They have three sons and a daughter - Aaron, 11; Nathaniel, 9; Kevin, 7; and Marie, 4.
Before moving back to Warsaw and taking the KCH job, West worked five years with Campus Life and eight years in pastoral ministry.
"Our family moved to Warsaw so I could continue theological studies at Grace Seminary," West said Friday. He is enrolled in their master of divinity program, taking one course per semester. "We've been here 1-1/2 years."
He said, "As a chaplain, I work with four groups of people: all the men and women who serve as chaplain associates, I will be giving direction and encouragement and coaching to them. The second group is the KCH physicians and staff. They're here on a day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month basis. I'll help them do the most effective work they can.
"The third group is, of course, the patients and families who come here for care."
The fourth group is Kosciusko County pastors. West will serve area pastors in their ministries to patients and families by providing supportive crisis care and prompt notification and referral services.
As he works with the groups, teaching them how "to fish," he said, "by its nature, continuity is always important in any kind of job and this job is no exception. So I'm hoping to bring continuity to the hospital's ministry to the community."
