Courtney Hester, MHA, MDiv, BCC

Courtney Hester is the Director of Spiritual Care Services. As Director, Courtney supports the Spiritual Care Department staff in their day-to-day routines, and she oversees the CPE and Spiritual Counseling Internship programs. As an ACPE Certified Educator Candidate, Courtney routinely leads groups of students in Baptist’s CPE program. Courtney received her CPE training as an intern and resident at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was assigned to several oncology units.

Prior to serving as Director of Spiritual Care Services, Courtney Hester was an Associate Director and Lead Chaplain for Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she offered specialized spiritual care to the patients, family and staff in the outpatient cancer center setting, including radiation, infusion, oncology clinics and the Hill Breast Center. As part of her care for patients, families and staff, she created and implemented a family grief card program, established a Spiritual Distress Screening for patients and oversaw the creation of outpatient staff support programs. She also previously worked as program director to the Andrew P. Stewart Center, a non-profit organization located in downtown Atlanta.

Courtney has a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida, a MDiv from McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, and a MHA from the University of North Florida. She is endorsed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and is a Board-Certified Chaplain through the APC.

Courtney enjoys giving back by routinely serving on APC board certification committees. She and her husband live in Jacksonville, Florida, with their two children, and their Corgi.