Carla Gober, PhD (cand)
Director, Center for Spiritual Life and Wholeness
Assistant Professor, School of Religion, LLU
Coleman Pavilion, 11121P
Phone (office): (909) 558-7786
Education
Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)
PhD, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, (area of Person, Community and Religious Life),
in progress, 2000-present
Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)
One year of graduate studies in Religion and Psychology, 1999-2000
Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, CA)
MS, Marriage, Family and Child Counseling, 1994
Loma Linda Univesity (Loma Linda, CA)
MPH, Public Health Education and Promotion, 1985
Southern Missionary College (Collegedale, TN)
BA, Religious Studies, 1981
AS, Nursing, 1981
Newbold College (England)
One year of studies abroad, 1978-79
Professional Experience
Director, Center for Spiritual Life & Wholeness, 2005 – present
Loma Linda University Health Sciences Center, Loma Linda, CA
Assistant Professor of Religion, Relational Studies 1996-present
School of Religion, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Associate Director, Center for Spiritual Life & Wholeness 1997-2005
Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Relational Studies 1992-95
Faculty of Religion, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Coordinator, Spiritual Care Nursing Bereavement Programs 1995-97
Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA
Coordinator, Critical Incident Stress Management Program 1996-97
Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA
Marriage and Family Counselor Intern 1995-98
Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, LLU
Spiritual Care Nurse Specialist 1985-95
Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA
Coordinator of Hospital Bereavement Programs 1987-95
Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA
Peer Support Program Counselor 1993-9
Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA
Professional Presentations Multiple presentations given at conferences (some for continuing education) Examples include:
Sociology Conference, 2007, San Jose, CA
“Forgiveness, attachment and meaning” – presentation
Interdisciplinary Responses to Trauma Conference – Emory University, 2005
“Remembering I when ‘I’ was not there” – presentation
Cardiology conference (Oregon, 1998)
"Spirituality and healing in medical practice" - presentation
Association of pediatric oncology nursing (APON, TX, 1998)
“Matters of the heart: the grief experience of pediatric families”
National APON Convention (Association of Pediatric Nursing) (NY, NY, 1997)
“Wholeness for the Healthcare Professional” (presentation on personal genogram work, family dynamics, and
relationship of personal relationships to professional life)
Romania nursing convention (for all medical professionals) (Braila, Romania, 1997)
"Dealing with bereavement in the healthcare setting"
"Spirituality within medicine and nursing" - presentation
"Wholeness for the healthcare professional" – presentation
Full Potential Health, Linking Spirituality and Health - (Florida, 1997)
"Moving beyond ‘Healer, heal thyself’: Wholeness for the healthcare professional" - presentation
Perinatal Symposium - (CA, 1996)
"Stress and the healthcare professional" (presentation on the impact of loss to the individual and the ability to care for others) - presentation
SCAPON (Southern California Association of Pediatric Oncology Nursing) Symposium - (CA, 1996)
"Dream it, live it, do it now!"
Perinatal Symposium - (CA, 1995)
"Caring without losing: dealing with death and dying" - presentation
SCAPON (Southern California Association of Pediatric Oncology Nursing) Symposium - (CA, 1995)
"Hearts on Fire - dealing with loss in oncology nursing" - presentation
Honors/Awards
Young Alumna of the Year - Southern Adventist University 1998
Who's Who in Teaching (nominated by students two times) 1997
Delta Omega (Kappa Chapter) National Public Health Honor Society 1991-92
Dean's Scholarship Award - LLU 1983-84
Radio/TV Interviews
Redlands, CA - Dealing with depression and grief during the holiday season
Bucharest, Romania - Spirituality within medicine and nursing
Braila, Romania (TV) - Spirituality within medicine and nursing
Northern California - The use of storytelling within speaking and writing
Programs developed/implemented
CARE (Comfort and Recovery Experiences) Adult Bereavement Program
HOPES (Healing of Parents Experiencing Sorrow) Pediatric Bereavement Program
Critical Incident Stress Management Program
Resolve Through Sharing Perinatal Bereavement Program (National program implemented at LLUMC)
Research experience
Development of a University Assessment Instrument/System, 2007—present (in progress)
Combined qualitative/quantitative project for doctoral work (dissertation)
Topic: Autobiographical memory, attachment, trauma, and meaning
Qualitative study (Emory University)
Topic: Family construction of meaning around illness
Development of a six page research instrument to test the concept of wholeness in an academic setting. First, Qualitative research was used to define categories that should be considered. Once the tool was developed, it was piloted in a group of approximately 150 students. Since then it has been distributed to approximately 2000 students. It is still in the process of being validated.
Ethnographic study (qualitative research class)
Research topic: Men’s emotional and thought patterns related to the death of a pre-term baby
Publications
Gober, Carla, 2004. Care of the dying and bereaved. In Spirituality, Health and Wholeness: An Introductory guide for healthcare professionals. New York: Haworth Press.
Professional Licensure
California State Board of Nurses, License #359712
Marriage and Family Therapist Intern
Ministerial license
