Spiritual/Pastoral Care Staff

Dennis Gonzales, Ph.D., is senior director of mission innovation and integration at the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA). Based in CHA’s St. Louis office, Dr. Gonzales oversees the design and production of numerous CHA programs, meetings and member convenings in addition to the development of formation and mission resources for use across the Catholic health ministry.Most recently, he served as the regional vice president for mission integration at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System and The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. Initially joining CHRISTUS Health in 2008 as a quality and performance improvement facilitator, he soon moved to director of the organizational development department, and then vice president for mission and spirituality at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Health System in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Gonzales is a graduate of the prestigious CHRISTUS Leadership & Ethics Academy, which recognizes and prepares promising leaders for the future of the Catholic health ministry.Prior to joining CHRISTUS Health, he served as associate dean for academics at a small, private university where courses in health care administration, computer technology, business and general education were offered. He has also served as a regional director and senior consultant for a multi-site medical case management company based in Southern California. A former De La Salle Christian Brother, he was a high school instructor of ethics, theology, church history, Christian and Hebrew Scriptures, government and economics.At CHA he authors bi-monthly columns for CHA’s journal, Health Progress, and is responsible for oversite of CHA’s Mission Leader Advisory Committee, as well as a variety of task forces, seminars and forums sponsored by CHA.He holds a doctoral degree in organizational development from the University of New Mexico; a master’s degree, earned Magna Cum Laude, from San Diego State University’s Department of Educational Technology, with an emphasis in organizational development; and a bachelor’s degree in political science and education, earned Magna Cum Laude, from Loyola University in New Orleans, with a minor in Spanish. Dr. Gonzales is certified in Conflict Management and Workplace Mediation and is fluent in Spanish.Contact

Jill Fisk, MATM, is director of mission services for the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA). In her role based at CHA's St. Louis office, Ms. Fisk provides resources and facilitation to the Mission Services department, specifically in mission integration, spiritual care and well-being. Together with CHA's senior director of mission innovation and integration, she collaborates with CHA members to address key ministry priorities by convening and creating content to support ministry leaders in the areas of spiritual care, well-being, and workplace spirituality, integrating their work as mission.Prior to joining CHA, Ms. Fisk served Mercy Health Ministry in St. Louis as a mission and formation specialist. She holds a master's degree in theology and ministry from Fuller Theological Seminar, a certificate of spiritual direction from Aquinas Institute of Theology and a bachelor's degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University. She maintains a commitment to  offer whole-person care through spiritual direction, Christ-centered yoga classes and contemplative retreats.Contact