Deborah Schmidt, MA, JD, BCC
Jewish Chaplain
Deborah is a board-certified chaplain and serves as a Jewish chaplain at Cedars-Sinai. In her position as the weekend chaplain, she serves all patients.
Most recently Deborah earned a master's degree at the Academy of Jewish Religion-California and a certificate in chaplaincy. She completed five units of clinical pastoral education, three of them at Cedars-Sinai, one at UCLA-Santa Monica and one with Skirball Hospice. During her fifth unit, Deborah focused on healthcare ethics and worked closely with the Cedars-Sinai Center for Healthcare Ethics.
Deborah is a member of the Association of Professional Chaplains and Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains. In addition, she completed training as a spiritual director with Yedidyah Center for Jewish Spiritual Direction. She was also trained as a reiki practitioner. Deborah sees Jewish inmates at the Los Angeles County jails.
Prior to entering into a career as a chaplain, Deborah worked for 25 years as a business lawyer. She graduated from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, cum laude, received a master's from the University of Pennsylvania in international relations and a bachelor's, cum laude, in political science from Barnard College.
She feels blessed to provide spiritual support to those who are most vulnerable, and to be supported by the Cedars-Sinai Spiritual Care team.
Give us a call or send a message for an appointment or hospital visit.