Rev. Harlan Ratmeyer, M. Div., D. Min.
Harlan Ratmeyer serves as the Manager of the Department of Pastoral Care and as the Supervisor for the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at Albany Med.  Harlan is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church of America, and also serves as a minister to a local congregation.  A native of Illinois, Harlan has trained and supervised in a variety of settings in Michigan, California, and Illinois, and has led the department at Albany Med since 1995. 

Elizabeth Hall, M.A.
Liz Hall is the Administrative Assistant for the Department of Pastoral Care.  A Roman Catholic, Liz completed her Master's degree in Theology at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry.  Liz completed five units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Albany Med, and has worked in her current capacity since 2001. 

Claudia Meyer, M.A., BCC
Claudia Meyer is a full-time interfaith chaplain at Albany Medical Center, and is a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association for Professional Chaplains.  After completing a master’s degree in Theology at Fuller Seminary she completed nine units of Clinical Pastoral Education at AMC.  Claudia serves on a number of hospital committees, including SNUG, Emergency Preparedness and Patient Grievance.  Claudia is also a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner and has completed Reiki Level I.

Margaret Anderton
Margaret has a long history of working in the not-for-profit sector having served as a program director for the Schenectady YMCA, director of Health and Safety Education for the American Red Cross, compliance consultant for the Capital District YMCA and, most recently, as executive director of Bethesda House of Schenectady, Inc.  She is currently enrolled full-time at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Albany in the Master of Divinity Program with an expected graduation date of May 2013.  Margaret is a member of St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Schenectady where she is a Lector, Eucharistic Minister and Catechist.  Margaret and her husband Jack have two children – Katie and Jack. Margaret loves to spend time with her family, travel, work out at the gym, is an avid reader, and enjoys the outdoors and really big roller coasters.

Julie Bablin
Julie’s background is in science having earned BS and PhD degrees in biology from the University at Albany.  She has worked as a research scientist, college instructor and tutor. She has spent much of the last decade staying home to raise her seven children. Julie experienced a calling to work with the bereaved and those undergoing life loss issues or medical crises. To this end, she returned to school and earned a certificate in Bereavement Studies from Marie College in Albany.  She additionally earned a master’s in Theological Studies from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Rochester. Julie resides with her husband Barry, their seven children and assorted pets.  In her free time Julie enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, listening to music, reading, walking and competitive volleyball. 

Brother Philip Hira, O.F.M
Philip is the senior resident chaplain at Albany Medical Center. He is a Franciscan Brother of the Order of Friars Minor. He completed his religious studies at the Franciscan Friary at the National Catholic Institute of Theology in Karachi, Pakistan.  He studied Islam, Philosophy and Psychology.  He has a diploma in “Human Growth and Counseling” from the Institute of St. Anselm, England.  Philip worked as Diocesan youth director and director of the Justice and Peace Commission in Pakistan.  He came to the U.S. in 2006 and works as a Parish Assistant at St. Anthony’s Church in Troy. His motto for life is: “Today is the best day of your life so live it to the fullest.”

Wally Plock
Wally is a resident chaplain at Albany Medical Center. He is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church and assistant pastor at the Niskayuna Wesleyan Church.  He has a Master of Divinity degree with a Religious Education concentration from the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO.  He has served as a chaplain at the LaSalle School in Albany, Northeast Parent and Child Society in Schenectady and at the Capital District Juvenile Secure Detention facility, also in Albany.  Wally taught Bible classes and organized ministry teams at the Loudonville Christian School for 14 years.

Marie Dropkin and Sister Pedro Opara

Left to right: (back) Diana Salnitis, Andrea Holroyd, Howard Cain, Deborah Berry Green, John King, (front) Audrey Seidman, Lynn Brown

Unavailable for Photo - Margaret Currier and Gary Wallin