The Sutter Health CPMC Spiritual Care team consists of the Department Manager, Staff Chaplains, Per Diem Chaplains, an ACPE Certified Educator, Chaplain Students, a Healing Harpist, and Healing Harp Students.

Our staff strive to enhance the practice of person-centered caregiving. We draw upon our own faith, culture, and experience to guide our approach to caregiving and mentoring. We are committed to cultivating an environment where students learn to effectively accompany care-recipients during significant health events that challenge and confound the human spirit.

Sutter Health leadership empowers our staff to create the learning and clinical opportunities that match a student’s skills and interests. We are dedicated to facilitating student innovation and initiative in the Chaplain role. Each student is paired with a clinical preceptor trained to guide them along multidisciplinary networks that integrate culturally sensitive and equitable methods into the practice of spiritual caregiving.

Our CPE graduates are well prepared for professional careers in caregiving, chaplaincy, congregational leadership, and community services. Through our approach to spiritual care, students are often ready to apply for board certification by the conclusion of their training.

Chaplain Sahra Harding, MDiv, BCC, ACPE Certified Educator

Sahra is the Supervisor of the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Sutter Health CPMC. She has served as an Episcopal Priest since 2010, an ACPE Certified Educator since 2019, and a board-certified Chaplain since 2020. Her multifaith and multicultural values were fostered by her Christian mother, Muslim father, and Tibetan Buddhist stepfather. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Sahra is grateful for the opportunity to serve the great city of San Francisco. She completed her seminary training at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City and ACPE Educator training at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Sahra served the Veterans, staff, and students through the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System. Her interdepartmental healthcare experience includes facilitating a Mental Health Summit; advocating for equitable treatment of individuals with disabilities; formalizing care initiatives for staff; and facilitating listening sessions for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. Sahra joined the Sutter Health CPMC Department of Spiritual Care in 2023.

Chaplain Roberto Bruno, MDiv, BCC, is the Manager for Spiritual Care at Van Ness Campus. He has served as a board-certified Chaplain since 2022. Additionally, he is the Senior Pastor of a bilingual congregation in the Apostolic Church in San Jose. Roberto has served as an ordained minister in the Apostolic Assembly since 1991 and an instructor for his denominational Bible College since 2001. He graduated from Theology from Christian Life College and Fuller Theological Seminary. Roberto completed his Chaplain training at UCSF Medical Center. He was born and raised in San Francisco and speaks three languages: English, Italian, and Spanish. Roberto joined the Sutter Health CPMC Spiritual Care Department in 2018.

Father Thomas Kora, MDiv, BCC, is the Chaplain at Mission Bernal Campus. He has served as a board-certified Chaplain since 2020. He provides for Catholic sacramental requests serving as the Sutter Health CPMC liaison for the San Francisco Archdiocese. Additionally, Fr. Thomas leads a congregation in Livermore and is the Assistant Director for the Doctoral program of the Oriental Orthodox Institute at the San Francisco Theological Seminary. He has served as an ordained priest in the Syriac Orthodox Church since 2008. Fr. Thomas graduated from the University of Madras and St. John Vianney Catholic Seminary. He completed his Chaplain training at St. Mary’s Medical Center and was subsequently hired as support staff for Stanford and Sequoia hospitals. Fr. Thomas speaks four languages: English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil. He grew up in India and moved to the United Arab Emirates before immigrating to the United States. Fr. Thomas joined Sutter Health CPMC Spiritual Care Department in 2018.

Chaplain Sandra Jean Pathik, MDiv, is the Chaplain at Davies Campus. Additionally, she serves as the Director of Children’s Ministry for the Episcopal Church in Ross. Sandra completed her Chaplain training at Sutter Health CPMC. She was born and raised in the Philippines and graduated in Psychology and Guidance Counseling at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City. Sandra worked in this field for 13 years and later graduated from the Asia United Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. She lived in India during her Chaplain training and moved to the US to enroll at the Overseas Ministries Studies Center in New Haven, Connecticut. She completed the course work in Advanced Pastoral Studies and is working toward a Doctorate in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Sandra joined Sutter Health CPMC Spiritual Care Department in 2016.

Chaplain Wanika King Stephens, MTS, is the Chaplain at Van Ness Campus. Born and raised in San Francisco, she is an ordained interfaith Chaplain of the Chaplaincy Institute in Berkeley, an ordained priest in the African Orthodox Church, and a graduate of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific Seminary in Berkeley. Additionally, Wanika volunteers as a sworn Police Chaplain for the San Francisco Police Department. She hosts the radio show UPLIFT! featuring spiritually uplifting music throughout the Bay Area. Wanika is an accomplished musician and bassist performing locally and internationally the inspirational compositions of John William Coltrane. She is an active proponent of the belief and practice of Universal Consciousness and the Unity of Religious Ideals. Wanika joined Sutter Health CPMC Spiritual Care Department in 2023.

Chaplain Linda Atkins, MDiv (equiv), BCC, is a Per Diem Chaplain for Van Ness campus. She has served as a board-certified Chaplain since 2021. Linda completed her Chaplain training at UCSF Medical Center and is a graduate of the chaplaincy program at Upaya Institute and Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is from Michigan and has been a student of Theravada Buddhism since 1990 and Zen Buddhism since 2018. Linda joined the Sutter Health CPMC Spiritual Care Department in 2017.

Chaplain Dakota Ann Brown, MDiv, is a Per Diem Chaplain for all campuses of Sutter Health CPMC. Additionally, she is a volunteer minister for the United Church of Christ progressive Christian community, a hospice chaplain, and a certified self-compassion and forgiveness teacher. Dakota completed her Chaplain training at UCSF Medical Center and volunteered for an additional two years at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. She grew up in Utah where she worked in the arts for 15 years as the youngest female union stagehand in the country. Dakota joined the Sutter Health CPMC Spiritual Care Department in 2017.

Portia Diwa, CHT-CTM, is an Activities Therapist and the Healing Harp Clinical Faculty for all campuses of Sutter Health CPMC. She is a Certified Harp Therapist and Certified Therapeutic Musician through the Bedside Harp Certification Program. Portia graduated from Santa Clara University and studied harp under the guidance of Bay Area harp teacher and performer, Diana Stork, and has provided healing harp music in healthcare facilities since 1995. She started at Marin General Hospital Institute for Health & Healing and joined Sutter Health CPMC in 2009. Portia teaches a year-long Healing Harp Certification Program, accredited by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians. She has released six musical albums, some of which are featured on the Sutter Health CPMC television channels. Portia joined the Sutter Health CPMC Spiritual Care Department in 2017.

Chaplain Todd Jordan, MDiv, is a Per Diem Chaplain for all campuses of Sutter Health CPMC. He completed his Chaplain training at UCSF Medical Center and Sutter Health CPMC. Todd began his career in the early 1990’s as a Refugee Services Provider in South-East Asia. While working in Vietnam, he spent his free time exploring Theravada Buddhism in the monasteries of Thailand. Todd later graduated from the Graduate Theological Union and spent a year in the Buddhist Chaplaincy training program at the Sati Center in Redwood City. He founded the San Francisco Dharma Collective and has served there as a dharma/meditation teacher for many years. Todd joined Sutter Health CPMC Spiritual Care Department in 2022.