William G. Hoy, DMin, FT

With more than 35 years of care for the dying and bereaved, Dr. William G. (Bill) Hoy is Clinical Professor of Medical Humanities at Baylor. He is widely regarded as an authority on the role of social support in death, dying and grief and his experience includes more than 20 years leading bereavement and pastoral care programs in hospice care. Though primarily a bedside clinician, Dr. Hoy has authored more than 125 articles and book chapters as well as six books.

His books in print include Road to Emmaus: Pastoral Care with the Dying and Bereaved (Compass, 2007); Do Funerals Matter? The Purposes and Practices of Death Rituals in Global Perspective (Routledge, 2013) and of Bereavement Groups and the Role of Social Support: Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice (Routledge, 2016). In addition to his role with students at Baylor, he is a frequent presenter among groups of professional colleagues in health care across the United States and Canada.

Dr. Hoy is active in the Association for Death Education & Counseling on whose board he served from 2012 to 2020 including six years as an officer. He also holds advisory board positions with Our House Grief Support Center in Los Angeles, CA, Pathways Volunteer Hospice in Long Beach, CA, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) in Washington, DC.

Bill and Debbie Hoy (Baylor, 1977) make their home in rural central Texas about 25 miles from the Baylor campus and are excited every semester to welcome dozens of Medical Humanities students into their ranch home for dinner and fellowship. They are parents to two adult children, a super son-in-law, and a delightful granddaughter.

Education

• Doctor of Ministry (pastoral counseling), Fuller Theological Seminary. [When Sadness Comes to Church: Clergy Continuing Education in Bereavement and End of Life Care] (2005)
• Clinical Supervision in grief counseling and therapy under supervision of Dr. J. William Worden, Newport Beach, CA
• Masters of Divinity (Practical Theology), Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
• BS (Social Sciences), Louisiana State University; special research in the social and cultural ramifications of death in American society (1984)

Professional Experience

• Clinical Faculty appointment, Medical Humanities, Baylor University, Waco, TX (2012-Present). Teaching courses related to the practice of medicine and Christian spirituality, end-of-life care and bereavement. Faculty responsibilities includes oversight of the Medical Humanities Program's curriculum development efforts.
• Clinical Lecturer in private practice (1991-Present)
• Adjunct Lecturer, Graduate Program (Department of Thanatology, School of Nursing) Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI (2009-2012). Teaching assignment includes courses in spirituality and bereavement, community education methodology and the practice of grief counseling.
• Director of Counseling Services, Pathways Volunteer Hospice, Long Beach, CA. (1996 - 2012). Provided overall direction to this multi-faceted bereavement program with its strong emphasis on school-based bereavement and trauma programs. Provided individual counseling and group support services in the areas of bereavement and spiritual care. Responsibilities included the development of training programs and clinical consultation with staff and volunteers.
• Adjunct Instructor, Health Science Division, Cypress College, Cypress, CA (1994- 2005). Permanent teaching assignment included death studies courses to prepare students in nursing, mortuary science, and social service to assist clients and patients in facing death; developed and taught the college's first bioethics course beginning in 1998.
• Minister (1985-1995). Served two congregations in southern California-First Southern Baptist Church of Long Beach and Pacific Breeze Community Church of Seal Beach, providing overall pastoral leadership and specific guidance in pastoral care and counseling. Developed community- wide grief programs in both congregations.

Professional Affiliations

• Association for Death Education & Counseling Board Certification in Thanatology (FT); Initial certification (CT) earned 2002; Fellow in Thanatology status earned 2006.
• Board member, Association for Death Education & Counseling
• National co-chair, ADEC 2013 annual conference, Los Angeles, California
• American Academy of Religion
• Credentialed Continuing Education Provider: Texas Education Agency (school counselors and school-based mental health professionals), California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Texas Board of Social Work Examiners, California Department of Social Services (RCFE), California Board of Registered Nursing, Texas Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists