EPISODE · May 1, 2026 · 43 MIN
The Chaplain & The Doctor: Two Unlikely Allies Expose Broken Healthcare
from Bond on Cinema · host Ward W. Bond
THE CHAPLAIN AND THE DOCTOR is filled with warmth and humor, this buddy film follows two unlikely allies working to bring curiosity, connection, and compassion to a broken healthcare system - one patient at a time. Betty Clark is an 80-year-old, African American chaplain on staff at The Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus, the level-one trauma center in Oakland, California. Jessica Zitter is a white Jewish physician who has been Betty’s colleague on the Palliative Care service for over a decade. The two women are an unlikely team: chaplains and doctors do not usually pair up within the hierarchical and siloed halls of the hospital. Dr. Zitter, trained to believe in medical interventions and science, was not seeking a relationship with a chaplain. And Chaplain Clark never expected the doctor to take interest in her work. But with time, the two women’s shared values and history overcome the forces that keep them apart, and they go on to do their best work together. THE CHAPLAIN & THE DOCTOR models a new kind of care, one that honors both spirit and body, the diverse backgrounds of patients, and the most human needs we all share. This is a must see film documentary not just about the story of two women who take their purpose and professions to help others, but we see that it help each other to become even better versions of themselves. #healtcare #doctor #chaplain #documentary #film #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #bondoncinema #medicine #faith #spiritual #healing
What this episode covers
THE CHAPLAIN AND THE DOCTOR is filled with warmth and humor, this buddy film follows two unlikely allies working to bring curiosity, connection, and compassion to a broken healthcare system - one patient at a time. Betty Clark is an 80-year-old, African American chaplain on staff at The Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus, the level-one trauma center in Oakland, California. Jessica Zitter is a white Jewish physician who has been Betty’s colleague on the Palliative Care service for over a decade. The two women are an unlikely team: chaplains and doctors do not usually pair up within the hierarchical and siloed halls of the hospital. Dr. Zitter, trained to believe in medical interventions and science, was not seeking a relationship with a chaplain. And Chaplain Clark never expected the doctor to take interest in her work. But with time, the two women’s shared values and history overcome the forces that keep them apart, and they go on to do their best work together. THE CHAPLAIN & THE DOCTOR models a new kind of care, one that honors both spirit and body, the diverse backgrounds of patients, and the most human needs we all share. This is a must see film documentary not just about the story of two women who take their purpose and professions to help others, but we see that it help each other to become even better versions of themselves. #healtcare #doctor #chaplain #documentary #film #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #bondoncinema #medicine #faith #spiritual #healing
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The Chaplain & The Doctor: Two Unlikely Allies Expose Broken Healthcare
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