Nelson Fernandez

About Nelson Fernandez

I help professionals and organizations use storytelling to improve care, connection, and outcomes.Since 2012, I’ve walked with people through pivotal moments—first as a pastor, now as a healthcare chaplain with VITAS Healthcare—where meaning and memory matter most. Along the way I earned an MDiv, D.Min in Organizational Leadership, MBA, and PMP, bringing together compassion, strategy, and execution.In 2022 I founded StoryForge as a consulting practice serving healthcare, education, and mission-driven teams. In late 2025, those field insights became a product roadmap. Our first release—the Legacy Storytelling Journal (Professional Edition)—gives hospice chaplains, social workers, and volunteers a simple, structured way to capture patient stories, strengthen family satisfaction, and support CAHPS performance in Emotional & Spiritual Support.What I doCoaching & workshops: narrative frameworks leaders can apply immediatelyOrganizational storytelling: aligning message, culture, and changeTools & templates: practical resources that make legacy work and leadership communication easierSelected highlightsDesigned storytelling frameworks adopted across healthcare and education teamsGuided leaders through restructuring and sensitive change with clear narrative strategyDeveloped tools that turn “we should capture stories” into a repeatable practice at the bedside and in organizationsIf you’re exploring ways to integrate or use story to improve your organizational care, culture, or communication, let’s connect!

Experience

1. Clinical Chaplain

   VITAS Healthcare

   Sep 2024 — Present

   I work as a Healthcare Chaplain at VITAS Healthcare, serving as an interdisciplinary team member alongside nurses, physicians, and social workers. In this role, I provide spiritual and emotional support to patients and families, collaborate across care teams to improve coordination, and help reinforce a culture of high performance in hospice and palliative care.Highlights of accomplishments in this role include: Contributed to CAHPS Emotional/Spiritual Support scores rising from 82.8% to 93.7% between Oct 2024–Mar 2025, marking the first time results reflected direct chaplaincy impact. Received multiple VITAS Difference Awards for leadership, collaboration, communication, and execution. Partnered with IDG teams to streamline care coordination, improving both team culture and family experience outcomes.

Education

• Southern Adventist University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA

  2009

• LSU Shreveport

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Human Resources Management and Services

• Andrews University

  Doctor of Ministry - DMin, Organizational Leadership

  2020