Meet the Chaplains at The Children's Hospital

Bob Flory

I am a native of Denver but went to school in Southern California, was ordained in Seattle, WA, had my first church position in Galesburg, Illinois and began working as a Pediatric Chaplain in Minneapolis, MN. I moved back to Denver in 1997 to begin working at The Children’s Hospital as the Director of Pastoral Care. I have two dogs and two cats that keep me busy and entertained. When I am not working at the hospital I might be riding a bicycle, running in the park, swimming, reading a good book or practicing on my newest hobby; playing the hammer dulcimer.

Merritt Welty

I was born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana. I went to school in Kansas and Indiana and was ordained in Colorado at the first church I pastured. I have training and experience in Victim’s Advocacy, crisis counseling, and Spiritual Direction. I received training as a chaplain at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado and am currently working at North Suburban Medical Center in Thornton, CO during the day. I am married, have two sons and one daughter in law. I enjoy playing golf, going fishing, hiking in the mountains and in the wilderness and photography. I play guitar and am learning to play the Native American wood flute.

Bob Crump-Bertram

A native of Colorado I grew up in Fort Collins, attended CSU, and then The American Baptist Seminary of the West, in Berkeley CA. I was ordained in 1979 and have worked in various healthcare settings in the Denver area for close to 30 years. Currently I am on-call at The Children’s Hospital and work full time as a Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator for a local Hospice Organization. I am married have 2 grown children, and at the time of this writing 2 and ½ grandchildren. We share our home with our two pack mates Sadie and Trekker. I am a trumpet player and play with the Denver Concert Band and several small groups.

Yona Victor

I grew up near Washington D.C. and went to school in Cleveland. In my first career, I was a physician. I came to Denver in 1973 for the skiing during internship and residency. After many years as an internist in private practice, I retired due to illness in 1997. A second "helping" career, as a chaplain, started for me at The Children's Hospital in 2002. My chaplaincy training was at the Samaritan Counseling Center and Jewish Family Service. When I'm not being a chaplain, I teach basic science at Platt College School of Nursing, and hang out with my two daughters, my 92 year old mother, three dogs and two birds.

Claudia Schmitt

Providing spiritual and religious support to families, children and hospital staff is a privilege and a calling I am grateful for everyday. Though I grew up in California, I have lived in Denver since 1985. I am an ordained minister and have been a staff chaplain at the Children's Hospital in Denver since 2001. Outside of the hospital, I love going to contemporary art museums, climbing the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains, engaging in creative sewing projects, and participating in ongoing spiritual development activities.

Vanessa Owen

I grew up and did my undergraduate work in Oregon. After graduating with degrees in Religious Studies and Sociology, I moved to Seattle, where I lived for five years. My work, during those years, was in the field of social work. I was a Program Director at a Boys & Girls Club and a social worker at a youth and family mental health agency. Three years ago I moved to Denver to begin my Master of Divinity degree at The Iliff School Theology. I graduated in June and began my position here at The Children’s Hospital. In my free time I love to travel, read, hike and camp, hear live music, find ways to be involved in our community, and spend time with the people and pets that I love!