Honouring Our Allied Health Professionals: Supporting Whole-Person Care
October 14 is Allied Professionals Day — a time to celebrate the dedicated professionals whose skills, compassion, and teamwork help patients heal in body, mind, and spirit.
At Comox Valley Hospital, allied health professionals play an essential role in patient care, working alongside physicians, nurses, and diagnostic technicians to meet a wide range of health needs. From physiotherapists and occupational therapists to lab technologists, pharmacists, dietitians, speech-language pathologists, and spiritual health practitioners, these team members support patients and families through every stage of care and recovery.
One of those professionals is Matt Dempsey, a Spiritual Health Practitioner at Comox Valley Hospital.
For Matt, this work represents a lifelong commitment to supporting the emotional and spiritual well-being of others. His own journey through physical and mental health challenges taught him that the body, mind, emotions, and spirit are deeply connected — and that disruptions in these connections can create suffering.
“My favorite part of this work is bearing witness to being human in all its fragility, complexity, diversity, and expression,” Matt shares. “It’s profoundly humbling being invited into spaces of heightened vulnerability — whether it’s due to illness, loss, or life transition. In those spaces, I’m reminded that our vulnerability and fragility are the gateways to deeper understanding of what it means to be human.”
No two days in Matt’s role look the same. His work may involve supporting a patient facing a new diagnosis, sitting with family members during end-of-life care, or providing emotional and ethical support to healthcare staff. He also collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to address complex psycho-spiritual needs that may arise during care.
While many people associate spiritual care with religion, Matt emphasizes that spirituality is broader — it’s about meaning, connection, and purpose.
Matt recalls one particularly meaningful experience: working with a patient undergoing rehabilitation after a significant and permanent impairment of mobility. As the patient rebuilt physical strength, Matt helped them navigate the emotional and existential changes that came with their new reality. Through careful reflection and dialogue, the patient gradually found new meaning and hope — redefining their sense of identity and self-worth beyond physical capacity. “That experience reminded me that rehabilitation of the body must be paired with rehabilitation of the mind, heart, and spirit,” Matt says.
As we celebrate Allied Professionals Day, we extend our gratitude to all allied health professionals who bring their skill, compassion, and humanity to healthcare each day. Their collaborative approach ensures that every patient receives whole-person care — care that truly honours the body, mind, and spirit.
💙 Thank you to our allied health professionals at Comox Valley Hospital and throughout our community. Your dedication touches countless lives.