The Chaplain and the Doctor
Description
At Highland Hospital, Oakland’s level-one trauma center, chaplains and doctors rarely work closely together but in this involving documentary, 80-year-old African American chaplain Betty Clark and white Jewish physician Jessica Zitter are exceptions to that generality. Longtime colleagues in the hospital’s Palliative Care unit, the two women forge a deep bond through their shared commitment to compassionate end-of-life care. Trained in medical science and interventions, Dr. Zitter learns from Chaplain Clark’s wisdom and perspective, and begins to see the emotional and spiritual aspects of healing. The film explores the systemic barriers that prevent holistic patient care, particularly for communities of color, as well as the personal transformations both women undergo. When Chaplain Clark faces her own health struggles, Dr. Zitter steps in, seeing firsthand the challenges Black patients endure. The Chaplain and the Doctor is a moving testament to care beyond medicine, where healing honors both body and spirit. —Amir George
Jessica Zitter is a physician, writer, and filmmaker whose focus is on end-of-life care. She and her work were highlighted in Dan Krauss’ Extremis (Festival 2016), winner of a Golden Gate Award for Best Bay Area Short and Oscar®-nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject. Prior to making her feature debut with The Chaplain and the Doctor, she directed a short, Caregiver: A Love Story (2020). She is also the author of Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life.
Film Details
LanguageEnglish
Year2025
Runtime86
CountryUSA
DirectorJessica Zitter
Executive ProducerCorey Kennard, Catherine King, Jacqueline Olive, Brian Walker, Mark Zitter
ProducerJen Gilomen, Niema Jordan, Jessica Zitter
EditorJacob Bricca
CinematographerAurora Brachman, Jen Gilomen
MusicTed Reichman
Print SourceReel Medicine Media
Closed CaptionsClosed Captions are confirmed for this film
Audio DescriptionAudio Descriptions are not currently confirmed for this film
American Sign Language (ASL) InterpretationAmerican Sign Language Interpretation is not currently scheduled for this film
