Staff Chaplains
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
A native of Sacramento, Reverend James Sheets is a Catholic Priest, ordained in 1975. After twenty years of parochial ministry in several parishes throughout northern California, he came to Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento in September of 1995 as a resident in our CPE Program. Following his training in 1996, Jim became a full-time Catholic Priest-chaplain for our hospital. Jim serves the needs of Catholic patients and palliative care patients and families. Jim serves on the Family-Centered Care Committee, and the Palliative Care Team.
Jim was born in Sacramento and raised on a small farm near Chico. He began his seminary years in high school at St. Pius X Seminary in Galt. He continued on to St. Patrick's College in Mountain View where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities in 1971. Jim received his Master of Divinity degree from St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park in 1974 and was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood in May of 1975.
Jim is a member of the CPE Professional Consultation Committee and has mentored many CPE students over the years.
Reverend Norris Burkes is a Staff Chaplain at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. He is endorsed by the Southern Baptist General Convention and is certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains.
He is the chaplain for Women and Children's Services at Sutter Memorial Hospital. Additional ministries include service as a chaplain in the California Air National Guard. He is also a freelance writer who writes a nationally syndicated religious column, which takes a spiritual and comical look at everyday life.
His prior ministry experience includes eight years as an active duty Air Force Chaplain, nine years as a pastor in two Southern Baptist Churches in California and two years as a hospital chaplain in Houston. He graduated from Baylor University, Waco TX, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in religion and journalism. He has a Master of Divinity degree from Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley CA. He is a husband and father of four.
Laura Keller is a staff chaplain at SMCS. She is ordained by American Baptist Churches USA. Laura began her studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, MN and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies and Theology. She received her Master of Divinity degree from the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, CA. Laura came to Sutter Medical Center to complete her CPE training in 2002 and has been on staff since September 2003. Laura's responsibilities as a chaplain include ministry at the Sutter Center for Psychiatry and work with Sutter General Hospital's oncology units and the Cancer Center's out-patient services.
Laura was born in Colorado and raised in the Mid-West. She enjoys international travel and lived two years abroad in Ramallah, Palestine where she taught high school Ethics and College Preparation. She is married to a Kansas native and they have three very delightful dependents - Chauncey, a pug terrier mix and Pearl and Ms. Sebastian, elderly cat royalty. The family loves to read and spend time gardening and playing in the yard.