Rev. (Dr.) Michael Onuoha

Rev. Fr. Michael Onuoha is a compassionate and visionary leader in mission integration and spiritual care, bringing over 18 years of distinguished service in both ecclesiastical and healthcare environments. He currently serves as Manager of Spiritual Care at Corewell Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan, and Assistant Vocations Director with the Orthodox Catholic Archdiocese of North America.

Fr. Onuoha holds a Ph.D. in Professional Counseling from Amridge University and is a Licensed Pastoral Counselor in the state of Kentucky. He is also a Board-Certified Chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). His academic portfolio includes advanced degrees in theology, counseling psychology, bioethics, and health policy, underscoring his commitment to holistic, ethical, and compassionate care.

Throughout his career, Fr. Onuoha has held multiple leadership roles, including Market Manager of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care at Hospital Sisters Health System in Springfield, Illinois; Manager of Spiritual Care at CHRISTUS Health in Texarkana, Texas; and Director of Pastoral Care at Mercy Health in Paducah, Kentucky. His work has focused on integrating spiritual care into clinical settings, advancing ethical healthcare practices, and developing mission-based initiatives across hospital systems.

Known for his dedication to mentoring chaplains and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, Fr. Onuoha has significantly improved staff certification rates and spiritual care quality outcomes across multiple institutions. He has served as an ethics consultant, chaired hospital ethics committees, and developed critical care programs in alignment with Catholic healthcare directives.

A published author and respected speaker, Fr. Onuoha has presented on topics including moral distress, healthcare chaplaincy, and advance care planning. His most recent academic work explores the experiences of hospital chaplains during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also serves in national leadership and advisory roles within NACC, including the Ethics Commission and Education Advisory Committee.

his clinical and academic achievements, Fr. Onuoha is deeply committed to community engagement. He is a former board member of McCracken Youth Soccer and an alumnus of Leadership Paducah and Leadership Springfield. He has also led men’s retreats and organized parish-based outreach initiatives.

With a foundation rooted in pastoral theology, Fr. Onuoha continues to advance the integration of spiritual, ethical, and clinical excellence within healthcare and community ministry, embodying a mission of healing, dignity, and hope.