Max Hokai Swanger, M.Div., BCC was raised Jewish and Presbyterian and later converted to Buddhism in College. After college, he lived in a Buddhist communities for fifteen years and ordained as a Zen Buddhist Priest. Later he began training to be a chaplain: first in the SATI program, then as a Clinical Pastoral Educational (CPE) Resident for a year at UCSF. While starting to work as a chaplain, he earned a Masters of Divinity degree, and became Board Certified. Prior to serving at his current job at Santa Clara Valley Medial Center, he worked at Stanford Children’s hospital and VITAS hospice for three years. In addition to being a chaplain at Valley Medical, Max provides Buddhist ministry and teachings. He lives with his wife Katie in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Max Hokai Swanger, M.Div., BCC was raised Jewish and Presbyterian and later converted to Buddhism in College. After college, he lived in a Buddhist communities for fifteen years and ordained as a...Read more