Doctor of Ministry, Global Health & Wellness, St. Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, KS
Master of Nursing, Parish Nursing, St. Joseph College of Maine, Standish, ME
Master Certificate, Pastoral Studies, St. Joseph College of Maine, Standish, ME
Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Diploma RN, General Nursing, East TN Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, Knoxville, TN
Dr. Sharon Hinton is a leader in faith community nursing and spiritual care, integrating health, faith, and service over 30 years as a nurse, educator, author, and chaplain. Her holistic approach emphasizes spiritual well-being with physical care in clinical, academic, and global contexts.
Hinton's education includes a Nursing Diploma (1986, East Tennessee Baptist Hospital), BSN (Texas Tech), Master's in Nursing (parish nursing focus) and Pastoral Studies Certificate (St. Joseph's College), and Doctor of Ministry in Global Health (St. Paul School of Theology). Board-certified in Faith Community Nursing, Chaplaincy, Nursing Development, Life Coaching, and Mental Health Coaching, she blends spiritual and clinical expertise.
Beginning in the 1980s as a critical care nurse in neuro-trauma and open-heart units across Tennessee, Arizona, and Texas, Hinton moved to rural health in the 1990s. She founded Rural Nurse Resource, Inc. (Executive Director, 1990-2015), providing training, disaster preparedness, and parish nursing, including West Texas's first Farmedic program and Red Cross coordination.
In the 2000s, she developed curricula for the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (now Westberg Institute) and taught nationwide. She led the United Methodist Health Ministry Network (2011-2014) and taught at Lubbock Christian University, University of Memphis, and University of Tennessee (Assistant Professor, 2016-2023).
Executive roles include Director of SCA Westberg Institute (2020-2025) and Spiritual Care Association Nursing Division (2018-2025), overseeing ANCC programs and international curricula. Founder of PepTalk Productions (1996-present), she offers coaching and spiritual direction. Currently, a Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor and certified chaplain.
Author of Discovering God; Discovering Yourself (2016), Chicken Soup for the Soul contributor, and Journal of Christian Nursing columnist (2008-2019), Hinton has presented over 100 times on spirituality and health topics. Honored with the Wilkerson-Droege Award, she volunteers as chaplain and coach, promoting wholeness through radical hospitality.
