Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn is a Board Certified Chaplain at NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She specializes in Palliative Care, Critical Care, and Emergency Psychiatric Care. Rabbanit Alissa is the Rabbanit at Congregation Netivot Shalom in Teaneck, NJ. She is also the Based-In Rabbanit for Northern New Jersey Moishe House Based-In and an Atra Northern New Jersey Rabbinic (re)Design fellow. She is the president of Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains, the international board certifying Jewish chaplaincy organization. A writer and speaker, she received her ordination from Yeshivat Maharat and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brandeis University with a degree in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Classical Studies Archaeology and Ancient History. She lives in Teaneck, NJ with her husband Akiva and daughter Ella.