Fr Adrian Budica is a CPE Educator with the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). He is originally from Romania. Fr Adrian is an ordained priest in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in divinity and in theology (Th. M.) in Romania and in the United States – most recently, St Vladimir’s Seminary (Crestwood, NY). In his sacerdotal ministry, he serves as an assistant priest in Brooklyn, NY. He has been a faculty member at St Vladimir's Seminary since 2015, overseeing the CPE programs.

Fr Adrian has been involved in hospital chaplaincy since 2008. He did his first CPE unit at St Luke’s Hospital under HealthCare Chaplaincy (2010).  He completed a CPE Residency at St Raphael Hospital (Yale-New Haven, CT) in 2011, and then worked as a per diem chaplain in New Jersey. Fr Adrian began his Supervisory education training in October 2012 at HealthCare Chaplaincy. He supervised part-time, extended, and full-time CPE Units at St Luke’s-Roosevelt and Memorial Sloan Kettering hospitals in New York City, NY. He successfully completed the ACPE Supervisory training in November 2014, when he was certified by the National Certification Committee of ACPE as an Associate Educator. In October 2015 he was certified as an  ACPE Educator. Fr Adrian is also a Board-Certified Chaplain (BCCi) with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). He has been serving in various leadership roles with ACPE  as a member of the Accreditation Committee, and more recently, on the ACPE International Relations Committee. He was recognized by ACPE with the “Emerging Leader” Award in 2015, “in recognition of his dedication and commitment to the successful future works of ACPE.”  He received the Healthcare Hero Award (2024) – Hartford Business Journal.

In addition to his leadership, education/clinical supervision, chaplaincy, and priestly roles, Fr Adrian is passionate about music, bridging the two worlds of Christian Orthodoxy and professional spiritual care (especially in clinical settings), and the dialogue between spirituality and behavioral sciences (particularly analytical psychology). He is currently completing a second master’s degree in clinical mental health and counseling (WCSU).

Educational Background

• B.Div., Babesh-Bolyai University
• Th.M., St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
• M.S. Clinical Mental Health and Counseling, Western Connecticut State University (in progress)

Teaching Interests

• Pastoral Theology
• Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

Current Projects and Research Interests

• Parish-based CPE for students
• International Orthodox Pastoral Formation (Lebanon and Romania)
• Orthodox Chaplaincy Network
• Podcast about CPE
• Presenting at the 2016 Annual Conference of The Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology, and Religion (Brookline, MA) 

Recent Courses Taught at SVOTS

• CPE 101

Recent Conference Presentations and Activities

• Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) Regional and Annual Conference

Recent Awards

• 2015 ACPE Emerging Leader Award

Additional Certifications

• ACPE Supervisor
• Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC)