Harry Burns Recognized as Distinguished Alumnus in Specialized Ministry

The Rev. Harry L. Burns ’97serves as a chaplain and health educator at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., and has been an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church for more than 34 years. He has a bachelor's in business management from Shaw University, a master of arts in religion from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and is a board certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains. He is a member of the North Carolina Chaplains’ Association and in 2008 was named the NCCA Chaplain of the Year. And now he's a distinguished alumnus of Pittsburgh Seminary.

In 1987, Harry became the first African American minister appointed to the Citadel. He later served as director of pastoral care at UPMC Squirrel Hill and as a Community Chaplain at Carolinas Medical Center.

As a health educator, Harry trains professionals and laypersons in the emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of health care. In partnership with the American Heart Association, he has organized and led “Search Your Heart” trainings to hundreds of participants since 2007 in the Charlotte region. He has also assisted in securing more than 100 health ambassadors who are actively engaged in “Power to End Stroke” activities. Harry was one of the founders of the Mecklenburg County Health Department program Village Heart Beat, which was recently awarded $500,000 from the Aetna Foundation as the healthiest community in the nation. In 2010, the American Heart Association honored Harry with the Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Award.

Harry serves on several nonprofit boards in the Charlotte region. In professional and volunteer service, he has worked hard to bring a message of hope to faith communities and those affiliated with health. In addition to the partnerships already noted, Harry collaborates with the American Cancer Society, United Family Services (Charlotte, N.C.), Johnson C. Smith University, and other institutions to promote the importance of stroke prevention. In these leadership roles he has brought Native Americans, Latinx, and other ethnic groups together to learn the importance of knowing stroke signs.

Harry currently serves as pastor of Tranquil AME Church in McCormick, S.C., and is married to Rev. Beverly Jean Burns.

During the Seminary's 2022 Alumnae/i Days, Harry received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in Specialized Ministry for his work.