Dr. Carter Check
Chaplain | Healthcare Ethicist | Moral Injury Expert | Veteran Advocate
Moral injury is the unseen wound that takes lives in silence.
Dr. Carter Check has made it his mission to change that.
A former Army Cavalry Scout turned healthcare ethicist and clinical chaplain, Dr. Carter Check is a national leader in moral injury care, ethical resilience, and upstream suicide prevention. His work is deeply personal—having walked the path of moral injury himself, he now leads the charge in ensuring no one faces that battle alone.
For nearly a decade, Carter has been fully integrated into a suicide prevention team, where he co-developed one of the first structured moral injury programs, now a national model for mental health and suicide prevention. His work spans moral resilience, leadership ethics, and post-traumatic growth, providing a foundational framework for addressing moral wounds in Veterans, first responders, and healthcare professionals. His REAL (Reclaiming Experiences and Loss) Manual, rooted in companioning and meaning reconstruction, is widely used to help individuals process trauma, restore moral health, and reclaim purpose.
A bestselling author, speaker, and researcher, Carter’s impact extends beyond clinical settings. His book Healing in the Wild introduced outdoor therapy as a transformative tool for overcoming trauma, while his research on moral injury, suicidality, and ethical resilience continues to shape national conversations. As an Associate Professor of Moral Injury at Oral Roberts University and a Ph.D. candidate in Healthcare Ethics, he stands at the forefront of advancing moral health, ethical leadership, and systemic change.
Carter’s expertise extends beyond the military, addressing moral injury in healthcare, law enforcement, and high-stakes professions where burnout and ethical dilemmas are prevalent. He is the architect of Translucent Chaplaincy, a leadership model that integrates presence-based ethics, moral resilience, and ethical decision-making, equipping leaders to navigate moral conflicts with clarity and compassion.
Outside of his professional work, Carter finds healing in nature and adventure-based therapy. As a PGA HOPE Ambassador, competitive 3D archer, and outdoor guide, he integrates hunting, archery, golf, and whitewater guiding into his therapeutic approach. Each summer, he leads Veterans down the Ocoee River, using the rapids as a living metaphor for resilience and renewal. His nonprofit, HunTherapy.org, is dedicated to helping Veterans and first responders reconnect with purpose through outdoor therapy.
“Every day, Veterans, first responders, and healthcare professionals struggle in silence with moral injury. Carter is working to ensure no one faces that battle alone. Whether through his books, speaking engagements, or leading others into the wild, he remains unwavering in his mission to bring healing to those who have sacrificed for others.”
