By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-12-04 17:46:27 | Updated at 2024-12-05 02:44:49
8 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // The University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, will host its annual conference inspired by the legacy of St. Gianna Beretta Molla Dec. 6-7, focusing on Catholic medical care and the integration of faith into healthcare practices.
St. Gianna Molla was an Italian physician, wife, and mother known for her selfless dedication to family and medicine. She chose to save her unborn child over her own life during a life-threatening pregnancy complication in 1961. Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2004, she is the patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children.
Organized by the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences, the event, titled “Moral Courage & Mercy: Nurturing Authentic Encounter through Healthcare,” aims to prepare participants to uphold human dignity at all stages of life through compassionate, ethical, and faith-driven care.
According to the University of Mary’s website, participants in the conference will come away with an understanding of the “language of ‘encounter’ as it relates to facilitating an encounter with Jesus through the healthcare experience,” and will be “empowered to navigate ethical challenges with integrity and compassion.”
The conference will provide a variety of activities, including panels and presentations on medical and ethical topics, as well as opportunities to attend Mass and a Christmas concert.
Keynote speaker Dr. Paul Carson, a physician with more than three decades of experience in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, will bring his expertise on Catholic ethical principles in medicine.
Dr. Carson, a member of the Catholic Medical Association and past president of the Fargo Guild, has received numerous accolades for his contributions to medical education and public health.
He will be joined by a lineup of speakers, including Dr. Ashley K. Fernandes, a pediatric professor, and Gianna Jessen, an abortion survivor and pro-life advocate.
Additionally, attendees will hear from Mary McClusky, the assistant director for Project Rachel Ministry Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, and Megan Kreft, a physician assistant with MyCatholicDoctor, a national Catholic telehealth organization. Each speaker will provide a unique perspective on how Catholic values can transform healthcare.
