Novus Medicus

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity reminds us that medicine is never just a profession. It is participation in the self-giving love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As Catholic medical trainees, we are called to reflect that love through compassionate care, faithful presence, and service to every person made in God’s image.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” (Jn. 3:16)
May the Trinity shape our minds, guide our hands, and deepen our love for both God and neighbor.

Pentecost reminds us that we were never meant to serve alone.
The same Holy Spirit who empowered the apostles now strengthens us as Catholic medical trainees to bring Christ’s peace, compassion, and truth into every patient encounter.

“Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
Come, Holy Spirit; guide our minds, steady our hands, and form our hearts to serve like Christ the Healer.

Encounter Webinar - Virtues in Medical Practice

Wednesday, June 10, 2026
7:00-8:00 PM CST

A discussion on the work of the Hippocratic Society, and how to engage one's clinical work with patients and engagement with colleagues through a virtue lens in the tradition of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Dr. John Y. Rhee, MD MPH, is a board-certified neurologist, neuro-oncologist, and palliative care specialist at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Instructor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School (HMS), where he takes care of patients with brain cancer and their palliative care needs and runs a supportive care research program for brain tumor patients. He was formerly Chief Resident of Neurology at Mass General Brigham and received his MD/MPH with Distinctions in Medical Education, Research, and Global Health from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he was a Dean's Scholar in Global Health. He graduated with a BS in Policy Analysis with Honors and Distinction from Cornell University. He is a Young Member of the Pontifical Academy of Life, Vatican City, and is Director and Founder of the Piermont Residence in Cambridge, a young professional and graduate student residence dedicated to forming young men in human virtues and the interior life.

Dr. Rhee co-founded the Hippocratic Society and is its Vice Chair and Executive Director.

Registration link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HW-BFivOS5-F97HI_nLR8A #/registration

Encounter Webinar - Rethinking Reproductive Medicine: From Algorithm to Root Cause

Thursday, May 28, 2026
6:00-7:00 PM CST

This lecture challenges the conventional framework of infertility or pelvic pain as standalone diagnoses and instead reframes these as clinical signals of underlying physiologic dysfunction. We will explore Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM) as a systems-based, root-cause approach that integrates endocrinology, immunology, metabolism, and gynecology to optimize reproductive health. Rather than bypassing normal physiology, RRM seeks to identify and treat the drivers of dysfunction—such as ovulatory disorders, inflammation, luteal phase defects, and metabolic imbalance—while supporting the body’s natural reproductive processes.
Through real clinical cases and practical diagnostic strategies, students will learn how to move beyond algorithmic care and develop a more comprehensive, patient-centered approach to fertility. This session will also highlight gaps in traditional medical education and equip future physicians with tools to better evaluate, counsel, and treat patients experiencing infertility.

Dr. Naomi Whittaker is the founder of RRMAcademy.org and is an OBGYN fertility surgeon focused on women's restorative reproductive medicine, compassionate healthcare, and education.

Dr. Whittaker is a board certified OBGYN and a fellowship trained surgeon who specializes in the Creighton Model FertilityCare System and NaProTechnology, which works cooperatively with a woman's body to treat the underlying cause of gynecologic issues and infertility, such as endometriosis and PCOS.

Dr. Whittaker helps women improve their gynecologic health, and avoid/achieve pregnancy in accordance with their natural fertility using the latest research, medicine, and surgery.

Dr. Whittaker earned her medical degree at Creighton University School of Medicine and completed her residency in OB/GYN at OSF Hospital in Peoria, IL. She then completed the Saint John Paul II Fellowship in Medical and Surgical NaProTECHNOLOGY at the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Nebraska. She also received the Focused Practice Designation in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Whittaker is currently practising in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
You can find her on Instagram as Napro_Fertility_Surgeon.

Registration link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/13DTU3gxRuCOhetuslI-0g

The Ascension of the Lord reminds us that our work is never only earthly.
As Catholic medical trainees, we care for bodies while keeping our hearts fixed on Heaven.

“Seek what is above, where Christ is seated…” (Col. 3:1)
May we follow the Great Physician with hands ready to serve and hearts lifted toward eternity.

Today is May 15th, the feast of Saint Dymphna.

Born in 7th-century Ireland, Dymphna was a young princess who secretly consecrated her life to Christ and vowed purity. After her mother’s death, her father, suffering from mental illness, recognized her as his wife and attempted to marry her. To remain faithful to her calling, she fled her home with a priest and sought refuge in what is now Belgium.

There she devoted herself to caring for the poor and sick, living a quiet life of service and prayer. Her father eventually discovered her location, and when she refused to abandon her vow and return with him, he killed her. She was 15 years old at the time of her martyrdom.

St. Dymphna is the patron saint of those suffering from mental and emotional illness, trauma, anxiety, and of those who care for them.

Saint Dymphna, pray for us!

Thanks to the many premedical students that participated in MedCon 2026 - our biggest year yet!
It was a weekend of personal, spiritual, and intellectual formation, and will surely equip the next generation of healthcare professionals to integrate their faith in medicine. Special thanks to de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at Notre Dame for graciously hosting and co-sponsoring this impactful event. We hope to see you next year at Benedictine College for MedCon 2027!

Encounter Webinar - How to Use Fertility Awareness Methods to Diagnose Common Health Concerns

Wednesday, May 14, 2026
7:00-8:00 PM CST

The female cycle is the fifth vital sign. This talk will highlight the health of the female cycle and how charting with a fertility awareness-based method can potentially aid in the diagnosis and management of common women’s health concerns.

Dr. Marguerite Duane, MD, MHA, MSPH, FAAFP, a board-certified family physician, is co-founder and Executive Director of FACTS about Fertility, an organization dedicated to educating medical professionals and students about the science supporting fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) and restorative reproductive medicine (RRM). She serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown and Associate Professor of Restorative Reproductive Medicine and Director of the Center for Fertility Awareness Based Education and Research at Duquesne University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Duane cares for patients via a direct primary care house-calls based practice, MD for Life. She has served on the board of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Family Medicine Education Consortium. Dr. Duane is married to a fellow family physician, Dr. Kenny Lin, and they are the proud parents of four young children.

Registration link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/B11C38XoRCu5JxOxetqlmg #/registration

Encounter Webinar - Navigating Prenatal Diagnosis

Wednesday, May 6, 2026
7:00-8:00 PM CST

Prenatal testing has become a routine part of obstetrical care regardless of risk factors. Numerous ethical issues arise regarding informed consent for prenatal testing, diagnostic and prognostic certainty, disability bias, and pressure to terminate, rather than carry to term. This webinar will explore the implications of prenatal testing and the role of the health care professional.

Registration link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ulJi9tpeR-mB71zfDK8zaw

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles, to the communal life, and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

This is the life we are called to, even in the midst of exams, rotations, residency, and uncertainty.

On Divine Mercy Sunday, we remember that Christ’s mercy is not distant.
It flows from His Heart and is offered to us and to those we serve.

Jesus, I trust in You.