November 16, 2024 | Pittsburgh, PA | Converging Roads

CLAUDIA R. SOTOMAYOR, MD, DBe
Chief of the Ethics Consultation Service MGUH and Assistant Professor at the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics

Dr. Claudia Sotomayor, is the Chief of the Clinical Consultation Service of the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics, a Cura Personalis Fellow and an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine of GUMC. She holds an M.D. from Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, in Chihuahua, Mexico and a Doctorate in Bioethics from Loyola University in Chicago Il, USA. Claudia also completed a fellowship in Clinical Bioethics at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston TX. (USA). She has been a Research Scholar for UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights since 2012 where she has worked in the area of Multiculturalism, Bioethics and Religion. She has also served as a member of the Ethics committee in different hospitals in the USA. Before coming to the USA, she worked in different hospitals in Mexico as a primary care physician, and was the health committee coordinator for FUNDESPEN, a non-profit that provides medical care to Mayan communities in rural areas of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

DEACON MICHAEL J. DEEM, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Human Genetics; Program Director, Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health; Core Faculty, Center for Bioethics & Health Law; Secondary Faculty, Department of Community Health Services and Rehabilitation Sciences – University of Pittsburgh, Permanent Deacon – Catholic Diocese of Pittsburg

Michael J. Deem is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Genetics and Core Faculty in the Center for Bioethics & Health Law at the University of Pittsburgh, and serves as the Director of the Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health Program in the Pitt School of Public Health. He is also a Resident Fellow of the Center for Philosophy of Science, Associate Director of the Bioethics Certificate Program, and Secondary Faculty in the Department of Department of Community Health Services and Rehabilitation Sciences at Pitt. Dr. Deem received his Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame and completed the Pediatric Ethics and Genomic Fellowship at Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City. He is the author of more than 20 scholarly articles and book chapters on philosophy of science, bioethics, ethical theory, and empirical health research. He is currently completing a monograph for Cambridge University Press on fundamental concepts in genomic medicine, and is co-editor of two books for Oxford University Press: The Oxford Handbook of Genetic Counseling and Nursing Ethics: Normative Foundations, Advanced Concepts, and Emerging Issues. Dr. Deem lives outside Pittsburgh with his wife, Katerina, and their five children. They belong to Saint Aidan Parish, where is a Deacon.

KRISTIN M. COLLIER, MD, FACP
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Director of the University of Michigan Medical School Program on Health, Spirituality and Religion

Kristin M. Collier, MD, FACP is an associate professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor Michigan where she serves as the director of the University of Michigan Medical School Program on Health, Spirituality and Religion. She is also an associate program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Michigan where she oversees the primary care track. She received her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed her internship, residency, and chief residency at The University of Michigan Hospitals. Her academic interests are in the overlap of spirituality, religion and medicine and her peer reviewed work has been published in high-impact journals such as JAMA Internal Medicine, the Annals of Internal Medicine, and the British Medical Journal. She also has had writings published in Notre Dame’s Church Life Journal, Theopolis, America Magazine, and Public Discourse. She is also a wife and the proud mother of four sons.

GWYNETH ANNE SPAEDER, MD
Pediatrician

Gwyneth Anne Spaeder, MD, attended the University of Dallas where she graduated with a degree in Political Philosophy. She then attended The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, graduating in 2005. She is a Board-Certified Pediatrician and has practiced in both community ER and private practice settings. She completed a certificate in Health Care Ethics through the National Catholic Bioethics Center in 2015 and has published several articles pertaining to vaccine ethics. She also served as the guest editor for a NCBC Quarterly edition focused on Pediatric-specific issues. She is a recurrent presenter at Theology of the Body workshops for teens and for NFP/Marriage prep within the Diocese of Raleigh. She is a member of the Catholic Medical Association Triangle Guild. She lives in Wake Forest, NC with her husband and three children.

ANTHONY ISACCO, PhD
Professor, Director of Training for PsyD Program, Chatham University

Anthony Isacco, PhD, is a professor of Graduate Psychology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA and Director of Training for the PsyD in Counseling Psychology program. He is a licensed psychologist in PA and authorized to provide telepsychology services in approximately 40 states. He maintains a small private practice with a niche focus on the psychological assessment of clergy candidates to the Catholic Church. Dr. Isacco has published widely through his books, popular press articles, and academic journals on the psychological health of seminarians, fatherhood, and the psychology of men and masculinity. He sits on the Advisory Board of Saint Paul Seminary, Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Formation Team of Saint Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Pittsburgh Byzantine Eparchy, and Catholic Psychotherapy Association Board of Directors. He is a proud graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville (BA, '02), Boston College (MA, '04), and Loyola University Chicago (PhD, '09). He is married to Celeste and has four daughters, Sophia, Claire, Gianna, and Monica.

MOST REV. DAVID A. ZUBIK

Bishop David A. Zubik was ordained a priest on May 3, 1975, by Bishop Vincent M. Leonard at Saint Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh. Following Bishop Zubik’s first priestly assignment as Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Shadyside, he served as Vice Principal of Quigley Catholic High School, Baden, and Chaplain to the Sisters of Saint Joseph Motherhouse and the students at Mount Gallitzin Academy. At the same time, he earned a master’s degree in education administration from Duquesne University. He also served as adjunct spiritual director at Saint Paul Seminary and associate spiritual director at Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe. His administrative appointments in diocesan central administration have included Administrative Secretary to then-Pittsburgh Bishop Anthony J. Bevilacqua, Administrative Secretary and Master of Ceremonies to then-Pittsburgh Bishop Donald W. Wuerl, Director of Clergy Personnel, Associate General Secretary and Chancellor, and Vicar General and General Secretary. Bishop Zubik was consecrated a bishop on April 6, 1997, at Saint Paul Cathedral and was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. On October 10, 2003, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, named the Most Reverend David A. Zubik as the Eleventh Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay. Bishop Zubik was installed as Bishop on December 12, 2003. On July 18, 2007, he was named by Pope Benedict XVI as the Twelfth Bishop of Pittsburgh. He was installed at Saint Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh on September 28, 2007.

NAOMI WHITTAKER
MD, OBGYN, NaPro Technology/Restorative/MIGS Surgeon

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.

BRIAN BURKE, MD

Dr. Brian Burke is a board-certified Family Physician, who currently practices at Trinity Health Systems in Steubenville Ohio. In 2007, Dr. Burke graduated from Franciscan University, with majors in Biology and Theology and completed the Honors Program. He spent one year doing research in Pittsburgh on prenatal genetics prior to attending the University of Toledo College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 2012. While in medical School, Dr. Burke commissioned in the US Navy. He completed his residency at the Naval Hospital in Camp Lejeune in 2015, and spent the next three years stationed at the Naval Hospital in Guam. He returned to the US mainland, and resigned his commission to transition to a civilian practice in Steubenville. Dr. Burke’s practice has included outpatient care for all ages, hospital care, and previously OB care. He has delivered around 200 babies in his career. At this time, Dr. Burke practices outpatient family medicine, treats newborns to end of life, and also specializes in restorative reproductive medicine. He has training in the Sympto-thermal Method, the Creighton Model, and Neofertility, and has experience working with the Marquette method as well. He has assisted many couples in achieving conception and has an active practice addressing fertility and menstrual concerns for women at all stages of life. He is married to his wife Johanna and they now live on a five acre farm with their five sons and one daughter, with child number 7 due in April. Both Dr. Burke and his wife actively teach and support couples in Natural family planning methods, and have taught for the Couple to Couple league since 2010.

7:30 AM	Check-In Begins
8:00 AM	Mass
9:15 AM	Opening Remarks
9:25 - 10:25 AM	The Full Flourishing of the Human Person within Medicine
10:30 - 11:30 AM	The Vocation of the Health Care Professional
11:30 AM	Break
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM	The Social Determinants of Health
12:45 - 2:25 PM	Hippocratic Oath Luncheon
1:20 -2:20 PM	Practicing the Spiritual Life in a Secular Culture
2:25 PM	Break
2:45 - 3:45 PM	Restorative Reproductive Medicine
3:50 - 4:50 PM	The Science behind Fertility Awareness Based Methods
4:50 PM	Break
5:00 - 6:00 PM	The Role of Spirituality in Health Care
6:05 - 6:45 PM	Wine & Cheese Reception

about Converging Roads

Where Health Care Ethics and Medicine Converge

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TOPICS

The Full Flourishing of the Human Person within Medicine

The Vocation of the Health Care Professional

The Social Determinants of Health

Practicing the Spiritual Life in a Secular Culture

Restorative Reproductive Medicine

The Science Behind Fertility Awareness Based Methods

The Role of Spirituality in Health Care

SCHEDULE

7:30 AM

8:00 AM

9:15 AM

9:25 - 10:25 AM

10:30 - 11:30 AM

11:30 AM

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

12:45 - 2:25 PM

1:20 -2:20 PM

2:25 PM

2:45 - 3:45 PM

3:50 - 4:50 PM

4:50 PM

5:00 - 6:00 PM

6:05 - 6:45 PM

Speakers

CLAUDIA R. SOTOMAYOR, MD, DBe Chief of the Ethics Consultation Service MGUH and Assistant Professor at the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics

KRISTIN M. COLLIER, MD, FACPAssociate Professor of Internal Medicine, Director of the University of Michigan Medical School Program on Health, Spirituality and Religion

GWYNETH ANNE SPAEDER, MDPediatrician

ANTHONY ISACCO, PhDProfessor, Director of Training for PsyD Program, Chatham University

MOST REV. DAVID A. ZUBIK

NAOMI WHITTAKERMD, OBGYN, NaPro Technology/Restorative/MIGS Surgeon

BRIAN BURKE, MD

SPONSORS

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Venue

Diocesan Pastoral Center

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CLAUDIA R. SOTOMAYOR, MD, DBe
Chief of the Ethics Consultation Service MGUH and Assistant Professor at the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics

KRISTIN M. COLLIER, MD, FACP
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Director of the University of Michigan Medical School Program on Health, Spirituality and Religion

GWYNETH ANNE SPAEDER, MD
Pediatrician

ANTHONY ISACCO, PhD
Professor, Director of Training for PsyD Program, Chatham University

NAOMI WHITTAKER
MD, OBGYN, NaPro Technology/Restorative/MIGS Surgeon