• FOR LIFE AND FAMILY

about Converging Roads

Where Health Care Ethics and Medicine Converge
Converging Roads is a regional conference series offering continuing education for health care professionals that equips them to practice the highest ethical and medical standards of their profession. To learn more about Converging Roads, click here.
    • Feedback from past attendees of Converging Roads:
    • "I’m so glad I attended. It was so insightful and gave me more knowledge on how to study more about human dignity, disabled persons and the correct way to explain our duty to others (as health care providers to our patients)."
    • "It is edifying to be with so many people trying to live their faith in a field that constantly challenges the truth."
    • "Thus far in my (nascent) career, my Catholic and medical identities have unfortunately been largely separate. I’m confident that the knowledge I obtained at Converging Roads and my subsequent reflection will serve me well on my path towards becoming the Catholic physician I’m striving to be."
     

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN NOVEMBER 4TH

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT

In-Person Ticket Options:
  • Physicians/Physician Assistants: $159
  • Nurses/Nurse Practitioners: $139
  • General Admission*: $85
  • Medical residents, clergy, or religious*: $75
  • Student Scholarship Rate**: $15
Online Ticket Options:
  • Online tickets include access to the livestream on Saturday, March 1, as well as additional access to the recordings (from noon CT on Sunday, March 2, to 11:59 pm CT on Wednesday, March 5).
 
  • Physicians/Physician Assistants: $129
  • Nurses/Nurse Practitioners: $109
  • General Admission*: $55
  • Medical residents, clergy, or religious*: $45
  • Student Scholarship Rate**: $0
 
  • *Not eligible for CME/CNE credits, however, Chaplain certificates of completion can be requested upon registration for continuing education purposes.
  • **Not eligible for CME/CNE credits.
Exhibitor Opportunities:
Includes 1 exhibitor booth and admission for 1 organizational representative  
  • Ministry/Non-Profit (including CME/CNE credits): $180
  • Ministry/Non-Profit (not including CME/CNE credits)*: $105
  • Vendor/For-Profit (including CME/CNE credits): $230
  • Vendor/For-Profit (not including CME/CNE credits)*: $155
 
  • *Not eligible for CME/CNE credits, however, Chaplain certificates of completion can be requested upon registration for continuing education purposes.
Sponsors:
  • If you and/or your organization is interested in joining our mission as a supporting sponsor, please click here for the Sponsorship Form. You can also submit the form online by clicking here.
 
  • For questions or more information, please contact the conference coordinator at [email protected].
Student Scholarships:
  • Undergraduate, graduate, nursing, and medical students are eligible to register for Converging Roads at the discounted rate above through the Dr. Mini Vettical Scholarship. If you are a student currently enrolled in classes and would like to attend the conference, please complete our student scholarship form prior to registering for the conference (click here).
 
  • If you are interested in providing a scholarship for a student to attend Converging Roads, you can do so at the time of registration or by clicking here.
Refund Information:
  • If you are no longer able to attend the conference, after purchasing your ticket, you may choose to transfer your registration fees to a student in need, or request a refund.
 
  • All refunds must be requested 2 weeks prior to the conference. The last day to request a refund is Friday, February 14. All refund requests made on or after February 15 will not be accepted, but the funds will automatically be transferred to a student in need. Please email [email protected] to transfer your registration or request a refund.

TOPICS

  • Vocation of the Health Care Professional
  • Carla Falco, MD
  •  
  • Dignity, Conscience, and the Flourishing of the Human Person
  • Arland K. Nichols
  •  
  • Catholic Perspective on Burnout and Moral Distress
  • Matthew Breuninger, PsyD
  •  
  •  
  • Practicing the Spiritual Life in a Secular Culture
  • Matthew Breuninger, PsyD; Carla Falco, MD; and Natalie King, MD, MA
  •  
  • Catholic Social Teaching and Its Implications for Medicine 
  • Claudia R. Sotomayor, MD, Dbe
  •  
  • Hope and the Redemptive Meaning of Human Suffering
  • Natalie King, MD, MA
  •  

SCHEDULE

8:00 AM 
 Check-In Begins
8:45 AM
  • Mass
9:45 AM
 Opening Remarks
9:55 - 10:55 AM
 Vocation of the Health Care Professional
10:55 AM
 Break
11:05 AM - 12:05 PM
 Dignity, Conscience, and the Flourishing of the Human Person
12:05 - 1:40 PM
 Hippocratic Oath Luncheon
12:35 -1:35 PM
 Catholic Perspective on Burnout and Moral Distress
1:40 PM
 Break
2:00 - 3:00 PM
 Practicing the Spiritual Life in a Secular Culture
3:00 PM
 Break
3:10 - 4:10 PM
 Catholic Social Teaching and Its Implications for Medicine
4:10 PM
 Break
4:20 - 5:20 PM
 Hope and the Redemptive Meaning of Human Suffering
5:30 - 6:15 PM
 Wine & Cheese Reception

Speakers

ARLAND K. NICHOLS
President, St. John Paul II Foundation

Arland K. Nichols is president and founder of the St. John Paul II Foundation. Early in his career, as an educator and non-profit executive, he became a popular speaker and successful writer while he established the groundwork for the initiatives that would become the St. John Paul II Foundation. Arland launched the St. John Paul II Foundation in 2014 and he is author of the 4th edition of the Handbook on Critical Life Issues published in 2024 by the National Catholic Bioethics Center. Arland earned a B.A. in philosophy from Texas A&M, an M.Div. in Theology from University of St. Thomas, and pursued doctoral studies in bioethics at Regina Apostolorum in Rome. With the generous support of his wife, Cindy, and their ten children, Arland is blessed to lead the St. John Paul II Foundation as it serves, educates, and supports medical professionals, married couples, and clergy.

NATALIE KING, MD, MA
Palliative Medicine Physician, Intermountain Health

Dr. Natalie King is a palliative medicine physician who specializes in caring for patients with serious illness and nearing the end of life. She is originally from Indiana and attended the University of Notre Dame. While in medical school at Tulane University, she founded the Catholic Medical Association Student Section. She completed internal medicine residency at the University of Utah and palliative medicine fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. After fellowship she worked for several years as a palliative medicine physician in Colorado, helping lead her hospital’s ethics committee and teach trainees. She completed a master’s degree in bioethics from The Ohio State University, partnering with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to improve education around palliative care for Catholic laity. She has organized a forum for the Catholic Medical Association on end-of-life issues. She is passionate about education and advocacy about palliative medicine and ethical issues relating to serious illness and the end-of-life.  Based on questions she has received at presentations she has given and from patients and their families, she recently wrote a book titled "Intensive Caring: A Practical Handbook for Catholics about Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care." Dr. King lives with her family in Utah.

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.

SUSIE SAENZ
Chief of Staff and Vice President, St. John Paul II Foundation

Susie Saenz is Chief of Staff and Vice President at the St. John Paul II Foundation where she is responsible for providing counsel to the President, managing the Office of the President, promoting overall operational efficiency for the Foundation across departments, and representing the Office of the President. Susie earned her BS in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University and, prior to joining the St. John Paul II Foundation in 2017, worked at Baylor College of Medicine in the philanthropy and alumni relations office. She and her husband, Victor, along with their son, are parishioners at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Houston and enjoy gathering with friends over a meal, wine, and lively conversation. Susie has benefited greatly from the mission of the St. John Paul II Foundation during her time as a team member and continues to be grateful and humbled to have the opportunity to use her gifts and talents to enrich the lives touched by this apostolate.

CARLA FALCO, MD
Pediatrician; President, Catholic Healthcare Professionals of Houston

Carla Falco, MD, is a native Houstonian and attended the University of Notre Dame. Completing medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, she then worked as a pediatric hospitalist in an academic center for 14 years. In 2023, she transitioned to outpatient pediatrics. Dr. Falco also serves as the President of Catholic Healthcare Professionals of Houston. She and her husband are members of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston, Texas.

MATTHEW BREUNINGER, MA, PsyD
Founder of Wellspring Counseling and Coaching & Psychotherapist

Dr. Matt Breuninger is a professor of psychology at Franciscan University and the owner of Wellspring Counseling & Coaching. He gives talks and retreats to Catholics throughout the US. He’s passionate about helping people discover the compatibility between faith and psychology and find freedom from past hurts. He has written numerous academic articles as well as authored Finding Freedom in Christ: Healing Life’s Hurts. Dr. Breuninger’s greatest accomplishment, however, is being husband to his wonderful wife and father to his awesome children.  

SPONSORS

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) and St John Paul II Foundation. Christian Medical & Dental Associations is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit
The Christian Medical & Dental Associations designates this educational activity for a maximum of 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistant
AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ by an organization accredited by the ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician assistants may receive up to 6 credits for completing this activity.

Nurse Practitioner
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME. Individuals are responsible for checking with the AANPCP for further guidelines. Nurse practitioners may receive up to 6 credits for completing this activity.

Nursing

This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by the Georgia Nurses Association, an accredited approver by
the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission Accreditation. Criteria for Successful Completion: Contact Hours awarded
commensurate with participation and submission of completed participant evaluation form. Activity ID #203005118 has been approved for 6 contact hours.

Click here for full CME/CNE details

Chaplains
The National Association of Catholic Chaplains has approved this program for 6.25 Continuing Education Hours. Please select the General Admission or Clergy/Religious (if applicable) ticket option and request a certificate of completion on your registration form. 

Social Workers
This activity can offer 6 LSW or LCSW continuing education credits. Please select the General Admission ticket option and request a certificate of completion on your registration form. For questions, please email the conference coordinator Gabby Anglin at [email protected]

Counselors
This activity can offer 4 LPC or LMFT continuing education credits. Please select the General Admission ticket option and request a certificate of completion on your registration form. For questions, please email the conference coordinator Gabby Anglin at [email protected]

Venue

St. John Neumann Catholic Church

5455 Bee Caves Rd
West Lake Hills, TX 78746

For More Information:
Gabby Anglin, Conference Coordinator
309.397.5436
[email protected]

CONTACT US

  • PHONE

    832.779.1070

  • PHYSICAL ADDRESS

    1177 W Loop South, Ste. 940
    Houston, TX 77027

  • MAILING ADDRESS

    P.O. Box 5927
    Katy, TX 77491

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