• 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 NOW OPEN

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 ET on Sunday, March 2, to 11:59 pm ET 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

  • The Implications of Catholic Social Doctrine for Health Care
  • Rev. Peter Fonseca, MA, MS, MDiv
  •  
  • The Origins, Challenges, and Ethics of Transhumanism
  • Deacon Michael J. Deem, PhD
  •  
  • Human Dignity at the End of Life
  • Andrew S. Kubick, PhD, MA
  •  
  •  
  • Advance Directives: How Should a Catholic Prepare?
  • Rev. Peter Fonseca, MA, MS, MDiv, D. Brian Scarnecchia, MDiv, JD, and more!
  •  
  • The Mental Health Crisis for Children and Adolescents
  • Sister Maria Amata Rossi, RSM, MPsy
  •  
  • The Science and Ethics of In Vitro Fertilization
  • Daniel Kuebler, PhD
  •  

SCHEDULE

 
7:30 AM
  • Check-In Begins
8:00 AM
 Mass
9:15 AM
 Opening Remarks
9:25 - 10:25 AM
 The Implications of Catholic Social Doctrine for Health Care
10:25 AM
 Break
10:35 - 11:35 AM
 The Origins, Challenges, and Ethics of Transhumanism
11:35 AM
 Break
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
 Human Dignity at the End of Life
12:45 - 2:20 PM
 Hippocratic Oath Luncheon
1:15 -2:15 PM
 Advance Directives: How Should a Catholic Prepare?
2:20 PM
 Break
2:40 - 3:40 PM
 The Mental Health Crisis for Children and Adolescents
3:40  PM
 Break
3:50 - 4:50 PM
 The Science and Ethics of In Vitro Fertilization
5:00 - 5:45 PM
 Wine & Cheese Reception

Speakers

MOST REV. FRANK J. DEWANE
Bishop of Venice in Florida

Most Reverend Bishop Frank J. Dewane serves as the spiritual leader of approximately 250,000 Catholics in the 10-county Diocese of Venice in Florida. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 as the second Bishop of the Diocese. Bishop Frank J. Dewane was named Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida by Pope Benedict XVI on April 25, 2006, and on January 19, 2007, he was installed in his current role as Bishop of the Diocese. In addition to holding a degree from the University of Wisconsin, Bishop Dewane also completed studies at The American University in Washington, D.C., as well as from Pontifical Gregorian University and Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, both in Rome. Prior to entering the seminary, Bishop Dewane worked for the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in Moscow, Russia, and then for a subsidiary of PepsiCo in New York City. Ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Green Bay in 1988, Bishop Dewane was appointed in 1991 to serve as a member of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York City, during which time he represented the Holy See at several international conferences. In 1995, he was transferred to the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” and was later appointed Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Bishop Dewane serves on the Ad Hoc Committee against Racism, and Subcommittee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Dewane previously served on several committees at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops including the Committee for Domestic Justice and Integral Human Development (past Chair), Committee for International Justice and Peace. Bishop Dewane is a member of the Board of Directors of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, and is the Episcopal Liaison for Catholic Charities, USA.

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.

REV. PETER FONSECA, MA, MS, MDiv
Archdiocese of St. Louis, St. Louis University

Fr. Peter Fonseca, a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, holds a Master of Arts in Theology, a Master of Science in Bioethics, and a Master of Divinity degree, as well as a certificate in Catholic healthcare ethics from the National Catholic Bioethics Center. Having previously served as a parish priest, he is now assigned as the director of continuing formation for priests for the Archdiocese of St. Louis while pursuing a PhD in health care ethics at the Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics at St. Louis University. His research focuses on the convergence of medical ethics and the pastoral needs of the faithful. In addition to his canonical assignments Fr. Fonseca serves as a bioethics consultant to various parties in the archdiocese and greater St. Louis area. He has presented at various conferences and seminars across the country and has contributed to local television and national radio programs.

DAN KUEBLER, PhD,
Professor of Biology, Franciscan University of Steubenville; Research Director, Franciscan Regenerative

Dr. Dan Kuebler is a Professor of Biology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, where he teaches courses on evolution, cell physiology, bioethics, and science and faith. He is the host of the Purposeful Lab podcast, a podcast that examines the order and purpose inherent in the world around us. His scientific work focuses on studying the characteristics and variability of adult stem cells found in human bone marrow and adipose tissue.  Dan is the co-author of The Evolution Controversy: A Survey of Competing Theories (Baker Academic, 2007) and is author of the forthcoming book Darwin and Doctrine: The Compatibility of Evolution and Catholicism from Word on Fire Press (2025). He has written both academic and popular articles on issues related to science, religion, and bioethics. He is the Vice-President of the Society of Catholic Scientists and is on the board of the Spitzer-Magis Center.

ANDREW S. KUBICK, PhD, MA
Deputy Director of the National Center for Religious Freedom Education, and Research Fellow in Bioethics and Medical Conscience at the Religious Freedom Institute

Dr. Kubick holds a PhD in Bioethics from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum and an M.A. in Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary. He serves as Deputy Director of the National Center for Religious Freedom Education and Research Fellow in Bioethics and Medical Conscience at the Religious Freedom Institute, Personal Consultations Ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, and Adjunct Instructor of Bioethics at University of Mary. His first book is titled Transplanting the Womb: A Catholic Bioethical Analysis (NCBC, 2024). He has published in The Catholic Journal on Religious Freedom and Health Care, Dignitas, Ethics & Medics, National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, Public Discourse, and St. John Paul II Journal of Bioethics. He has presented scholarly work at the annual conferences of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Catholic Medical Association, Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, and Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. Dr. Kubick has developed bioethics and religious freedom curricula for secondary, undergraduate, and graduate education as well as for adult learners.

SISTER MARIA AMATA ROSSI, RSM, MPsy
Religious Sister of Mercy of Alma

Sister Maria Amata Rossi is a perpetually professed member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, a religious institute of pontifical right dedicated to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. She earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 2021. She is currently working toward a Doctorate (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences at Divine Mercy University, an APA-accredited graduate school focused on the scientific study of psychology with a Catholic understanding of the person, marriage and the family. Her clinical experience includes psychological assessments and psychotherapy for adults, adolescents, and children within community-based clinics, private practice, and VA medical center settings. In addition, Sister has served as a hospital chaplain and in various roles in diocesan chanceries. She is currently assigned to her community’s convent in Clinton, Maryland.

SPONSORS

CONTINUING EDUCATION

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 and Counselors
If you are seeking Social Worker or Counselor continuing education credits, we can provide you with a certificate which states that you completed  hours.  Please select the General Admission ticket option and request a certificate of completion on your registration form. For questions, please email Conference Coordinator Gabby Anglin at [email protected]

Venue

St. John XXIII Catholic Church

13060 Palomino Ln
Ln Fort Myers, FL 33912

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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