• 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:
    • "The presentations were outstanding and made me want to get more involved in this aspect of medical education. The speakers provided a great combination of teaching and practical suggestions."
    • "As a Catholic medical student, I am consistently inspired to see other Catholic physicians striving to integrate their faith more deeply into their medical practice. Converging Roads is both informative and encouraging, and it gives me hope and motivation to become a better physician who lives out the Catholic faith in medicine."
    • "The conference was excellent. I enjoyed the in-person conference and meeting other health professionals, the speakers, and others involved."

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION IS 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, October 17, as well as additional access to the recordings (from noon CT on Sunday, October 18, to 11:59 pm CT on Wednesday, October 21).
 
  • 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, October 2. All refund requests made on or after October 3 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

  • Health and Human Flourishing in a Technocratic Culture
  • Margaret S. Chisolm, MD
  •  
  • Genetic Engineering, Transhumanism, and Human Dignity
  • Rev. Kevin T. FitzGerald, SJ, PhD, PhD
  •  
  • Solidarity, Subsidiarity, and the Cost of Health Care          
  • Deacon John M. Travaline, MD, MA
  • Saint Giuseppi Moscati: A Model Physician for the Poor
  • Ethan Schimmoeller, MD, MA 
  •  
  • Pastoral and Sacramental Care for the Sick and Dying
  • Carleen Barger, RN; Ethan Schimmoeller, MD, MA; and Deacon John M. Travaline, MD, MA
  •  
  • Technology and Mental Health
  • Johann M. D’Souza, PhD
  •  

SCHEDULE

7:30 AM
 Check-In Begins
8:00 AM
  • White Mass
9:15 AM
 Opening Remarks
9:25 - 10:25 AM
  • Health and Human Flourishing in a Technocratic Culture
 
10:35 - 11:35 AM
  • Genetic Engineering, Transhumanism, and Human Dignity
 
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
  • Solidarity, Subsidiarity, and the Cost of Health Care
 
12:45 - 2:20 PM
 Hippocratic Oath Luncheon
1:15 - 2:15 PM
  • Saint Giuseppi Moscati: A Model Physician for the Poor
 
2:20 - 2:40 PM
 Break
2:40 - 3:40 PM
  • Pastoral and Sacramental Care for the Sick and Dying         
 
3:50 - 4:50 PM
  • Technology and Mental Health       
 
4:50 PM
 Closing Comments
5:00 - 5:45 PM
 Wine & Cheese Reception

Speakers

DEACON JOHN M. TRAVALINE, M.D., M.A.
Professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Doctor Travaline is Professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. He earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, and completed post-doctoral training at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and Temple University. He holds a Master of Arts degree in theology from Villanova University. He is the author or co-author many publications, and co-editor of two books, Catholic Witness in Health Care, Practicing Medicine in Truth and Love (CUA Press 2017), and A Catechism for Health Care: Insights from Catholic Teaching on Human Life, Medical Ethics, and Love of Neighbor (CUA Press 2024). He serves currently as an Associate Editor for The Linacre Quarterly, the official publication of the Catholic Medical Association. In addition to his academic medical profession Doctor Travaline is a deacon in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

ETHAN SCHIMMOELLER, MD, MA
Palliative Medicine Physician, Riverside Methodist Hospital

Ethan Schimmoeller, MD, MA is a palliative medicine physician at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where he also serves on faculty for the Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship. He earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and master's in bioethics from The Ohio State University. He completed residency training with Memorial Family Medicine Residency in South Bend, Indiana, where he served as academic chief resident and was awarded resident teacher of the year, and fellowship training at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Within his hospital, he serves as co-chair of the clinical ethics committee, and participated in a nationwide Delphi panel related to the ethics of AI in medicine. He has been active in a newly founded professional organization, the Hippocratic Society, dedicated to moral formation in medicine, serving as founding faculty lead for chapters at two universities. His scholarly interests include ethics of technology, medical humanities, and end of life ethics, and his publications have appeared in The McGrath Church Life Journal and The Linacre Quarterly.

MARGARET S. CHISOLM, MD
Professor, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Margaret Chisolm is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she directs the Paul McHugh Program for Human Flourishing. Dr. Chisolm is board certified in general psychiatry and has more than three decades of clinical experience caring for patients and families affected by mental illness. She earned her BA in Visual Arts from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and her MD from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed her general psychiatry training at Johns Hopkins and forensic psychiatry training at the University of Maryland. Her work brings together psychiatry, medical education, the arts and humanities, and the study of human flourishing. She has authored more than 200 scientific, clinical, and medical education publications, including two textbooks and the award-winning book for patients and families From Survive to Thrive: Living Your Best Life with Mental Illness. She is a member of the Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence, the Catholic Medical Association, the Hippocratic Society, and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Through the Paul McHugh Program for Human Flourishing, Dr. Chisolm helps medical learners and physicians explore what it means to be human, to be a physician, and to lead a good life. Her work addresses the moral, relational, spiritual, and existential dimensions of health, illness, and healing.

JOHANN M. D’SOUZA PhD
Founder & Clinical Psychologist, Values First Therapy, PLLC

Dr. Johann D’Souza is a clinical psychologist specializing in the science of anxiety and peak performance. His academic background, including a PhD and MA in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston (earned on a Presidential Fellowship), an MA from Boston University in Psychology, and a BA from the University of Dallas in Theology, combines scientific rigor and classical learning. With over 20 peer-reviewed articles, Dr. D’Souza’s research elucidates the profound psychological benefits of hope and optimism. He previously served as Head of Coaching for OptimalWork and is the host of the Virtuous Leaders show, which highlights inspiring examples of moral and professional excellence. As the founder of Values First Therapy, Dr. D'Souza unites modern psychology and traditional family values. He specializes in helping individuals overcome anxiety, OCD, and distraction, drawing on the best of cognitive-behavior therapy. As a community volunteer, he has mentored adolescents in the area of technology and character development for 15 years. You can follow his work at johanndsouza.com

REV. KEVIN T. FITZGERALD, SJ, PhD, PhD
John A. Creighton University Professor and Chair, Dept. of Medical Humanities

Kevin T. FitzGerald, S.J., Ph.D., Ph.D., is the John A. Creighton University Professor and chair of the Department of Medical Humanities in the School of Medicine, at Creighton University.  He received a Ph.D. in molecular genetics, and a Ph.D. in bioethics, from Georgetown University.  His research efforts focus on the utilization of the Humanities in medical education, on the investigation of abnormal gene expression in cancer, and on ethical issues in biomedical research and medical genomics.  He has published educational, scientific, and ethical articles in peer-reviewed journals, books, and in the popular press. Fr. FitzGerald has given presentations nationally and internationally, and often been interviewed by the news media, on such topics as human genetic engineering, cloning, stem cell research, and personalized medicine.  He has served on many advisory committees for healthcare organizations, the U.S. government, and international organizations, including having been a Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life since 2005.

MOST REV. MICHAEL G. MCGOVERN
Archbishop of Omaha

Most Reverend Michael McGovern was born on July 1, 1964, in Evergreen Park, Illinois. He is the youngest child of the late Joseph and Eleanor McGovern. Bishop McGovern grew up in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago where many of his family members continue living. The McGovern family was active in Christ the King Parish and all of the children attended Christ the King Grammar School. Activities during grammar school included being an altar server at Christ the King. Bishop McGovern then attended St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. During high school, he served as a Lector both at St. Ignatius and at his home parish, Christ the King. Bishop McGovern attended Loyola University in Chicago (1982-86). At Loyola University he was invited to participate in the Honors Program and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1986. After graduating from Loyola University, Bishop McGovern worked for four years before applying for admission as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Chicago at Mundelein Seminary. He was awarded a Baccalaureate degree in Theology in 1993 and a Master of Divinity in 1994. On May 21, 1994, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin ordained Father Michael McGovern to the priesthood in Holy Name Cathedral. He served as an Associate Pastor at Queen of the Universe Parish, St. Mary in Lake Forest and St. Juliana in Chicago. On December 15, 2004, Cardinal Francis George appointed Father McGovern Pastor of St. Mary in Lake Forest. On July 1, 2016, Cardinal Blase Cupich appointed Father McGovern Pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in Old Mill Creek, Illinois. On July 22, 2020, Cardinal Blase Cupich ordained and installed Bishop McGovern as the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Belleville in the Cathedral of St. Peter Bishop McGovern has also served in administrative roles in the Archdiocese of Chicago: Vice-Chancellor, Archbishop’s Delegate for Extern & International Priests, Vicar Forane, and Interim Vicar of Vicariate I. Bishop McGovern has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Ignatius College Prep (2013-2019). He is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.  Since 2021, Bishop McGovern serves as the State Chaplain for the Illinois Knights of Columbus. He presently serves on the Board of Advisors for Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois and Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He is a member of the USCCB Subcommittee for Healthcare issues. On March 31, 2025, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend George Lucas and appointed Archbishop-designate Michael McGovern the sixth Archbishop of Omaha. He was installed as Archbishop of Omaha on May 7, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Cecilia, Omaha, Nebraska.

VERY REV. PJ MCMANUS
Fellow, St. John Paul II Foundation

Fr. PJ McManus, a Fellow for the St. John Paul II Foundation, is a priest of the Diocese of Des Moines where he presently serves as pastor of Christ the King Catholic Church and Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Ministry. He was ordained for the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Albert the Great in 2011, has taught at the elementary, high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels, and loves helping other people—and especially other priests—become more effective evangelizers. He works in the formation of permanent deacons and lay ministers throughout the Midwest, and is frequently utilized as a preaching coach for Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant preachers.

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 6 hours. Please select the General Admission ticket option and request a certificate of completion on your registration form. For questions, please email Conference Coordinator Taylor Briggs at [email protected]

Venue

Creighton University
Skutt Student Center

2600 California Street
Omaha, NE 68178

For More Information:
Taylor Briggs, Conference Coordinator
832.779.1070
[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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