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Medical Student and Resident Bootcamp

Are you a Medical Student or Resident looking to deepen your understanding of how your Catholic Faith can guide you in your personal and professional journey as a Physician? Do you wonder how to respond to the challenges extended by your colleagues when the subject of the sanctity of human life is broached?

If so, perhaps we should ship you off to Boot Camp! No, we are not referring to a months long endless program of pushups and 10 mile long runs wearing a 40 pound backpack. We are referring to a one week long program sponsored by the Catholic Medical Association.

The goals are to assist Catholic medical students to:

    1. More fully live and understand the Catholic faith and moral tradition in order to thrive as faithful Catholic physicians.
    2. Develop skills to help organize Catholic support groups within medical schools and residency programs.
    3. Evangelize Catholics and non-Catholics encountered throughout medical training.

The 2018 Boot Camp is scheduled for June 18-24 in Mundelein, Illinois. The Finger Lakes Guild will be proud to sponsor a Medical Student or Resident, so there will be no cost to attend.

Check out more about the Boot Camp by visiting the website of the CMA at Cathmed.org. If you are interested, be sure to contact the Guild. You may use this contact form:

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Boot Camp. A great chance to get into awesome (spiritual) conditioning!

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White Mass Rescheduled

When the Guild Board planned the 2017-18 calendar, we had thought to schedule our White Mass for this Fall. We even made some initial announcements that the White Mass would be scheduled for Saturday, October 28 at St Anne’s Church. Since then, we have been busy planning a day long conference on Health Care issues of concern to the Catholic community scheduled for May 5, 2018. The Board has rescheduled the White Mass for that afternoon, and therefore the White Mass will NOT take place this upcoming Saturday. We hope to celebrate this most important Mass with you next Spring, instead.

My apologies for any confusion in this regard.

Richard Seeger, M.D.
President
Finger Lakes Guild

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An evening of sharing and reflection on medical missions

Thursday, 25 May 2017
7-8:30 PM
St. Bernard’s School of Theology
120 French Rd, Rochester, NY 14618

Speaker Panel:
Father Robert Ring, Chaplain, Finger Lakes Guild
Ellen Dailor, MD, Vice President, Finger Lakes Guild
Richard Seeger, MD, President, Finger Lakes Guild

Students and residents are especially welcome!

Refreshments and reception will follow the talk.
This event is free of charge.

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Medical Mission Trip

We read in the New Testament that the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. This certainly applies to the medical needs of the Third World. While many countries have some highly trained medical personnel and medical facilities, their distribution remains limited and the needs of the poor are frequently inadequately addressed. Thanks to the generosity of many medical personnel in the First World, medical and surgical missions abroad seek to help those most in need, trying to fill in some of the gaps in local health care delivery.

This last month, I was able to volunteer with the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America on their annual mission trip to their home country. My son, Kevin, age 18, was in attendance as well as a volunteer. Our experience was profound and deeply moving. The presence of a deep and prevailing poverty in the beautiful country of the Philippines was in regular evidence. Fortunately, with the support of Bausch and Lomb, we were able to bring medical and surgical supplies of over US$10,000 to be used for the benefit of the most poor. Working with the fine Ophthalmology Residents of Velez Hospital, in the city of Cebu, we performed some 25-cataract operations and left supplies sufficient for another 25 operations after our departure.

I have included pictures taken on our mission trip, to help you visualize the experience. Perhaps you have an inclination to serve on a medical mission trip, or already have served on one? The Finger Lakes Guild welcomes any pictures or experiences you may wish to share. In either case, we hope that you may be able to join us on May 25th at St Bernard’s School of Theology, 120 French Road, Rochester, 14618, at 7 pm for an evening of reflection and sharing on our own medical mission, both here and abroad. Ellen Dailor, M.D. and I will be presenting some our own experiences with foreign medical mission work.

We hope to see you on May 25th. Please feel free to bring friends and colleagues for this evening of sharing. Our Faith is constantly calling us to care for our fellow man in need!

Richard Seeger, M.D.
President, Finger Lakes Guild

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Catholic Women Physicians’ Retreat

The registration for the Catholic Women Physicians Retreat of March 2017 is now open! Attached please find the registration form, which you can print off and mail in, or complete on-line and send by email.

This is our SIXTH annual retreat, and I am very excited about having Father James Brent, OP, as our retreat master. He is planning an outstanding retreat for you. Father’s retreat will have a focus on Our Lady, and how with her help we can grow in closer union to her Son, and so live out our call to holiness in the world.

This couldn’t be more perfect for Catholic women physicians — in practice or retired! And the days of the retreat are in Lent, but include the Solemnity of the Annunciation. The Lord has thought of everything!

And so now He is thinking about having you join Him…..

The registration fee is $280. If you are a resident, and need some financial help, let me know and we can help. And we will also include second-semester fourth-year medical students (if you know of any!).

Please arrive at Bethany between 1:30 and 4:00 pm on Thursday, March 23 (so flights to Nashville should arrive no later than 3:00 pm). On Sunday, March 26, please plan for flights at 3:30 pm or later.

We will of course have adoration and silence as well as fellowship and great food.

In case you didn’t see it, I’m attaching Kathy Raviele’s article from “The Pulse” about the retreat.

We will take registrations on a first-come basis. We have 42 rooms available, 16 of those with private bathrooms.
I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces as well as new retreatants (who have been asking about when the next retreat would be!).

God bless you.

Sister Mary Diana Dreger, OP, MD

2017 CWP registration form

CWP Retreat Pulse Article

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2016 White Mass

A number of members of the Finger Lakes Guild were able to attend the White Mass celebrated this past October in Washington, D.C. during the annual meeting of the Catholic Medical Association (do you recognize anyone in the front row?). The Mass was celebrated at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Church in North America. This magnificent celebration was magnified by the incredibly beautiful surroundings and music. Our hearts were collectively stirred as we celebrated the Eucharist together with so many of our dedicated, Catholic colleagues.

In turn, the Finger Lakes Guild sponsored the White Mass here in Rochester in early November. Bishop Matano celebrated Mass for the some 100 people in attendance. His Homily was direct and most inspiring, recognizing the challenging culture we live and work in, yet supporting us in our moral endeavors. The Bishop also gave a special blessing for the new officers.  The White Mass was followed by a pleasant brunch reception. We were thrilled that Bishop Matano and Father White were able to spend so much time with us relaxing and enjoying the delicious food. It was especially appreciated that so many medical students and residents were able to attend as well.

A special thanks to the St. Anne community for hosting us in their beautiful Church, with such excellent music, and allowing us to have access to their reception hall. Let me recognize Jann Armantrout, in particular, for her invaluable assistance in planning and running this special event.

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2nd Annual Diocese of Rochester Catholic Men’s Conference

The Finger Lakes Guild was pleased to be an exhibitor at the 2nd Annual Diocese of Rochester Catholic Men’s Conference on October 1, 2016. We received many visitors that day, including Residents and Fellows of the University of Rochester Medical Center as well as Physician Assistants and other Health Care practitioners. They were all interested to learn of the Guild’s presence in our community and expressed interest in becoming active members. The Conference was a dynamic event attended by some 600 men. The Guild was proud to be a supporter of such an uplifting event. Look for us at the upcoming Diocese of Rochester Catholic Women’s Conference in Spring 2017!

FLG Table
Finger Lakes Guild president Richard Seeger, M.D. at the 2nd Annual Diocese of Rochester Catholic Men’s Conference