The South Jersey Catholic Medical Guild of the Diocese of Camden: How We Started and Where are We Going?
As the current president of the newly recognized Camden Diocese Guild of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA), I have been working with the Board of Directors of the predecessor organization, the South Jersey Catholic Medical Association (SJCMA), since its’ inception in 2003. As such, I have had the privilege of experiencing the growth of this organization from its humble beginnings in the office of then Chief of Geriatric Medicine at UMDNJ-SOM, Dr. Thomas Cavalieri in 2003, to its’ current status of full guild status with the CMA in September 2018. I would like to take this opportunity to recount our history as seen through my eyes to let you know how we got to where we are now and where we our envision our future as an organization of not just Catholic physicians, but all Healthcare Workers who embrace Catholic Ideals in their care of patients.
Before I start, however, let me emphasize that, as the South Jersey Catholic Medical Guild of the Diocese of Camden, we are currently the state-wide organization for the CMA in New Jersey. While our sponsorship is through the Diocese of Camden and we are the only recognized guild of the CMA in New Jersey, our appeal for membership at all levels and with all healthcare professionals is throughout the entire State of New Jersey. It is only with numbers that we can truly have an effect on the delivery of healthcare in our state.
As our numbers in the Guild grow in more distant areas of the State, we are encouraging those members to consider seeking the approval of the bishops in these dioceses to form local guilds as well. In the Camden Guild, we are hoping to build a framework which others may find useful in modeling and forming these new guilds. Only in this way will we be able to optimize the participation of all Healthcare providers in the State of New Jersey who recognize the value of living the Principles of their Catholic Faith in their daily practice of medicine to optimally affect our Healthcare Environment. Our objective is to be inclusive for the benefit of all, most especially the patients that we have the privilege of serving.
The initiation of the SJCMA, our predecessor organization in 2003, was the inspiration of then Bishop of Camden, James McHugh. His encouragement and support permitted Dr. Cavalieri to reach out to practicing Catholic physicians in the Diocese and formally organize a group of Catholic medical professionals for the mutual benefit of all. Board meetings soon went from Dr. Cavalieri’s office to a conference room at the Stratford Campus of UMDNJ-SOM. Membership and activities grew with time and the SJCMA became the fulcrum, along with the Health Ministry in the Diocese of Camden, of the Annual White Mass for Healthcare Workers in honor of our patron St. Luke in October each year. We also sponsored an annual communion breakfast in the spring as another opportunity to bring like-minded Catholic physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers together for spirituality and camaraderie. In addition to these activities, we would also sponsor retreats and other activities for the medical community. While the early meetings of the SJCMA Board were in the office of Dr. Cavalieri, we quickly moved to a conference room at the medical school and, eventually, to monthly evening dinner meetings in the conference room at St. Mary’s Manor in Cherry Hill. The office of Healthcare Ministry, led by Mr. Martin Idler, was vital to the function of our organization.
During this time a Student Chapter was started on the campus of UMDNJ-SOM. This provides these medical students a venue to profess and practice their Catholic values in a medical educational environment that is becoming progressively more hostile to the Catholic principals of healthcare including the primacy of life and the individual. They are provided with the opportunity for fellowship and community activities, including mass and community outreach opportunities, while at the same time having Catholic physicians work with them. They also sponsor their own events, including lectures with outside, guest speakers on Catholic Topics in medicine (i.e. The Shroud of Turin, The True Story of Terri Schiavo as related by her brother, etc.). It also provides a vital link between the practicing Catholic physicians and the Catholic medical students and residents. Attending physicians also provide didactic lectures on relevant topics and mentoring opportunities for our students. We are currently in the process of expanding these student chapters, looking to establish a chapter on the campus of every medical school in New Jersey.
The most recent chapter in our history is now being written under the encouragement of the current Bishop of Camden, the Reverend Dennis Sullivan. Through Vitality Catholic Healthcare Services of the Diocese under the leadership of Deacon Gerald Jablonowski along with Karen Fisher and our Chaplin, Fr. Sanjai Devis, we are boldly moving into the future. While maintaining the activities that we have already established, we are eagerly looking to accept other challenges that we, as Catholic physicians, residents, medical students, nurses and healthcare workers are challenged by daily. These include, but are not limited to, political issues that strike at the heart of medicine by progressively placing secular goals, such as financial profits, above our patients’ rights and well-being. Issues such as physician assisted suicide, abortion, morning after pills, and the care of our elderly raise moral and legal issues for all who participate in the healthcare professions. We are looking to be a resource for our members, for our Church and for our patients. We are helping Catholic medical providers find the answers to ethical and moral questions that may arise during their daily practice of medicine and nursing and, if need be, legal representation if the need arises. We are also actively open to addressing new issues that are yet to arise. In short, we want to become the go to organization for all Catholics involved in healthcare.
However, in order to accomplish these goals, we need everyone’s participation. In order to be proactive and not weakly reactionary to issues, we need everyone, not just doctors, but the entire spectrum of those whose avocation is healthcare and who embrace Catholic ideals in the delivery of that healthcare. Please visit our website (sjcathmed.org) and see the array of benefits that we currently offer (we are looking to grow these, as well). We have multiple membership categories, all with very affordable guild dues. Check us out and join! Be part of the future of healthcare administered with Catholic values and morals in the State of New Jersey. Be part of the answer!
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Gerard V. Burke, MD, Esq.
President
South Jersey Catholic Medical Guild
of the Diocese of Camden
