New guild supports Catholic medical professionals and ethics
As a family medicine physician for the past 40 years, Tom McNamara, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, knows firsthand the importance of peer support. Support from his colleagues in the medical field was important, certainly. But Dr. McNamara said that he has noticed more and more in recent years the need for a resource for Catholic doctors; a way for them to gather for fellowship and educational discussions related to the ethical and moral issues they face daily.
As a family medicine physician for the past 40 years, Tom McNamara, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, knows firsthand the importance of peer support. Support from his colleagues in the medical field was important, certainly. But Dr. McNamara said that he has noticed more and more in recent years the need for a resource for Catholic doctors; a way for them to gather for fellowship and educational discussions related to the ethical and moral issues they face daily.
So Dr. McNamara, along with a small group of Catholic physicians, began the Holy City Catholic Physicians Guild in Charleston, under the umbrella of the Catholic Medical Association.
“As Catholic physicians, we seek objective truth through faith and reason,” he said, “to follow the example of the greatest physician, Jesus Christ, in our professional lives.”
The inspiration to start the guild developed over the past year, particularly after Dr. McNamara attended the Catholic Medical Association’s Medical Student and Resident Boot camp in June 2023. Then, the Diocese of Charleston held the Catholic Medical Professionals Mass & Gathering at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist last October. It was there that he met other Catholic physicians, plus medical students from around the country and locally, and learned about guilds.
“My faith has always been an integral part of my life and practice, and I have a strong interest in medical ethics,” Dr. McNamara explained. “I have witnessed tremendous advances in medical science for the good during my career; but also, we are increasingly seeing trends that are taking us down paths that are contrary to our faith and our oath to protect life and do no harm. These are troubling developments and physicians who speak out can often feel isolated or stigmatized for doing so.”
He decided to lead the effort of a local physicians’ guild and is its president. He is joined by Dr. Colin Edgerton, vice president, and Dr. Amy Dietrich, secretary. Dr. McNamara said he feels this position is perfectly suited for him. He recently completed a master’s in theology with a bioethics concentration from the Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. And, he leads the local Lay Dominican group in Charleston.
“The Dominican motto is veritas, or truth, which is what we are seeking,” he added.
Dr. McNamara described the Charleston area as the perfect place to start a guild.
“There are so many church steeples, which make up the city’s skyline. It is also home to several health care systems, like MUSC, which is a large academic center; Trident Healthcare, which is a part of HCA; and Roper/St. Francis, which is now part of the Bon Secours system,” he explained. “St. Francis Xavier Hospital was founded in 1882 by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy. So, there is a long history of Catholic health care in this city.”
Dr. McNamara began the process of forming the Catholic physicians’ guild in November 2023. Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, gave permission for the guild in January 2024, and the Catholic Medical Association granted guild status in late February. On March 19, they held the “Blessing of the Guild” Mass, celebrated by the bishop and Father JohnBosco Ikemeh, guild chaplain. After Mass, Deacon Patrick Lappert, MD, gave the keynote at the reception, speaking on practical, physical and ethical issues related to sex-reassignment surgeries and medications.
Dr. Lappert is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who has been in practice for over 30 years. He grew up in a Jewish home, but spent most of his life as an atheist. At the age of 40, he converted to Catholicism, was baptized and eventually ordained a permanent deacon, serving in Decatur, Alabama. He also served with the U.S. Marine Corps. He now divides his time between private practice and his duties in his church.
Dr. McNamara explained that there will be experts like Dr. Lappert at future Catholic physicians’ guild meetings to help provide support to local Catholic medical professionals in the Charleston Deanery. The guild is working to supply doctors with resources, fellowship and education needed to adhere to the truth of the faith and uphold their oaths as physicians to protect life and do no harm.
The Holy City Catholic Physicians Guild, as summarized by Dr. McNamara, is to attract Catholic physicians, residents in training and medical students for education, support, guidance and fellowship.
For more information, contact Dr. Tom McNamara at tomrose.mc5@gmail.com or join the Holy City Catholic Physicians Guild Flocknote group. The next diocesan Mass & Gathering for Medical Professionals will be held Nov. 23.
Theresa Stratford is a freelance writer for The Miscellany. She lives in Charleston with her husband and three children and attends the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Email her at tmmart89@gmail.com.