“Innovation in Healthcare: The Necessity of Contemplation and Mercy” was the topic the annual conference sponsored by the Cleveland Guild of the Catholic Medical Association. The Feb. 22 program took place at St. Albert the Great Parish Life Center in North Royalton.
The day began with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Martin Amos, retired bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa. Concelebrants were Father Joe Brankatelli, medical guild chaplain, and Father Dominic Gideon, St. Albert parochial vicar. Father Brankatelli also is administrator of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in South Euclid and parochial vicar at St. Clare Parish in Lyndhurst. In addition, he previously served as a military chaplain.
After Mass, the bishop visited with conference attendees as they enjoyed a continental breakfast before the program got underway.
Dr. Ron Soebecks, medical guild president and conference organizer, welcomed both in-person and virtual attendees and Father Brankatelli offered an opening prayer.
Dr. Jesse Felts, medical guild vice president, assistant professor at Case Western Reserve Medical School and internal medicine physician at the Cleveland VA Medical Center, spoke about “Point of Care Ultrasound, Functional Medicine and Parts Work: New Paradigms for the Pursuit of Truth.” He told conference attendees that God is looking to perfect things, not destroy them. The doctor provided some case studies sharing how physicians must gather information and make decisions on how to best treat their patients.
“You just can’t throw out the non-functioning part. It’s a journey of restoration and integration,” he said, adding the devil may play a part in the process. “He divides us from God, plans distrust and that can be detrimental.” Dr. Felts said prayer can help guide physicians through these difficult situations.
Father Brankatelli’s presentation focused on the use of artificial intelligence, commonly referred to as AI. He pointed out the moral and ethical concerns associated with AI. While the new technology can be useful, it also can be problematic. For example, it can reduce time for a patient’s diagnosis and it could reduce treatment costs.
But AI also could be used for some troubling things like creating “designer babies.” Father Brankatelli noted there are some cases where AI reportedly influenced people to die by suicide. He said it’s important to train medical students to be aware of the good and the troublesome aspects of AI as well as to establish clear guidelines governing its use.
“AI is not going away. It’s here to stay. I caution you in the medical community to be careful with the good and evil uses of AI. It can be a valuable tool or the opposite.”
Christopher Klofft, a moral theologian and associate professor of theology at Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts, gave two presentations, on “Enhancing the Dignity of Patients in an era of Emergent Medical Technologies” and the second on the relationships between healthcare professionals and patients. He touched on sensitive issues like gender dysphoria, reminding attendees that they can follow his lead and take difficult issues to prayer in order to get some guidance as they work through them.
Dr. Katherine Taljan’s presentation on “Advances ins Postpartum Depression” was pre-recorded due to a death in her family. She shared information about some of the advances in maternal medicine and how there are more options for women who suffer from postpartum depression.
Andrew Trew, an adjunct professor of systemics at Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology, discussed “The Promises and Pitfalls of AI and Robotics in Healthcare: A Catholic Bioethics Perspective.” He told the audience that “humans are not machines. We’re not just superior software.” Trew stressed the fact that God created humans and that we are here for a purpose. He also examined what he called “Genesis 2.0,” and how it can be controlled.
“Are we stewards of life of masters of life?” he asked, reminding the group that “God is the master of life.” He said AI should be used as a tool to help improve life, “not to the detriment of humanity.”
The final presentation by Dr. Soebecks, a professor of medicine and physician at Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, looked at “Approaches to Merciful Healthcare in an era of Innovation: Enhancing the Patient Experience.”
The conference provided continuing medical education credits for healthcare professionals.
For more information on the Cleveland Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, click here. The organization is a group of Catholics committed to the ministry of healthcare. It also offers assistance to find a Catholic physician and other resources.