Equipped and Inspired: One Medical Student’s Experience of CMA’s Annual Boot Camp
BY VICTORIA MURRAY
After a long, six-hour drive to Mundelein, Illinois, I was greeted with a sense of peace as I stepped foot onto the beautiful campus of University of Saint Mary of the Lake to attend this year’s CMA Medical Student and Resident Boot Camp. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but following an arduous first year of medical school, I was excited to reinvigorate my call to medicine by strengthening its context within my faith.
The conference took place over the course of a week, and the first full day was spent discussing the importance of prayer and spiritual formation in our lives as Catholic medical students. If we desire to truly extend Christ’s love through our work as future healthcare providers, we must take the time to nurture our relationship with God.
He is the one who will sustain us when we feel exhausted from hours of studying, who will provide guidance in tough situations, and who will help us to recognize the joy of medicine as we work to uplift our patients. Medical students are notoriously busy, but our training is profoundly more meaningful when it is rooted in faith and prayer. Accordingly, this first day was a great way to set the tone as we kicked off the week.
Things got a bit more cerebral from there. The following day introduced us to the philosophical and metaphysical foundations of bioethics, emphasizing the need to honor the dignity and sanctity of every human life. These principles carried us throughout the rest of the week as we discussed essential bioethical topics, including beginning-of-life and end-of-life issues.
The presentations were phenomenal, and the information was made even more appreciable through the personal stories of the speakers and CMA physicians who joined later in the week. These connections and conversations were treasured opportunities to learn from those in practice, and I was pleased to compile a great list of resources and book recommendations to aid in my journey.
Being a Catholic medical student in a secular setting can be difficult. However, it’s not impossible, and we can know we are not alone. One of the incredible highlights of this experience was connecting with fellow Catholic medical students. We came from all across the country and from different backgrounds, but we all shared a deep desire to serve God and His people as loving and faithful Catholic physicians. It was an honor and inspiration to walk alongside these individuals throughout the week.
The CMA Boot Camp facilitated growth in both my medical knowledge and my personal spiritual formation, and I feel equipped and inspired to promote a culture of life as I continue my journey through medical school and beyond.
Victoria Murray is a second-year student at Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
