CMA’s 93rd Annual Education Conference Award Winners

September 17, 2024

The Catholic Medical Association congratulates all of the 2024 Annual Educational Conference winners and the incredible work they do in their states, cities, towns, and schools to advance authentic health care.

Distinguished Guardian of the Faith Award

The Distinguished Guardian of Faith Award is presented to members whose vocation of healing others exemplifies their faith and love of God—both personally and professionally. This year’s recipients Marguerite Duane, M.D. and Richard Fehring, RN, Ph.D. received their medallions from CMA Episcopal Advisor Bishop James Conley during the closing conference banquet dinner, Saturday, Sept. 7.

Marguerite Duane, M.D., M.H.A.

Dr. Duane is co-founder and Executive Director of FACTS. A Board-certified family physician, she serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University, where she directs an introductory course on fertility awareness-based methods of family planning.

She is also a physician with a direct primary care (DPC) house calls-based practice serving patients of all ages in the D.C. metropolitan area. She has served on the board of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the Family Medicine Education Consortium (FMEC).

With respect to the CMA, Dr. Duane is the State Director of the District of Columbia. She has represented CMA at various legislative listening sessions and events on Capitol Hill and at the White House. She has coordinated multi-guild events, such as the “Civil War Medicine” seminar hosted by the DC, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Northern Virginia Guilds.

Additionally, Dr. Duane for many years has assisted in the coordination, implementation and promotion of CMA’s presence at the national March for Life in Washington, DC.

Richard J. Fehring, R.N., Ph.D.

Dr. Richard Fehring, professor emeritus and founder of the Marquette University College of Nursing Institute for Natural Family Planning, is an internationally known Natural Family Planning (NFP) researcher. His research includes developing the Marquette Method of NFP, with effectiveness studies for achieving and avoiding pregnancy and the use of NFP during reproductive transitions including the postpartum transition to fertility, and the transition through perimenopause.

He was the first to provide online NFP teacher training for health professionals. Dr. Fehring was listed in 2023 in the top 2% of scientists whose research was cited in the world, by Stanford University. He is also a Past President of the American Academy of Natural Family Planning.

Dr. Fehring has a long history of activity in the pro-life arena in Milwaukee. He founded the Milwaukee Guild and has served as a presenter at the NFP Forum and at several CMA Annual Educational Conferences. Dr. Fehring has published many of his foundational papers in The Linacre Quarterly.

Outstanding Guild Award

The Outstanding Guild Award is presented to the CMA Guild which surpasses expectations, and through its exceptional efforts, fulfills all five essential pillars. The 2024 recipient was the Catholic Medical Association of Dallas.

This Outstanding Guild successfully engaged its members and the community to advance CMA’s mission. Throughout the year, the Guild held spiritual retreats and reflection evenings as well as orchestrated educational events, including a “Do No Harm” conference featuring nationally recognized speakers. It promoted fellowship through dinners, receptions and other gatherings, and served the community through the establishment of the St. Paul Medical Clinic, which provides accessible health care services for those in need.

Dallas Guild President Dr. Jeffrey Thompson received the award on behalf of the Guild, which also included two coupons – one for a free registration to the 2025 AEC and one for a free registration to the 2025 Leadership Training Meeting.

Outstanding Student Chapter Award

Life as a Catholic medical student in a secular world can seem very challenging at times. Fortunately, CMA is blessed with many young members dedicated to the future of Catholic Medicine.

The Outstanding Student Chapter Award is given to the student chapter which has effected meaningful change in its community.

From organizing speaker events and hosting group activities, such as Christmas and Easter gatherings, a potluck dinner and an outdoor BBQ and pool party, to promoting spiritual growth through prayer and Scripture study and serving others by preparing 100 luncheons for those in need at the “Room at the Inn” homeless shelter, the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Student Chapter Award is: The Vanderbilt School of Medicine Society of Saints Cosmas and Damian

Outstanding Guild Chaplain Award

The amazing work that CMA does each year is made possible by a strong spiritual foundation, strengthened by our many Chaplains. The Outstanding Guild Chaplain Award is given to CMA chaplains who provide spiritual direction and guidance to members, helping them to stay true to the Catholic Faith. This year’s recipient Rev. Eric David Zegeer, D.Min., M.Div., Chaplain of the Denver Guild,

has far exceeded expectations, by working with the Archbishop to plan the Guild’s White Mass and its Mass in front of Planned Parenthood, leading a day-long retreat, assisting with spiritual direction for Guild members and medical students and hosting a free screening health care clinic at his parish.

Evangelium Vitae Award

The Evangelium Vitae Award recognizes outstanding service to the Pro-Life Movement. This year’s award winner is the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. Dr. Michael S. Parker accepted the award on behalf of AHM.

Conference Poster Winners

Poster winners pose with CMA President Dr. Michelle Stanford (middle) and Executive Director Mario Dickerson (far left).

Medical Education/Intervention/Pilot Program Poster Winner: Logan Waechtler and his team Sarah Makarewicz, Alexa Frattini, Mikey Padilla, D.O. and Marguerite Duane, M.D. (pictured left)

Philosophy/Bioethics Poster Winner: Savannah Vetterly and her team Jack Murphy and Daniel Fernandez (pictured right)

Saint Luke Award

The Saint Luke Award is presented to Guilds that complete all five essential pillars of an active guild: Spiritual Formation, Educational Formation, Fellowship, Service, and Growth. The 2024 Saint Luke Award winners are an inspiration for all and they are The Baltimore Guild, Catholic Medical Association of Central Ohio and the Denver Guild.

Pillars Certificate Award

The Pillars Certificate Award represents the far-reaching impact CMA Guilds can make in their local communities—and as representatives of the entire Catholic Medical Association. To earn this award, Guilds must achieve at least three of the five essential pillars of an active Guild. The five pillars are: Spiritual Formation, Educational Formation, Fellowship, Service, and Growth. When they strive to achieve these pillars, CMA Guilds ensure a comprehensive approach to realizing the vision and mission of CMA. The 2024 Pillars Certificate award winners are the Guild of St. Luke in Boston, the Health Care Professionals of North East Texas, the Holy Family Guild of Oklahoma City, and the Tucson Catholic Physicians Guild.

2024 Linacre Quarterly Award

Recipient:

Paul L. C. DeBeasi, BS Eng, M Eng, MS Bioethics

AUTHOR OF: Mifepristone Antagonization with Progesterone to

Avert Medication Abortion: A Scoping Review