Catholic values will mark medical school at Marian University

By John Shaughnessy

In the midst of a historic day for Marian University in Indianapolis, President Daniel Elsener wanted to make sure that the true essence of starting a medical school wasn’t lost in the fanfare.

Sure, he was thrilled to announce that the university has received a $30 million pledge—the largest ever in the school’s history—to start Indiana’s first college of osteopathic medicine.

And undoubtedly he was pleased that Marian, a university whose future was uncertain less than 10 years ago, has risen to a point where it hopes, by 2012, to open only the second medical school in the state.

Still, after he made those announcements in a press conference on Jan. 15, Elsener sought to keep the focus on how these developments reflect the longstanding Catholic tradition of courageous and compassionate commitment in health care to helping people in need.

“We truly believe we’re going to extend the healing ministry of Christ with this,” Elsner said, after noting that Marian will be the first Catholic university in the United States to have a college of osteopathic medicine.

“Our Catholic voice brings Gospel values, our voice brings witness, our voice brings care and compassion for the poor and the vulnerable.”

That concern for the poor and the vulnerable connects with the American Osteopathic Association’s interest in educating physicians, according to Michael Claphan, the executive director of the Indiana Osteopathic Association. In a press release from Marian, Claphan noted that osteopathic doctors often have a desire to practice in underserved rural and urban communities.

“Osteopathic physicians are twice as likely as their colleagues who graduate from medical schools as M.D.s to be primary care physicians, and twice as likely to practice in rural areas,” Claphan said.

Studies show that there could be a shortage of 2,000 primary care physicians in Indiana alone by 2020 if more doctors aren’t trained, Elsener noted.

Marian’s president also said that osteopathic medicine’s commitment to treating the whole person—body, mind and spirit—is consistent with the emphasis that Marian University uses with its students.

He also stressed that in teaching future doctors, Marian University will make sure that its Franciscan and Catholic values are part of the education process.

“The Catholic directive and the social teaching will drive the culture of our medical school,” he said.

The new medical school will also likely benefit from Marian’s existing partnerships with two Catholic health care institutions in the archdiocese: St. Francis Health and Hospital Centers and St. Vincent Health. Both hospitals are possible sites for the medical school. The grounds of nearby Westview Hospital—the state’s only osteopathic hospital—is also a consideration. So is a location on the Marian campus.

While the location and other details of the medical school are in the development stage, Elsener said that one part of the plan is on solid ground: The decision to open a medical school reflects the values and the courage of the Franciscan sisters who founded Marian.

So it seemed fitting that the last part of the press conference was a prayer that Franciscan Sister Jean Marie Cleveland wrote and shared for the occasion. Marian’s vice president for mission effectiveness prayed:

“Loving God, your message for us in today’s Gospel reading is the healing of the paralytic. How fitting for this example of your healing love—of both body and soul—to be given to us on this day when Marian University announces its desire to begin a school of osteopathic medicine.

“Be with us as we develop the plan for the future—a plan which continues the healing ministry of Jesus at this school. Guide us as we take our Catholic and Franciscan traditions to new places, and educate women and men in osteopathic health care—care of body, mind and spirit. We ask this in God’s name. Amen.”

(For more information about Marian University, log on to www.marian.edu.) †