The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) of Central Ohio held its annual Hippocratic Oath event on April 29 at the Columbus St. Thomas More Newman Center.
The local organization, formerly known as the John Paul II Guild, bestowed awards on several individuals for their faith and work.
“All of our members of the Catholic Medical Association … not only see Jesus Christ in their patients and other people, but they present themselves as the healing Jesus Christ – Jesus Christ the Healer – and that’s truly the core of who we are as members,” said Dr. Michael Parker, an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) and president of the local CMA.
Dr. Kathleen Lutter, a practicing OB/GYN for nearly 40 years, received the St. Gianna Courage in Medicine award. The award recognizes a Catholic healthcare professional who exemplifies courage in the culture through their life and practice.
Also honored were a chaplain, an organization dedicated to helping mothers, a medical student and a family that helped establish the local CMA.
Parker presented Lutter the award, saying, “Your witness to the Church’s mission and to uphold the dignity of the least of these and your personal sacrifice and humility to improve the lives of your patients is an example that we can all learn from.”
The CMA’s president recognized Lutter for demonstrating “extraordinary courage” in the face of pressure and hardship. Parker commended her for her “determination and resilience during the Issue 1 campaign, which should be a model for all physicians.”
In November 2023, Ohioans passed state Issue 1, enshrining abortion in the state constitution through all nine months of pregnancy. Lutter was commended for her faithfulness to the Magisterium and moral leadership.
Lutter participated in the Ohio March for Life at the Statehouse in October with her parish, Sunbury St. John Neumann. At the march, Lutter shared that she was approached by a young woman who, noticing Lutter’s white coat, asked if she was Catholic and “all in.” Lutter answered in the affirmative.
Lutter admitted she was unaware that the woman “was wearing a hidden GoPro camera, was dressed as a pro-lifer but later admitted that she infiltrated an ‘anti-woman march and caught a female doctor attending in support of this awful cause.’”
In the exchange, which Lutter was unaware was being videotaped, she provided her name and other information. The woman posted the video on TikTok, and within hours, Lutter said, she was doxed: name, business office location, office and personal phone numbers, home address and family contacts. The video received approximately 500,000 views within 24 hours.
She was notified by her business manager that afternoon that the office’s website was overwhelmed by calls for her firing and phone systems were unusable because of the traffic.
Later that night, Lutter said, her cell phone number was used by nurses, nurse practitioners, female physicians and others “sharing their disgust at my presence at such a march.”
The individuals called for her firing, as well as for action by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and sanctioning by the State Medical Board for her “unprofessional behavior.” Lutter said she received threats to her body and home.
She was abandoned by several pro-choice family members, friends, patients and colleagues, who, she said, she trained during their residencies and others who she mentored, referred to and delivered their babies.
Lutter said the woman who posted the video opted to take it down after 24 hours rather than face a defamation lawsuit. However, within that day, Lutter encountered a darkness that continued.
She described the time as isolating and dark. She was in disbelief that her nearly 40-year career might end. Lutter said she went to work each day after the incident and put on her “happy face” while colleagues continued to talk about her and patients called daily saying they were no longer coming in.
“I was very focused on my practice and my career, and I forgot to remember that I was a child of God,” she said.
In the midst of the darkness, Lutter said she received support from patients and friends who prayed for her. She said several patients wrote reviews to salvage her social media presence, as she lost her previous all five-star reviews on Google. Lutter said she found allies she did not know she had.
She signed up for a 2-3 a.m. Adoration time slot at her parish and began Adoring the Lord in the wee hours of the morning. She also began regularly praying with the Hallow prayer app.
“I’m currently stronger, more focused and realize that my only crime was to support life from natural conception to natural death, and if that was a hill I had to die on, then so be it,” she said.
Lutter recalled the words of St. John Chrysostom, a fourth-century bishop and doctor of the Church, who said, “‘I urge you, my friends, to have confidence. Let the world be in upheaval. I hold to His promise and read His message, and that is my protecting wall and garrison.
“‘What message is that? “Know that I am with you always until the end of the world.” If Christ is with me, whom shall I fear?’”
Lutter concluded by offering a word of encouragement to the graduating Catholic medical and nurse practitioner students in the audience.
“Be strong, students,” she said. “Be bold and have joy.”
Lutter chose to donate her honorarium to Mommies Matter, an organization in central Ohio that journeys with single mothers through their pregnancies, the birth of their child and beyond.
Father Bob Penhallurick, the pastor of Hilliard St. Brendan the Navigator Church and chaplain of the CMA, received the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Service to Medicine award. Dr. Marian Schuda, a geriatric physician and secretary of the local CMA, presented the award to Father Penhallurick.
The award recognizes a Catholic clergy member or advanced practice nurse, pharmacist or person committed to healing, as well as dedicated to poor and vulnerable populations, and who helps advance medicine.
“He was instrumental in guiding our group, absolutely instrumental,” Schuda said of Father Penhallurick’s involvement with the CMA. “He’s been so supportive.”
Father Penhallurick holds a master’s in health care and bioethics. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1996 and serves as episcopal vicar of the diocesan Real Presence Real Future program.
“I am enormously grateful,” he said of the honor. “I love the CMA, and I love the work that we do together. It’s just wonderful.”
Father Penhallurick was recently appointed to serve as director of the diocese’s new respect life office. He said it is a “huge privilege” to start a “completely new respect life office” in the diocese.
“I’m really excited … to be actually helping us to elevate what we are sharing with people in our diocese above the culture wars and to really present this beautiful Gospel of truth that inspires people to not only love God but to love the family and to love the preborn … and everybody right up until natural death, so it’s … an exciting challenge,” Father Penhallurick said of his new role.
He chose to donate his honorarium to the Order of Malta Center of Care, a free medical clinic stationed at Columbus Holy Rosary-St. John Church. The clinic is operated by the Order of Malta, a Catholic lay religious order, with the help of the CMA.
Mommies Matter received the St. John Paul II Culture of Life award. The award recognizes a local central Ohio organization that contributed significantly to advancing the medical, helping and caring culture of life in the vision of Pope St. John Paul II.
Greg and Dorie France, both pharmacists, presented the award to the Monica Flynn, the founder and CEO of the organization.
“The Mommies Matter community provides single mothers facing unplanned and often unwanted pregnancies tangible support services, including housing, transportation and educational assistance, family and financial advocacy, life coaching, mental health support and legal aid, but the core of Mommies Matter is community,” Greg France said.
“It’s in this Christ-centered community that mommies are given the opportunity to experience authentic relationships.”
The CMA recognized the organization for its dedication to women and their children, journeying with women without judgment. He said the organization’s dedication leaves a permanent impact on advancing respect for the dignity of human beings through service, charity and education.
According to the U.S. Census, he said, 40 percent of live births in the United States are to single mothers, and 30 percent of households in the country are headed by single mothers.
Flynn, who has been active in the pro-life movement for 25 years, thanked the CMA for recognizing the young organization, which was founded about six years ago. She spoke of the importance of walking with women after their babies are born.
“I know we all, especially in the medical field that are seeing these women and these babies, see it,” Flynn said. “We all know single parents and the health of that family unit is directly correlated to their support system, so, as a community, we really need to be there for them.”
Brandon Wolters, a fourth-year graduating medical student from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, received the St. Luke Faith and Reason award.
The award recognizes a graduating Catholic medical student, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, graduating resident or other health professional student or trainee. The recipient demonstrates exemplary service to the Church, striving for excellence in studying medicine and practicing the virtues of humility and charity in treating patients.
Wolters will begin his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Wright State University this summer. The CMA recognized Wolters for his courage as a young leader.
Drs. Tony Joseph and Sandy Lane Joseph and family received the first annual Holy Family award. The CMA recognized the Josephs for supporting the organization with their time, talent and treasure.
They helped found the CMA of Central Ohio and have been supporters since its inception, said Dr. Ashley Fernandes, the organization’s treasurer. The Josephs, who now live in Florida, recently made the single largest donation to the CMA of Central Ohio in the organization’s history.
They were commended for seeking to raise their family in light of the Gospel and exemplifying kindness, generosity and love to patients, students and colleagues.
“Jesus told us, … He said, ‘Go and bear fruit,’” Tony said. “That’s the family. And then, if you read one more line … ‘Go and bear fruit that will last,’ and what’s going to last more than our children and their children?”
The evening concluded by honoring and blessing graduating medical and other healthcare students. Catholic healthcare professionals and graduating students in attendance also recited the Hippocratic Oath.